NWR Connect - Autumn 2024

Reg Charity No 295198

Autumn 2024

Connect Grabbing life with both hands and making every second count Thornbury North NWR group exploring Frampton upon Severn

Letter from the Trustees Gill Wignall, Chair of Trustees, looks back at National Conference 2024, and takes us through some of the recent changes at NWR

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‘m delighted to welcome you to this first edition of NWR Connect, our new-look digital magazine. Lots of you suggested that the printed format was an expense we couldn’t afford, so this new approach means that we can save costs and also be connecting more often, as we plan to make this a quarterly magazine. Hopefully you’ll agree that’s a win-win! Thanks to Faith Oxford and Heather De Lacey who suggested the name.

I’m writing this having just returned from a fabulous weekend in Sheffield attending the 2024 National Conference ‘Women of Steel’. What an amazing and thought-provoking event! A great time was had by all, and I’d like to reiterate my thanks to the fantastic conference planning team – members from Sheffield Fulwood and Crookes - who went above and beyond to ensure the event was a resounding success.

We said thanks and farewell to patron Jasvinder Sanghera, whose term has now finished, and welcomed new patron Clare Nasir, meteorologist, broadcaster and climate change expert. We are looking forward to working with Clare and Jo Moseley to help progress NWR. We announced that due to a lack of volunteers, we would not be able to host a national conference in 2025 and our next one would be in Norwich in 2026, intriguingly entitled Cutting the Mustard. Since this announcement, a couple of groups have suggested they might be interested in arranging a 2025 conference. If this comes to fruition, you’ll be the first to know!

Sadly, our beloved founder, Maureen Nicol OBE, passed away on the 10th of August, aged 94. The original ‘lively minded woman,’ she lived a truly inspirational life, and we are committed to creating a thriving NWR as a legacy to her. As a tribute to her, we will be designating June Maureen Nicol Month. During this month, we would like to encourage all groups to get involved in a fundraising event for NWR. In response to our fundraising requests in June, you have raised an amazing £10,000. Thank you so much for your efforts. We will spend this on system improvements and marketing to attract new members and ensure NWR supports future generations of women. We’d really appreciate it if you could continue to help us, by welcoming new members to your groups, or by helping us to set up new groups. Thanks again and enjoy NWR Connect!

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NEWS Dance your cares away Janice Fraser runs NWR’s ‘Dance for Life’ classes, available via Zoom

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Fabulous fundraising Hilary Bates of Leighton Buzzard group explains how the group raised £400 for NWR

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e were lucky with the weather. The day we chose for the Leighton Buzzard NWR Nearly New Sale, Saturday August 17th, was warm and sunny. Area Supporter and Leighton Buzzard member, Heather, offered to host, and her paved garden was an ideal venue for bargain-hunters to partake of tea or coffee and home-made cakes whilst relaxing in (or out of) the sunshine.

When planning this fundraiser event we felt it was important to include a social element so that members (now over 45 of us) who may not see each other very often could get together for a chat and catch-up. A small group from nearby Milton Keynes West also came along.

The sale was set up in Heather’s conservatory, with three clothes rails borrowed from local members laden with many donated quality ladies’ fashion items, and jewellery, bags and scarves displayed on sofas, coffee tables and doors. An upstairs bedroom with full-length mirror was made available as a fitting room.

Local artist member, Sue, brought along a selection of her lino-print greetings cards to add to the sale. By 3 o’clock the house was buzzing with chat and laughter. Closing-time was at 4.30 pm and with a quick turn around Heather’s house was more or less restored to its former self by tea-time.

The final total raised for NWR funds amounted to £400 and, although there were a lot of items left over, we were very pleased with the outcome. Local charity shops have benefitted from our endeavours too.

A big “thank you” to all involved, especially those ladies who took the time to sort through their wardrobes.

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t was a great start to my year when NWR approached me about running a Zoom class for their members.

Having just moved in December 2023, the first couple of months were quite challenging—workers were in and out of the house, often in my line of sight, my allergies flared up due to the dust, and I was trying to settle into a new location after 25 years in my previous home.

Despite these challenges, I have thoroughly enjoyed the classes and the warm welcome I’ve received from all of you. I feel that I’m getting to know many of you now, which is lovely. Positive feedback is such a bonus when working remotely, as people are often less likely to speak up in a Zoom class.

If asked about my personal health goal, I would say it is to maintain a good quality of life, which means having good mobility. For this, we need balance and strength, which is why our classes offer a nice mix of exercises.

Recently, there has been some discussion about foot health in the press, and I’m pleased to see this focus, as it’s a part of the body I’m particularly keen to improve.

I’ve talked about foot health a lot recently—after all, how can we be truly healthy without it?

I’m excited that we have started our monthly coffee morning sessions and I hope to see many of you there. If you don’t think my dance class is for you, come along anyway, keep your camera off, and join us afterwards for coffee and a chat.

For our first coffee morning, I read a piece by Donna Ashworth, which we discussed together. This month, we are chatting about where we live.

This picture shows me practising strong leg moves while doing fine motor movements with my fingers.

Scientists say this can help sharpen our brains, and I’m all for that! If you were in the class recently, you’ll know how much laughter this brought us—and I’m definitely all for that too!

FEATURE Rescue on the high seas Hugh Gregory gave a presentation on his epic round-the-world clipper race to Edenbridge group (where his wife Linda is one of the Local Organisers). Lesley Dix was at the presentation and reported back for NWR Connect...

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ur story begins in 2005 when Hugh Gregory having braved telling his wife Linda about his longheld ambition – set off from Liverpool in a roundthe-world clipper race, with Linda manning the fort at home. He was sailing Jersey Clipper - one of 10 identical yachts built especially for the race – along with 19 other extensively trained amateurs and just one experienced crew skipper.

On the very first night, a journalist on board broke his leg and Jersey Clipper had to make a detour from its planned route to Portugal in order to meet the Fishguard lifeboat. The clipper then followed the trade winds across the Atlantic and down across the equator to Brazil.

The next stop was supposed to be Durban in South Africa but the skipper chose to divert to Cape Town because of a problem with the main mast, a decision he made to protect his crew despite the unwelcome delay to the race.

The clipper travelled on to Australia, Singapore, and was heading for China with speeds of up to 29 knots downwind in the Roaring Forties when all the clippers had to be diverted to the Philippines because of problems with the design of their keels. After a long delay, racing resumed, heading first to China and then on towards Canada – but shortly after leaving China, technical problems meant the Jersey Clipper was diverted to Japan.

During the latter part of the trip, Hugh suffered a significant injury after being trapped under the mainsheets in horrific weather. The clipper was in the middle of the North Pacific, so there were no nearby rescue services, meaning a large US icebreaker called Healy was the nearest rescue facility.

Hugh showed us a short video that the Healy crew had taken during the rescue, turning the episode into a mini home movie that underplayed their heroism and showed a real sense of fun in spite of the terrifying conditions. The crew, who said that they aspire to be as good as their heroes in the RNLI, had never attempted such a daring and dangerous rescue in the face of extreme weather conditions.

Hugh’s injuries proved to be life-threatening, so he had to endure a terrifying airlift by winch from the deck of the Healy. A nurse from the ship overcame her terror of both heights and helicopters and was winched aboard to look after him en route to hospital. He was taken to hospital in Anchorage until he was considered well enough to fly home, where he was promptly taken back into hospital.

Hugh was disappointed not to have been able to complete the race but he showed real bravery when coping with extremely serious injuries. Linda, too, showed great resolve, coping at home when she had no idea what injuries Hugh had sustained or where in the world he had been taken to for treatment. Waiting at home for the adventurers of this world takes courage in itself.

But the real heroes of this story are the crew of the US Healy.

And, to everyone’s amazement, just like the RNLI, they did not expect any financial recompense for their bravery.

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FEATURE FEATURE Climbing high In 2009, Amanda Richmond, a 54-year-old PE teacher from Ipswich, became the oldest British woman in the world to summit 8,850-metre-tall Mount Everest. In this Q&A, she explains to Amanda Vlietstra how determination, resilience and courage (NWR’s 2024 theme) helped her achieve her goals – and why she’s still climbing mountains!

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: Can you tell me a bit about your journey to climb Mount Everest?

A: I've been interested in the outdoors and mountaineering since a young age. After completing my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, I was inspired to take on greater challenges. One day, a student asked me why I didn't climb Everest, which planted the seed. I built up my mountaineering experience over the years, including expeditions to China and Bolivia, before Jagged Globe accepted me for an Everest expedition in 2009. It was an incredible experience to stand on the summit, with my Sherpa guide, taking in the amazing views.

Q: Mountaineering is a risky business. Have you experienced this for yourself?

A: I've had my fair share of mountaineering and skiing accidents. The most harrowing was on an expedition in the Pyrenees, where I suffered a spiral fracture of my femur after a fall on icy terrain. We were on bone hard ice with no opportunity to secure ourselves with a belay, so my partner persuaded me that we should turn round. It was on the way down that I fell and slid very fast down a steep slope but luckily managed to arrest before what could have been a fatality. I’ve also had two serious skiing accidents including one in March where I fractured my other femur in two places, requiring emergency surgery again! These injuries have been setbacks, but I'm determined to regain my fitness and get back to the mountains.

Q: How have you found the courage to keep pursuing your mountaineering goals after your accidents?

A: Honestly, my friends always question whether I should continue! The accidents have been frustrating and the recoveries hard work for me and my wonderfully patient NHS physio. But something deep inside me refuses to give up. I've always been driven by a sense of determination and a refusal to accept limitations. Even when I was laid up in the hospital, I was already planning my next expedition. I'm not ready to stop challenging myself yet.

Q: What were the conditions like when you climbed Everest? Was it a scary experience at any point?

A: We were really fortunate with the weather conditions on Everest. The climbing season falls between the monsoons, so we had stable, clear weather. The trek up to base camp took 12 days, allowing for proper acclimatisation. Once at base camp, it was about 7 weeks of moving up and down the mountain, to ensure thorough acclimatisation. The Sherpas did an amazing job establishing the camps and stocking them with food and supplies. Physically, it was extremely challenging, but I never felt true fear. I was focused and determined throughout. The summit day itself was the most incredible experience - standing on top of the world with Sherpa Mingma was awe-inspiring.

Q: How did you manage the logistics and costs of an Everest expedition?

A: The expeditions are incredibly expensive, but I was fortunate to have the financial means – I don’t have children, which helped! We also raised a significant amount of money for the British Heart Foundation through sponsorships. A key sponsor paid for my down suit. But the rest I had to fund myself. It was a big investment, but worth it for such an amazing experience.

Q: What advice would you give to others, especially older women, who may have dreams they want to pursue?

A: My message is simple - live your dream, whatever that may be. It doesn't have to be climbing Everest. It could be taking up a new hobby or sport, or just getting out and enjoying nature more. Don't let fear or self-doubt hold you back. Your body is capable of so much more than you think. I’d rather have tried and failed than lived a cautious life with regrets. So go for it, challenge yourself, and make the most of every day.

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Photo by Dinesh Bhusal at Unsplash

MEMBERS’ CORNER Scale the heights We hear from Susan Wheeler of Beith group about their adventures

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sn’t it great when you discover something amazing on your doorstep that you knew little about? That was the feeling for some of our Beith (North Ayrshire) Group when we visited Kilwinning Abbey Clock Tower and Heritage Centre – a mere nine miles away!

The 103 foot high Clock Tower dates from 1816 and lies in the grounds of the original medieval Abbey Tower.

Accompanied by a volunteer guide, we climbed the 143 steps of the winding stone staircase to visit heritage exhibits on the first, second and third floors, including the original clock mechanism and bells, before coming out on to the roof space! On a clear day this offers a 360 degree view of the town and surrounding Ayrshire countryside, however, as you can see, we were not quite so fortunate!

We retraced our 143 steps to the Centre to investigate the wide variety of items on display, especially those relating to the Papingo Shoot, an event still held annually at the Tower by the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers, the oldest archery organisation in the world dating back to 1483.

The Shoot involves the, now wooden, Papingo (pigeon) being placed at the top of the Tower with archers shooting at it from below. During a recent visit to the town Michael Portillo took part, and almost succeeded in hitting the target...but not quite!

To find out more about the history and heritage of this area of Ayrshire visit their website https://www.kilwinningheritage.org.uk/

Frampton wander Rose Bickerton of Thornbury North group shares their summer stroll

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n a blustery day in August members of Thornbury North set off on an invigorating circular walk through Frampton on Severn and along the Gloucester and Sharpness canal, with wonderful views across the river to enjoy too.

We were in delightful company and good spirits as we soaked up the interesting sights and sounds of the picture perfect village. With the smell of the artisan bakery wafting our way as we passed by, we were ready for the reward of a delicious ‘al fresco’ pub lunch once we had stretched our legs. Thank you to Eryl for organising a great summer outing.

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MEMBERS’ CORNER Uzbekistan – where?

Jo Thomson of Leighton Buzzard group answers

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his was the most frequently asked question when I told people I was planning a holiday in Uzbekistan.It has always appealed to me as it is on the Silk Road, and having followed the Silk Road all through China I was curious to investigate further west. In addition, I had seen many photos of colourful tiled buildings, and I wanted to know more.

After months of planning and research, our trip finally started in May 2024, flying to Tashkent to begin our tour. My friend and I were part of a group of twenty-one tourists who all had the same interest in finding out more about this country which is more or less completely unknown to the Western world.

Uzbekistan has been an independent country since 1991, having been under Russian rule since 1924. It is a vast area, landlocked and very rich in natural resources which are a great boost to their growing economy.

As soon as they became independent it was decided to change from the Cyrillic to the Roman alphabet so that their written language could be more easily understood by other nationalities. The language is Turkic in origin and can sound a bit like Russian but is in fact quite different. Another very important step forward since independence was to introduce the teaching of English rather than Russian in schools, thus giving students more strengths to be able to travel and work abroad. Tourism is a very important part of the national economy and we were made to feel very welcome wherever we went.

After our arrival in Tashkent we were whisked off to visit a mausoleum, an Islamic centre and some beautiful domed mosques, covered in blue, green and gold tiles, gleaming in the sun. The buildings look very ancient but were largely rebuilt following the major earthquake in 1966. This practice applied to many buildings in different towns, not necessarily as a result of earthquakes but because the structures deteriorate after a while due to the very dry climate. We quickly learnt that meals would be very substantial, with lunch and dinner being identical. The food was always delicious but there were usually at least three courses with constantly large portions – rather overwhelming! I decided after a few days that I would miss out a few courses at each meal so as not to feel like a stuffed cushion twice a day.

After Tashkent we took an early flight the next day to Nukus, a very ancient city on the edge of the desert. We visited the ancient site of Mizdahkan, an enormous cemetery with a mausoleum and some very impressive tombs.

The ground was dry and sandy and the air very hot, around 30 degrees Centigrade at least. This was a little hotter than had been expected for this time of year, but temperatures do get very high in the summer, and rainfall is at present very low, causing a problem for farmers. Agriculture is an important part of the economy, particularly in terms of exports. We were also taken to an impressive art gallery which had been founded by an Uzbek benefactor who wanted to encourage both Russian and Uzbek artists to feel free to paint as they wished, and then he would purchase their work. The collection was very comprehensive and it was interesting to see how Russian artists could express themselves when they were free of the imperative to paint happy pictures of workers in the fields.

Over the next two days we travelled across the desert; flat, sandy terrain as far as the eye could see, with ancient forts dotted along the way as lookouts for enemy invaders. It was constantly hot and dry, with the temperature reaching nearly 40 degrees at times. Some of the forts had been rebuilt because of the effects of weather and destruction, but even so only the bare bones of the buildings were visible.

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MEMBERS’ CORNER There were signs of habitation along the way, and certainly there would have been oases for merchants to stop when travelling along the Silk Road. One day we stopped for lunch in a yurt, which was beautifully decorated with many colourful rugs on the floor and more rugs and hangings on the walls – quite a large space which would easily accommodate a family, but in this case had tables all around the walls to accommodate tourist groups. You had to sit on the floor, but at least there was space under the table for your legs, so it was not necessary to kneel or sit crosslegged, as some had feared.

After Nukus we visited Khiva, a walled city which was very attractive but almost too perfect, and we felt that it had been mostly reconstructed to appeal to tourists. Everywhere we went there were stalls on the side of the road selling colourful patchwork jackets, delicate silk scarves, hats, jewellery and many other things besides. We did not have much time to shop as our guide was keen to show us as much of the history as possible, but we managed to snatch a few minutes here and there to purchase something which caught our eye.

The national currency is the Som, and only available within the country. The exchange rate when we were there was about 15,000 Som to the Pound, so it was sometimes tricky to work out exactly how much anything actually cost. Dollars and Euros were also accepted, as well as credit cards, but the locals seemed to appreciate payment in their own currency where possible.

After Khiva we moved on to Bukhara, another important stop on the Silk Road, and an opportunity to try the national dish of Plov, of which we had heard much from our guide. It is basically Pilaff under a different name, containing meat, vegetables, nuts and herbs and the all-important rice. It is placed in a large pot and cooked slowly without stirring, and is delicious when cooked properly. We tried this for the first time in the home of a carpet seller, whose intricately patterned products were displayed all around the walls, on tables, the floors and any available space. There was no pressure to buy anything, but I think some members of our group succumbed.

This part of Uzbekistan has a large Persian population, and the influence can be seen in the architecture and decoration in the tiles – the peacock is the most important symbol. The country as a whole has a very mixed population of races from different parts of Asia and the Middle East, and the predominant religion is Islam. It seems to be a fairly tolerant version, in that women seem to be able to choose whether to cover up completely, just cover their heads or not at all. When we visited mosques we women were required to cover our heads but were always provided with a scarf if necessary. If anyone was wearing shorts they were given a shawl to wrap around the waist, but we didn’t see any tourists wearing the skimpiest of clothing – it wasn’t that kind of holiday destination!

Bukhara was followed by a train journey to Samarkand, in a modern and clean train with staff wearing Russianstyle uniform with the enormous peaked hats which are a feature of Russian military dress. The system seemed to run efficiently and there was even a food trolley selling, among other items, ice cream! Very welcome on a hot afternoon. Samarkand is probably the most well-known city in Uzbekistan, situated on the Silk Road and near to the birthplace of Tamberlaine, who is revered as a national hero having followed on from Genghis Khan, building up the country after it had been systematically destroyed. His Uzbek name is Amir Timur and there are huge statues of him in this region. His grandson was Ulug Beg, a brilliant mathematician and astronomer who built an enormous sextant to observe the planets. He made many important discoveries centuries before they were internationally recognised, but unfortunately the religious leaders did not approve of the information he was publishing and so assassinated him.

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MEMBERS’ CORNER There is so much to say about Uzbekistan, the glorious intricately patterned tiling on the walls and roofs of mosques and minarets, usually in blue, turquoise and white, but occasionally other colours too. The heavy traffic in the cities compared with horse or donkey-driven carts in the countryside. The fact that most motor vehicles are white to deflect the hot sun in the summer, the utterly fearless car drivers who seemed to dice with death at every turn.The very sumptuous hotel buildings which didn’t always have electrical sockets in the bedrooms, and the hotel staff who were delightful but looked terrified of tourists and their various demands. I would certainly recommend a visit – you will not be disappointed.

Caribbean adventures Fiona Catterson of Kilbarchan group shares the highlights of her Jamaican experience

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n April 2016 my husband and I went to Jamaica as part of his 60th Birthday Music Tour.

We started off by staying a few nights in New York before continuing on to Nashville, then on to Memphis and Graceland, then to New Orleans before flying to Jamaica.

When in Jamaica we were warned not to stray too far from the beaten track but we wanted to see the real country so booked a private tour with our own guide who took us round the island visiting the things we wanted to see.

My husband is a big James Bond fan and Jamaica has been used as the location for several of the films, plus Ian Fleming lived on the island, so his house and sites round the island were on our itinerary. After seeing the locations we then re-watched the films when we got home and spent the time shouting at the tv "we've seen that!" and "we've just been there!" and "it looks just like that!".

We also wanted to see the real Port Royal as we both were fans of Pirates of the Caribbean. We watched these films when we got home too, but they weren't filmed on location in Jamaica, so we couldn't shout at the telly in the same way!

We had a trip to the Blue Mountains to a coffee plantation and tasted their produce.

Because we were on a Music Tour we also visited Bob Marley's house which was very interesting as it is very "poor" by Western standards. Indeed, as soon as we were away from main areas the poor living conditions were noticeable. That said, the Jamaicans didn't think of themselves as "poor" as they worked, had a house, food for the family etc. We could learn a lot from this outlook.

Needless to say, we sampled many Jamaican and Caribbean foods: jerk chicken, rice and peas, ackee, saltfish, callaloo and plantain to name a few.

It goes without saying that we sampled the rum cocktails of the day each day. I am not really a fan of rum but.......when in the Caribbean......drink rum!

It was certainly a trip to remember and is an interesting part of the world to explore as it has such a history.

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MEMBERS’ CORNER New date for Calendar Girls Heather de Lacey updates us on Leighton Buzzard group’s holiday plans

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n April, seven of us from the Leighton Buzzard group (now dubbed the “Calendar Girls” – don’t ask - but I think alcohol may have been involved!) enjoyed yet another first for our group, namely a long HF Holidays weekend in Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds. Walks of varying lengths were available on both days and we all agreed they were tough because the conditions underfoot were so tricky (as you’re reading this, you may have forgotten how much rain we had then), but most managed well.

It was great fun, well organised by HF, friendly, welcoming and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We had plenty of good food, drank quite a lot of wine, laughed a lot and entered wholeheartedly into skittles on the Saturday night – with one of our seven spectacularly missing all ten skittles...no mean feat!

Such was its success that another trip, this time to the Isle of Wight, has already been booked with HF for March 2025.

We’d love to hear from other groups who do something similar.

Monday walkers Reflective words from Nicky Wheeliker of Rotherham group

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MEMBERS’ CORNER The art of nature Susan Baird and Margaret Borthwick of Kilbarchan group explore Margaret’s journey as an artist

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his summer, long-term Kilbarchan NWR member of 48 years, Dr Margaret Borthwick graduated with a BA Honours degree in Painting from the University of Creative Arts in Painting in London. At the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall, Margaret told her ‘dresser’ that her services were not available at her first graduation in Edinburgh 53 years previously. Her dresser replied that Margaret was inspirational.

A lovely comment from a personable stranger but had she known more about Margaret’s journey to her second degree she might have been even more inspired.

It was after returning from South America with her family aged 13 that Margaret attended her first real art lesson in secondary school. The teacher unkindly told her at one point that her work was ‘absolutely awful’. A month later, after being put up a year at school, art was no longer an option, but Margaret’s confidence in her ability was shattered.

Margaret thinks her love of art comes from books, especially illustration by Margaret Tarrant and Cicely Mary Barker.

Her mother was a keen watercolourist, but drawing and painting did not dominate Margaret’s early life.

Margaret went to Medical school in Edinburgh and remembers being envious of the students at the Art school.

After university, Margaret became a GP, married and had a family. Age 58, she semi-retired due to a bout of ill health and finally had time to pursue her love of art. She joined a local art class but realised she had to learn basic skills and techniques by attending diverse classes in Glasgow including the School of Art and Strathclyde University. Her first class was life drawing, and she was surprised when the model stripped off!

In 2012, with the encouragement of a local artist and tutor, Margaret began to study painting with the Open College of the Arts. This is mainly distance learning and comprises a number of modules at three levels. Initially she was not aiming for a degree but taking each module at a time, with each module lasting about a year. Two other local artists doing the course became her great friends and support, meeting up, looking at work, talking through ideas and encouraging each other. Distance learning can be very isolating.

Having completed a more practical medical degree, Margaret found writing, analysis and deciphering the words and language of art academics challenging. Harvard referencing was a new language. Tutors were helpful and encouraging and as the course progressed, Zoom meetings and critiques with fellow students became the norm. Her friends in Kilbarchan NWR became a sounding board for her paintings, which were shared through the WhatsApp group.

The course took 11 years to complete. Her husband Pat died suddenly so she took a year out. With lockdown, Margaret found her love of landscape painting and her major project over two years involved collaborative walking with her dogs, friends and family. She explored the woodlands and wetland of local landscape at Castle Semple Country Park. Many areas were new to her and looking, listening and exploring in all weathers and seasons developed a sense of place and improved her mental health in difficult times. Margaret began to focus on trees and fungi, enjoying the detail of colour, shape and texture.

Margaret’s degree show was held in the Beacon Centre in Greenock in April 2023.

Graduation in London in July 2024 was a most enjoyable, well organised experience. She met many of her fellow students face-to-face and one of her favourite tutors.

Plans for the future include exhibitions, a residency in Devon, and a painting holiday in Uzbekistan. Margaret continues to learn and enjoy her art. Her story shows that it is never too late to follow your dreams.

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MEMBERS’ CORNER Windrush legacy

Paws for thought

Sue Hooper of Trentham group reports on a fascinating talk about Windrush

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n June this year the Trentham Group invited Esther Stapleton-Stone, wife of the vicar at Trentham Church and daughter of Bishop James Stapleton OBE, to give a talk on the Windrush story. We also invited friends and relatives as well as church members.

The talk gave insight into why so many people from the Caribbean chose to come over to England, and the discrimination and rejection, as well as the labour and housing issues, some faced.

Esther and her father together wrote the book on William Chong who was a Windrush passenger from Jamaica and she gave a brief history of his life and the successful business he eventually built up from the inheritance he received following the death of his employer. William was an inspirational person who helped students learn about black history in a relevant way. In 2013 he received his Lifetime Windrush Award.

Esther also told us the story of her father and mother who had travelled from St Kitts and Jamaica to England, arriving full of hope like so many of the Windrush Generation. James Stapleton settled in Nottingham in 1957, his wife joining him a year later. He worked during the day and went to college at night, using the skills he learnt to repair televisions for friends and workmates.

Later in life he was asked to join many boards ranging from education to community business enterprises that culminated in him receiving an OBE. James dedicated his life to serving the community in chaplaincy roles and eventually become a Bishop. Now, as chairman of the Windrush Awards Committee he is committed to championing unsung heroes and heroines in our community.

Esther is also a singer/songwriter, and was the President of the Nottingham City Business Club from 2004 to 2005. She has been the Windrush Awards coordinator for over 10 years, producing events that reflect the excellence and brilliance of their culture.

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The fabulous Ned six months into his training with Julia

Julia Chedgey of Basingstoke group describes her journey as a “puppy parent” for a charity that assists disabled people

I wanted to share with you all my volunteering journey with Canine Partners, a small national charity set up in 1990 to provide dogs trained to assist disabled people with everyday tasks. Let me enlighten you: I am what is called a “puppy parent” which involves taking on a puppy from eight weeks old until around 18 months, when they go off to the national centre for their advanced training before being matched with a disabled person. You have to train the puppy, not only in the basic skills you would normally do for your own puppy, but in extra tasks that they need to master before moving on, including tugging without shaking (as they need to learn to open doors), touching so they can press buttons and switches, and going on buses, trains, to the shops etc. Support is given by a designated trainer who you see weekly at first. You also attend puppy classes where the puppy learns to complete tasks with the added distraction of other puppies.

My journey started with Cecil, a yellow labrador x retriever, who went on to his advanced training this February. Although I was sad to see him go, I tried to remember that it was my privilege to be part of his journey to helping someone who needed him. Cecil was a wonderful dog, always keen to learn new skills whilst being equally happy to curl up in front of the fire at the end of a busy day.

I have no doubt that he will enhance someone’s life immeasurably, bringing them help and comfort and a sense of independence, as well as being a loyal friend for life. It was a joy to see Cecil gradually transform from a mischievous puppy into a very confident and happy dog.

I cannot deny that it was sometimes frustrating and it is definitely a big commitment, but it is so very rewarding. Six months ago, I took on a Labradoodle puppy called Ned so it all started again!

I cannot recommend highly enough taking on this role with Canine Partners, so please have a look at their website caninepartners.org.uk to find out more. There are some heartwrenching stories from recipients of one of these amazing dogs which will bring tears to your eyes - they certainly did mine.