Local Heroes

Brenda Parsons

Polio Day in Orpington High Street Brenda In Polio Ward in New Dehli

Sarah Spencer-Adams nominated Brenda, a member of the Rotary Satellite Group in Orpington & Zone coordinator for Rotary in south east England & Gibraltar, as a local hero.

Sarah said: “Brenda works tirelessly to uphold and promote Rotary’s principles. She amazes me with her unstinting enthusiasm and tenacity to support others. She has been involved in setting up the army of volunteers to support the Covid vaccination programme in the south east and is a regular Bromley food bank volunteer. She was also key in coordinating sewers for scrubs for the NHS at the height of the pandemic and is looking at how Rotary can support local secondary school children who have literacy difficulty. She has done all this whilst recently losing her mother; Brenda is a very special lady who responds to every request for help.”

First of all, how do you feel about being nominated as a local hero and can you give us a bit of background about yourself?

I am ordinary, certainly not special, but I am proud to volunteer in my community and be part of the new really active Rotary Satellite in Orpington. I have lived in Orpington for 40 years with my husband, Jim, and we have one son, Alex, who is now a composer for television. Professionally, my background is primarily in teaching and the education sector, and when I retired I went to Morley College to study Textiles followed by the Windsor Campus of Bucks University to study Stitched Textiles Schools. I now exhibit and run textile and multi-media workshops internationally.

How did you come to get involved in Rotary and what is your role there?

After giving a talk about Princes Trust and Young Enterprise to Rotary in Bexley, I was asked to join them. I really became committed to activities after going to India to give polio vaccines and then to Nepal to visit a school supported by Orpington Crofton Club, which I later transferred to. Suddenly I felt part of Rotary International, one of the largest humanitarian organisations in the world and not just part of a small club. Three years ago I was the District lead for Rotary in South East England and Gibraltar. This was great as I worked with over 70 clubs in the SE including those in Bromley Borough and was able to join in their activities and really see and promote the amazing work they were all doing. Currently, I am the lead for Basic Education and Literacy and the Co-lead for Resilience for Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland. I have been representing Rotary on the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergency Partnership across Southern England since the beginning of the pandemic. I see my key role in Rotary to work in partnership with others to make Orpington and our borough a friendly and supportive place to live, helping bring opportunities and support to residents of all ages.

Have you been involved in anything else community-related locally?

I instigated a socially-distanced afternoon tea on our drives last May in front gardens and drives, providing music and homemade bunting for several houses. I also co-ordinated the collection of pamper gifts from our close for the local hospitals. Amongst other things, I have provided Dementia Friends sessions for Year 7 students at Darrick Wood Secondary School, the National Citizenship programme and for local charities. I am also on the Bromley Dementia working group, have volunteered at the food bank and at various Vaccination Centres and coordinated around 100 local volunteers to make and deliver 7,000 Scrubs bags, Hearts for hospitals and 3,000 travel to work masks.

What is it you love most about our local area? And how important are community schemes and local charities?

I find the people of Orpington and its surrounding areas really friendly. We need to support our local shops so they not only survive but grow. We are lucky to have wonderful green spaces and woodlands and even fields within walking distance and I have enjoyed using local walks as inspiration for my art work.

If you could send out a message to our community, what would it be?

Be kind and smile; just one act of kindness every day - no matter how small - can make a real difference to how people feel. Remember too, a smile costs nothing! If we do this Orpington will grow to be an even better place that we can all enjoy. We are so lucky to live where we do. We have beautiful green spaces and opportunities many do not have. Let’s appreciate this and nurture them. We also invite you to join Rotary, to share your talents and passions, be our friends and volunteer together.

A special ‘Thank You’ to Time For Flowers for sponsoring the bouquets for our Local Heroes.

Ready to test students at Orpington college Brenda & Sue from Time For Flowers