10 – Holme Valley Review, November 2021
Holme Valley resident Nick Beswick recently contacted Holme Valley Review with his inspiring story about achieving sporting success despite having Parkinson’s Disease. In his own words, here is his story about his recent unexpected surprise venture into the world of international sport...
Jessica Gunning
Starring role for Holmfirth pupil Jessica FORMER Holmfirth High School pupil, actress Jessica Gunning, is currently starring in a new Monday night BBC TV series The Outlaws. The six-part series, which has been filmed in Bristol, tells the story of seven strangers from different walks of life who are thrown together to complete community service. Jessica plays the part of Diane, a ‘jobsworth’ community payback supervisor. She is suspicious of everyone but fails to realise what is really going on. Her character is herself a former offender with a past. Viewers may think she is just power hungry but she is just trying to prove herself. The series also stars Stephen Merchant, Christopher Walken and Eleanor Tomlinson who became a familiar face on TV following her role as Demelza in the highly successful Poldark series. Actor Stephen Merchant, who created the series, says it was inspired by his mother’s stories about community service in Bristol when she worked with the service as a supervisor. Jessica attended the Rose Bruford College in South London. She has appeared in numerous TV shows, films and stage productions. On TV she has appeared in Prime Suspect, Law & Order UK, Holby City, Dr Who and many more shows.
Parkinson’s sufferer Nick Beswick in action (left) and his competitor number and details (right).
Inspirational Nick makes his England table tennis debut He writes: “Whatever ambitions I had on my 60th birthday earlier this year, I’m pretty sure representing England in an international sporting event wasn’t one of them. “Yet, there I was last month, in a hotel room in Berlin, putting on my England kit, preparing to take part in the 2021 International Table Tennis Federation Parkinson’s World Championship! “I’d only started playing table tennis in late 2018, which with the impact of Covid-19 meant about 10 months of playing experience before this tournament. Prior to this I played a handful of games in a local league as a 16/17 year-old and the odd game on holiday during the 40-year gap.
“So, was I prepared? Not really. I’d played a handful of games in the Huddersfield 3rd Division but generally it was friendly games at the Huddersfield Table Tennis Centre. “I took part in a Parkinson’s football tournament in Worcester in July, where the organisers had a range of other sports to try and low and behold, the organisers of the UK table tennis event were there. “I played a couple of them and realised, that though they were better than me, it wasn’t by a great deal. “I went to the UK National Parkinson’s Championship in St Neot’s, won the Plate medal and a couple of
weeks later received an invite to play and represent England in the World Championships. How did I fare? Let’s say, I participated!! But the main impact has been the incredible, uplifting, positivity these events generated. “Since I was diagnosed in 2011, I’ve never wanted to spend time with a group of people with Parkinson’s, a mixture of not wanting to see how I might end up and simply wanting to continue being, well ‘normal’, for want of a better word. I’m still me. Parkinson’s doesn’t define me. It’s just a condition I happen to have. “However, as I very recently discovered, not everyone with Parkinson’s is treated
with respect by the general public. “So to see the joy experienced by so many people at these three events, realising that they could enjoy playing and simply be who they were, in a safe, incredibly supportive environment, is something I’ll never forget and I’m proud to be associated with them all through having Parkinson’s. “I try to do as much as I can each day but in a bizarre twist, Parkinson’s is giving me a new lease of life making it possible to become an international sports person!! “What next? World Champion? Probably not. There were 185 players from 20 different countries in Berlin.
“Now with the involvement of the International Table Tennis Federation, greater publicity, more people with Parkinson’s taking up the sport, the third World Championships in Croatia in October 2022 will be even bigger. “So it’s going to be much harder to get on the podium (and if the Chinese decide to send a team…!) but I’ll be doing all that I can over the next 11 months to put myself in the frame for selection. “Would I go with the intention of winning? Of course but the real prize is simply having the opportunity to meet up again with a truly amazing bunch of people.’’
Autumn auction raises £2,173 for charity THE Netherthong Community Partnership charity has had a great month fundraising to develop All Saints Church in Netherthong into a community centre while remaining as a place of worship. NCP received £2,173 from Graeme Hoyle, landlord of the Clothiers Arms in Netherthong, who held an Autumn Home Auction. Locals came together to bid for everything from pumpkins, home-made cakes, pickled onions, baby monitor to hampers of prime Angus beef and much more, all kindly donated by local people and businesses. They were ably encouraged to
part with their cash by the auctioneer, Nicky Black. As one local said, “I’d have happily paid just for the entertainment value! Nicky is fantastic at auctioneering!”. Photograph shows Graeme and Nicky handing over the cash to Helen Smith, Treasurer of NCP and Judith Roberts, Trustee. Thank you to Graeme, Nicky and all the staff who made it such a great afternoon. One-Community, the community foundation for the people of Kirklees, awarded a grant of £1,000 to pay for vital tree surgery work. Janet Clapham, NCP
secretary, said: “We applied for the grant to have three dangerous, dead trees removed. We have other work to do on the trees in the churchyard to make it a healthier environment for the trees, as well as visitors. Any donations would be very welcome. “James Tyas has completed the work on the wall along New Road. We are very grateful to him
for providing his excellent dry stone walling skills and materials for free. Thank you James, for your fantastic community spirit.’’ James, who works for his family firm 2jtgroundworks, said: “I like helping out, especially when it’s my local church”. The next fundraising event is the Christmas Market in All Saints Church in Netherthong on Saturday, November 27, 1pm to 5pm. Tickets are £4 each and include a glass of prosecco or mulled wine and a mince pie or piece of cake. Nonalcoholic options are on offer. Children can come in free with a paying adult. Other refreshments are on
sale, including delicious hot beef sandwiches. Tickets can be purchased from Londis in Netherthong or by contacting Netherthong Community Partnership events on Facebook. There are over 20 fantastic stalls selling a wide range of Christmas presents. Janet said: “We look forward to seeing you on November 27.’’ If you are interested in helping the NCP, please contact netherthongcp@ gmail.com or on Netherthong Community Partnership events on Facebook. You can also support us when you shop online using Easyfundraising.org.uk