Townswoman Issue 3 2020

Cover VERSION

TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILDS – MAKING WOMEN’S LIVES BETTER SINCE 1929

ISSUE 03 2020 X≥≥»0 ᒆ‫א ב‬ᒆ‫א‬ᒆ

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THE BRIGHT SIDE

Compassion and kindness in the time of coronavirus SUBS

HEDY LAMARR Film star and scientist

WIN!

ART

£100 worth of fabulous fashion

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l a c i d Me magic

Dr Nur Lubis, consultant anaesthetist – see page 32

ale team es m e -f ll a e h T ildren’s liv h c g in g n cha 1

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Welcome, 1

WELCOME

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Published on behalf of the Townswomen’s Guilds

by Think, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH www.thinkpublishing.co.uk

ART

Editor Jane Yettram Designers John Pender, Felipe Perez Chief sub-editor Marion Thompson Account director Rachel Walder Advertising sales executive Jamie Dawson 020 3771 7201 jamie.dawson@ thinkpublishing.co.uk

PRODUCTION CLIENT

Special thanks to Rhiannon Batsford and Beryl Hales of TGHQ. We welcome your stories, comments and suggestions. Please email photographs if possible.

Or, if posting, send duplicate photographs only, as originals cannot be returned. Email or write to TGHQ at the addresses above.

The publisher cannot be held responsible for loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. The views of contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the policy of the Townswomen’s Guilds nor those of the publisher. © 2020 Townswomen.

All rights reserved. Every reasonable endeavour has been made to find and contact the copyright owners of the works included in this magazine.

However, if you believe a copyright work has been included without your permission, please contact the publisher. All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at time of going to print.

Printed by Pureprint.

Stepping

onwards W

hat a strange time we are living in. No one could have foreseen this when we were at Cheltenham for our last AGM. Now we will have no traditional AGM this year.

Some of you will have spent the past few months alone at home. Some will have been ill, and I hope you have fully recovered. Some will have lost friends or family to the virus or because of it. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been bereaved. It is hard to think that Townswomen cannot be there to support fellow members with a hug, or the 101 things friends do to support one another in difficult times. We will remember these losses in our Carol Services and with a minute’s silence at the 2021 AGM. Many of you have been working hard to keep in contact with one another. Our wellreceived Townswomen in Contact newsletter will continue until meetings restart. We have been working on other ways to meet, and I must thank Trustee Beryl Hales and Recruitment Officer Sara Trayers for their determination to get TiG off the ground.

See page 17 for how to get involved and help us to promote our new arrival.

The Trustees have continued to meet regularly via the internet and, together As I write this, restrictions are beginning with TG staff, have found ways to plan to loosen, but we are still required to keep for the future. We have updated the up social distancing. Why not start your get-togethers with a socially distanced picnic database with all affiliation on 15 August, VJ Day, with everyone information we have received, Recruitment! bringing their own food? but are aware that some Finished with your Times remain difficult, but Guilds were unable to copy of Townswoman? we are Townswomen and collect subscriptions Leave it in the hairdressing ToGether we can continue to before lockdown. So salon, a café, or on the bus or train make women’s lives better, we have not removed for someone to find. The next reader could be inspired to join TG. including our own. anyone from the Recycling! If you don’t pass member list unless on or keep your magazine, we have been advised remember that it isn’t just that they have left.

Townswoman that’s recyclable – We know the the polywrap it arrives in is too.

Just take it to carrier bag remaining affiliation collection points at major fees will reach us when Penny Ryan, supermarkets. you meet again.

National Chair

Mouse About Town (www.mouseabouttown.co.uk)

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Townswomen’s Guilds Gee Business Centre, First Floor, Gee House, Holborn Hill, Birmingham B7 5JR Tel: 0121 326 0400 Email: contact GET IN @the-tg.com TOUCH www.the-tg.com

Try a socially distanced picnic

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Serious Readers

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Contents

28

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Bulletin 6

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NOTEBOOK Keep up to date with all the latest TG news 13 WHAT’S ON We’ll meet again – TG events to look forward to when life gets back to normal

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14 E VENTS ROUND-UP Seven former National Chairmen transport us back to some past great TG occasions 17 RECRUITMENT Special delivery – give a warm welcome to TG’s new arrival

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Living

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27 REMARKABLE WOMEN Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor 28 SILVER LININGS Compassion during coronavirus 31 10 TOP TIPS Setting up a Guild book group 32 A DAY IN THE LIFE Dr Nur Lubis on a mission in Morocco 34 A PICTURE OF HEALTH How art has the power to change lives 42 MY WORLD Norma Barker and the charity knitting for newborns

27 Time for you

37 AT OUR SERVICE Books about doctors, nurses, carers and more 38 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Rise and shine: mindful baking 40 PUZZLES AND GIVEAWAYS Give your brain a workout and win some great prizes

42 LOOK OUT

for the next issue of Townswoman – out on 23 October 2020

Your TG

18 MAILBAG Your letters and emails 20 TOWNSWOMEN TOGETHER Guilds & Feds share their pictures 25 JOAN’S WAR One member’s memories of being a World War II evacuee

Our campaigns 26 UPDATE Boosting TG’s campaigning spirit

On the cover All cover stories are marked with a heart.

Townswomen’s Guilds was born 91 years ago in 1929. Since then, we have been bringing fun and f riendship to thousands, and speaking out on issues our members care about.

Not part of TG? We’d love you to join us.

Visit www.the-tg.com Email contact@the-tg.com Call 0121 326 0400

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Contents, 1

CONTENTS

BULLETIN NEWS VERSION

Notebook

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Your TG news

PRODUCTION

Sam Pharoah Photography

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To avoid members travelling and the need to find a large venue for a very short meeting, we are asking you to agree to a written resolution allowing 20 or so members to meet electronically as an emergency event. We will also ask you to vote on the business items: the annual report, the accounts and Independent Examiner’s Report, appointment of Independent Examiners and confirmation of Trustees.

At the end of July/beginning of August, copies of the 2020 accounts and a voting form will be sent to all Guild Primary Contacts. We then need you to complete the voting form and send it back to us.

You will need to provide an envelope and stamp as Freepost addresses and prepaid envelopes are not always prioritised by Royal Mail at present. We will also accept voting forms that have been scanned and sent electronically.

The covering letter will set out dates and National Chair Penny Ryan explains how the essential we hope to have an online Zoom AGM to announce the results of votes, which business of this year’s AGM will take place must be made on the appropriate form.

As you know we had to cancel this year’s At the time of writing (early June) it We promised you a Q&A session at the AGM in Scarborough. Our AGMs cover seems possible that lockdown may be AGM and I am anxious that we should be much more than the statutory business eased somewhat by September, but that transparent, so we would like you to send elements, which are almost buried in the social distancing rules will still apply, in questions any way you can and we will excitement of mandate debates, awards making large meetings difficult. If we find a way to make your question and and speakers. All those items can be held a physical meeting, we would our answer available to all. Please cancelled but the business elements need a quorum of 20% of tell us your Guild name and Congratulatio must happen somehow, and ideally Guilds represented, meaning mark your envelope/email ns to Trustee Je within 15 months of the last meeting.

100 delegates being present.

‘Questions for the board’. an W Usually, delegates vote at the AGM. This year Trustees will be making sure that this can happen without having to meet face to face

AGM 2020 2021 EXHIBITION Although we missed out on our Scarborough AGM this year, happily we will be heading to the seaside town for next year’s AGM – and one of the highlights will be an exhibition entitled ‘What TG Means to Me’, showing off the creativity of Townswomen from

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across the country. Entries can be a poem, a written article (not more than 400 words and A4 size), or a piece of knitting, crochet or craftwork in any medium, and all will be displayed at the 2021 AGM. Closing date to be confirmed – look out for further details.

atkins, electe d Vice Chairm an at a recent onlin e board meeting. All other Trustees are staying in post.

Notebook, 1

VJ DAY AND PRINCESS ANNE’S BIRTHDAY

WHY I’M GLAD TO BE A TRUSTEE I became a member of the TG community only five years ago when I retired from full-time work. I didn’t know much about TG or its heritage at that time. As I learnt more about its history and values, I realised this was where I should be.

After a year I was asked to be chair of my local Guild, and very shortly after that, chair of our Federation. All this led to me attending national AGMs and At Homes, and once again I saw TG from a different perspective, understanding how different parts of the jigsaw fit together.

I met the then National Chair, who encouraged me to become a Trustee.

My feet haven’t touched the ground since and I’m loving it – attending national meetings, getting to know members in my patch, meeting so many Townswomen at national events, working in my TG area of responsibility, seeing our paid staff and the hard work they do to keep the TG wheels turning effectively…

I still chair my local Federation and attend meetings at my own Guild – and I love the fact that TG continues to evolve with social media, online meetings, student Guilds and much more.

TG is fun and fulfilling, whether you want to make new friends, share experiences, learn new skills or – like me – enjoy being part of helping TG progress. Just as it did in the past, TG has a part to play in so many women’s lives, both now and in the future. I am really proud to be able to be a small part of it.

How did I ever find time to go to work?

National Trustee Jean Watkins

In Issue 1 2020 of Townswoman and the February mailing (still available on the TG website) we suggested holding vintage picnics to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, the day World War II hostilities ceased. Certainly, veterans we have spoken to, who fought in the Far East, are pleased we are remembering the part they played.

An alternative vintage celebration picnic to hold on that day is to mark the birth of our Patron, Princess Anne, in 1950. A lot of the picnic food suggestions we made still applied when she was born, as some rationing was still in place.

However, don’t be too lavish – tea was rationed until 1952, sugar until 1953, and cheese, fats, meat, ham and bacon until 1954.

May 1950, however, brought the end of rationing for canned and dried fruit, chocolate biscuits, treacle, syrup, jellies and mincemeat. So why not buy chocolate biscuits, make fruit in jelly, and bake a birthday cake using a fruit cake recipe like those in old Be-Ro flour

cookery books, which many of our mothers owned?

With socially distanced meetings permitted, you could meet five other members in a local park or one member’s garden. Or join us for a Zoom picnic on Saturday 15 August from 2-4pm. Contact Beryl Hales (beryl.tg@outlook.com) for details.

Whatever you do, take some photos and show us your celebrations. You can send them by post or email, or put them on the Member Forum on the TG website.

Mouse About Town (www.mouseabouttown.co.uk)

VJ DAY AND PRINCESS ANNE’S BIRTHDAY

NEW BEGINNINGS Townswomen’s Guilds is a large family and, like all families, we wait eagerly for news about a new arrival. So we’re thrilled to let you know that our latest way of becoming a member is here!

On 15 June, instead of getting ready for a trip to Scarborough, we spent our time letting our Patron, President and Vice Presidents, Honorary Members, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV know all about TiG. We sent out new arrival cards, postcards and letters, tweeted and put a video on Facebook and our website. And if you too

would like to print and send a TiG new arrival postcard, you will find it in the Members’ Area of the website.

TiG – Townswomen’s Internet Guilds TiG will let women who want to belong to the

TG family, but cannot get to a Guild, do so from the comfort of their own homes via our website.

TiG has its own i-Guild spot in our Members’ Area and, like all newborns, we will be introducing TiG gradually to the current TG family.

We will be able to make it available to many more new and existing members as it grows stronger.

If you or your Guild would like information about meeting through TiG, please contact Sara Trayers (sara@the-tg.com).

And to read more about TiG, see page 17.

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BULLETIN NEWS VERSION

BLACK LIVES MATTER

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At the time of writing, there is global protest about the unfair treatment of black people – sparked by an incident in the US, but prompting us all to consider how our own countries are faring and how they could be better.

By the time you read this, progress may have been made or perhaps there will still be work to be done.

Perhaps the media will act as though everything is back to ‘normal’.

Whatever the case, TG is committed to speaking out against racism and amplifying the voices of the black and minority ethnic population in the UK. Some members may consider this ‘too political’ for TG. In response to one such query, National Chair Penny Ryan has written: ‘What does political mean? The dictionary definition is “relating to the Government or public

affairs of a country”. Whenever we seek to change an aspect of society it could be argued that we are being political and, taking that to an extreme, no charity would be able to do anything.

‘Charity Commission guidance states that charities cannot be formed for specifically political purposes – but can take part in political activity to further their charitable purposes.

A charity must make it clear that they are independent of politicians and political parties and should not facilitate a Trustee or member of staff expressing party political views.’

We have added resources to the website (www.the-tg.com/ blacklivesmatter). Please look at this as a human rights issue and support the cause however you can.

PRODUCTION

TG 2020 CHALLENGE

CLIENT

Some might argue that 2020 has been enough of a challenge already, but even as we have faced strange new circumstances, we know that challenge is something TG members meet head-on. We also know that lockdown and social distancing measures have made things more difficult for those looking to take part in the TG 2020 Challenge (announced in Townswoman Issue 1 2020).

So we’ve put together ideas on how to fulfil the challenges, whatever coronavirus precautions are in place.

1. DO SOMETHING NEW IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND SHOUT OUT ABOUT IT

If you have been growing plants from seeds or cuttings and have some to spare (when thinning out for example), put them by your gate for passers-by to take, with a sign saying that they are from a TG member.

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The sign says Sherwood, but for Beryl this is the South Downs

2. TAKE UP A NEW SPORT OR PASTIME

Why not walk a National Trail, climb a mountain or walk to a favourite place – without leaving home or straying very far? National Vice Chair Beryl Hales walked the distance to her local Elizabethan house, Wollaton Hall, and back again through three days of cleaning, gardening and daily Government-sanctioned walks. She also completed a Swallows and Amazons

walk in the Lake District and is currently on her virtual way from Winchester to Eastbourne on the South Downs Way. Keep a note of how many steps you take a day (a pedometer or phone app will help) and turn this into the distance you have walked. Do the maths yourself: walking 2,000 steps = one mile; climbing a flight of 10 stairs = 38 steps on level ground. Or use an online converter such as www.kylesconverter. com. Keep track of how far you have travelled and plot this on a map. You can find out about National Trails and interactive maps at www. nationaltrail.co.uk and mountain walks at www. virtualmountains.co.uk.

3. HELP LOCAL WOMEN FOR FREE

If you’ve been having a sortout and found unopened toiletries, offer them to a food

bank, homeless organisation or women’s refuge.

4. HELP CHILDREN GET TO KNOW ABOUT TG

Term might be finished, but offer your knowledge and skills to the parents of children who have been schooled at home and talk about how, as a TG member, you enjoy learning yourself.

5. TAKE AN ACTION PHOTO OF YOUR GUILD HAVING FUN IN AN UNUSUAL WAY

Are you using your phone, Facebook, Skype or Zoom to meet other members for afternoon tea, play an online game, go to a Guild choir practice or another activity?

Take a selfie or ask someone to photograph you taking part.

Tell us how you are getting on – by post, email or using the forum on the TG website.

Notebook, 2

DR CATHERINE HAMLIN

Sadly, Dr Catherine Hamlin has died at the age of 96. Faith Dixon of Heysham Guild wrote to mark her passing.

I know that many Guilds support the work of the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by knitting beautiful blankets. There have been letters and articles in our magazine from time to time about the work of the hospital. Sadly, Dr Catherine Hamlin died on 18 March at her home within the hospital grounds.

It is 61 years since she and her late husband, Dr Reginald Hamlin, founded the hospital, setting up a health network treating women who suffer the most debilitating and horrific childbirth injury – obstetric fistula. With compassion, they devoted themselves to transforming the lives of thousands of the world’s poorest women through skilled surgery and treatments – all free of charge.

Dr Catherine – a truly remarkable lady who until her last day passionately believed that all women should have access to maternal healthcare – will be mourned worldwide. She was confident that her legacy would live on and said: ‘When I die this place will go on for many years until we have eradicated fistula altogether – until every woman in Ethiopia is assured of a safe delivery and a live baby.’

The work continues and all supporters are committed to ensuring that Catherine’s dream becomes a reality. She has been called the Mother Teresa of Ethiopia – not just a remarkable woman but a true saint.

MAKE A CARD FOR TG Don’t forget that we would like our talented members to make a card or two for us to send to TG’s special people – from our Patron, Princess Anne, to Townswomen turning 100.

Cards should fit a C5 envelope and you may add your name and your Guild on the back.

Please send completed cards to TGHQ, marked for Penny Ryan’s attention. And do take pictures of your cards to post on TG’s Facebook page to inspire others to do the same.

DAME JOCELYN BARROW OBE, DBE We are sure members will be sad to learn of the passing of Dame Jocelyn Barrow, educator and race equality campaigner, in April at the age of 90. Dame Jocelyn was a TG Vice President for many years and, among many other achievements,

We were delighted to receive a large number of entries for our National Monopoly Competition, and Guilds who took part enjoyed playing the game – and the tea and cakes most shared at the end.

The winning entry – with the most money at the end of a game – came from Jean Marie Sturgeon of Ashton in Makerfield Guild, who will receive her winning certificate as soon as possible.

We are now planning another similar competition. So watch this space.

National Trustee Connie Nunn

BBC

NATIONAL MONOPOLY COMPETITION

was the first black female governor of the BBC, the founder of the Broadcasting Standards Council (Ofcom’s forerunner), and governor of both the Commonwealth Institute and the British Film Institute. She was, indeed, a striking example of what we all, as women, can achieve.

Former National Chairman Iris Shanahan remembers Dame Jocelyn with great warmth. ‘She was such a lovely person and, during my time on the NEC and as Chairman, she was still very involved with TG and attended the NCM regularly. I particularly remember attending a pre-NCM concert in Birmingham when, as a fairly new member of the NEC, I hosted her for the evening and found her delightful company.’

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QUESTIONS WE’VE BEEN ASKED

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WHEN CAN WE MEET AGAIN? Although lockdown is easing, things are not ready for Guilds to meet again yet.

• It is currently illegal for groups of more than 30 people to meet.

• Up to six people can meet outside, preserving social distancing.

• Some halls are reopening and will set their own rules for safe operation.

• Activity groups can meet again, but you may only interact with one person from outside your household; you should not interact with others you know at the event.

• The rule from 4 July is that two-metre social distancing should be maintained unless it isn’t possible; in that case it can be reduced to one metre, but you must take other steps such as wearing a face covering or not being face to face.

We will continue to update the virus hub on our website whenever we receive clear guidance. To find the latest Government information, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

HAS TGHQ REOPENED? No. Some staff remain furloughed and others work from home with occasional visits to the office. Phones

TIME FOR BED Members without internet access – who read our advice to look online for easy-change duvet covers (page 21 of the last issue) – have asked for more suggestions. Easy-change covers have larger openings with zip, press stud or Velcro fastenings.

Your best option might be to call or visit a local specialist bedding shop or bedding department in an independent store, and ask them to source one for you.

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are still diverted and those working are responding to emails. We have devised some different and creative ways of working to ensure we can be as normal as possible. All post is now being forwarded to the appropriate person.

HONORARY MEMBERS We are proud to add five more inspirational women to our honorary membership.

HOW SHOULD I SEND IN MY AFFILIATION FEES? If you are a member of a Guild but have not been able to pay yet, do speak to your Guild Treasurer. She will have the relevant forms and will happily receive your sub and send it on to us as soon as she can.

HOW DO I GET MY 2021 DIARY? Pre-ordered diaries have now been distributed. If you have pre-ordered but not received your diary, please call or email Joanne (0121 326 1978, joanne@ the-tg.com). The online shop is now reopening – please allow 28 days for delivery. You may also order goods by post – please check with Joanne for the postage costs for large diary orders. The only thing we are struggling with at the moment is long-service awards, but we’ll make that work soon!

PHILIPPA GREGORY, novelist (above) LADY HALE, Supreme Court judge (and cover star of our Autumn 2019 issue) HAZEL IRVINE, sports broadcaster LUCY REEVES KHAN, founder of Window Wanderland, who appeared in Issue 1 2020 PATRICE WELLESLEY-COLE, former judge

PICTURE UPDATE

We recently received a letter from Dringhouses Guild, which said: ‘On page 25 of the last issue you printed a photograph of one of our members.

However, the information you were given was not quite correct. The caption should have read: Mrs Joan Mills enjoying her 100th birthday party with some members of Dringhouses Guild.’

Townswoman says: Thank you for letting us know. And just a quick

Joan Mills (seventh from left)

reminder to all to make sure that, when sending letters or photographs for publication, you have double-checked all details, names and spellings.

Larry D Moore CC BY-SA 3.0

BULLETIN NEWS

Notebook, 3

GET SURFING

If your computer is struggling to deal with basic operations or taking an age to surf the web, here are a few simple fixes to make it run faster. By Karen Moore, our website and social media adviser

8. DEFRAG YOUR HARD DISK

A general guideline for keeping your computer running fast is to have at least 15% of its hard disk space free. If your hard disk is almost full, you need to remove some programs and files.

The more you use your hard disk, the more it can become fragmented, which can slow down your PC because it stores files randomly and it takes a while for the operating system to put them together before running them. In Windows 10, type ‘defrag’ into the search box and press ‘enter’, then select the drive that needs to be defragmented. This can take a few hours, so do it when you know you won’t need to use your computer.

2. SAVE OLD PICTURES AND VIDEOS SOMEWHERE ELSE

9. CHECK THE LOCATION OF YOUR INTERNET HUB

If you have pictures and videos on your computer that you rarely look at but do not want to delete, transfer them to an online storage space – often referred to as a ‘cloud’ – such as Microsoft OneDrive or Google Photos, or to an external hard drive or memory card/stick. This should save a lot of memory on your computer and improve its speed.

Make sure your internet hub/router is near to where you most use the internet.

Solid surfaces like walls, doors, wardrobes and cupboards all affect your Wi-Fi signal. Ensure that your internet hub is not in a cupboard, on the floor, behind the TV, on top of a metal box or by a fish tank full of water because all reduce Wi-Fi performance and thus your computer’s internet browsing performance. The wireless icon on your screen should indicate the current signal strength (the more solid bars, the stronger the signal).

1. CHECK YOUR HARD DISK SPACE

3. CLOSE UNUSED TABS

When you have finished looking at web pages close them down – open tabs on internet browsers use a lot of memory and slow your computer.

4. UNINSTALL UNUSED PROGRAMS

Check through the programs on your computer and delete those you no longer need. Be careful not to remove any programs you do not recognise though, as they may be crucial for the function of your computer.

5. DELETE TEMPORARY FILES

Temporary files, such as internet history, cookies and caches take up a lot of space

on your hard disk. Deleting them frees up valuable space and speeds up the computer. In Windows 10, the option to do so can be found by clicking ‘start’ > ‘settings’ > ‘system’ > ‘storage’ and then ‘delete temporary files’.

6. STOP PROGRAMS FROM AUTOMATICALLY LAUNCHING WHEN YOUR COMPUTER TURNS ON

In Windows 10, click on ‘start’ > ‘settings’ > ‘apps’ > ‘start up’ and delete apps that are not required when the computer starts.

Again, be careful not to delete any you don’t recognise – they may be necessary for your computer to run properly.

7. SHUT DOWN OR RESTART YOUR COMPUTER AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK

Shutting down or restarting your computer refreshes memory and prompts important tools to run maintenance checks. Doing this every week will help speed it up.

STAY SAFE The coronavirus crisis has brought out a lot of kindness, but sadly it has also opened up opportunities to fraudsters. The organisation Get Safe Online has put together some tips to help you avoid falling victim to suspicious emails. For details, see www.getsafeonline.org/safeemail.

10. UPGRADE YOUR HARDWARE

After trying all of the above, it may be necessary to be realistic and invest in new hardware. Computers that are 10 years old will have difficulty running current programs and surfing the internet at a reasonable speed. It is possible to have bigger hard drives (HDDs), faster solid state drives (SSDs) or more randomaccess memory (RAM) added. However, depending on the age of the computer, it may be more economical to purchase a new one.

VISUALLY IMPAIRED MEMBERS: WEBSITE UPDATE A new addition to the TG website is making it more accessible to members.

In the lower left-hand corner, you’ll find a blue button labelled ‘Accessibility’, and clicking on this gives you various options, from making the text larger to requesting that the page be read aloud.

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Notebook, 4

BULLETIN NEWS VERSION

BALANCING THE BOOKS

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Summarised Statement of Financial Activities, 2019/20, from Honorary National Treasurer Marilyn Lawton 2020 2019

£’000 £’000 Income from: Affiliation fees 285 303 Investments 26 31 Other income 66 68 Total income

ART PRODUCTION CLIENT

377

402

Events & campaigns Magazine Development Membership management Staff costs Office costs Trustee costs Other (including fundraising)

125 168 122 44 110 93 23 36

113 209 79 63 124 95 28 25

Total expenditure

721

736

Net operating deficit Net gains/(losses) on investments

(344) 138

(334) (72)

Net expenditure

(206)

(406)

2020 £’000 1,323 46 (85)

2019 £’000 1,451 111 (72)

1,284

1,490

Expenditure on:

Summary Balance Sheet at 31 January 2020

Fixed assets & investments Current assets Liabilities Total net assets Funds Brought forward Net expenditure this year

1,490 (206)

1,896 (406)

1,284

1,490

A copy of the full annual accounts will be sent to all Guilds with the Business AGM paperwork. This Summarised Statement of Financial Activities shows where money comes from and goes to.

INCOME

Membership numbers continue to fall, although we are recruiting new members and when Guilds close we are encouraging those members to become Associate Members and continue to meet in Associate Groups. This has led to a fall in income.

We should be considering a rise in the affiliation fee of £1 per head but do not think that 2021 is the right time in light of this year’s disruption. We are very grateful to all who have paid us affiliation fees this year and we are certain that we will receive more when things return to normal.

We watched our investments anxiously as the year end of 31 January approached, but ended with gains rather than losses, giving net losses for the year of £200,000 less than 2019.

EXPENDITURE

Event expenditure rose by £12,000, which was due to the two Thanksgiving Services and the special 90th birthday AGM. Development costs increased by £43,000,

reflecting our advertising programme. We use free circulation magazines where we can in the hope that the more people see our striking adverts, the more well known we will become, and rather than spreading extremely thinly across the whole of the country, we target an area for four to six months.

We can now see the full impact of bringing membership management in-house and costs continue to fall; we show savings of £19,000 for this last year and believe this will be sustained.

The magazine expenditure has also dropped back to a normal figure after we resolved the accounting issue last year.

NOW AND NEXT YEAR

During the virus we have taken all possible steps to reduce costs. We have furloughed some staff and ensured that in cancelling events we have avoided charges. With no events our costs will be a little lower next year but we continue to campaign and raise awareness of TG and our newsletter has been well received.

Our balance sheet remains healthy.

A copy of the full accounts and the Trustees’ Report will be available on the TG website (www.the-tg. com) after they have been accepted by the Business AGM in September.

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Diary, 1

What's on

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY BULLETIN

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Although we have had to cancel the 2020 AGM and the National Crown Green Bowls Competition, we look forward to meeting you all again at a national TG occasion

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NATIONAL CAROL SERVICES Derby Cathedral 18-19 Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP Tuesday 2 December, 2pm Bristol Cathedral College Green, Bristol BS1 5TJ Friday 4 December, 2pm

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Tickets: £7 members/£8 nonmember friends and family; on sale from early September TGHQ contact: Kelli Jones

CARING FOR CARERS

Wednesday 31 March 2021, subject to change; 9.30am-4.30pm Carrs Lane Conference Centre, The Church at Carrs Lane, Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7SX Tickets: £15; closing date for applications early 2021 (exact date to be confirmed) TGHQ contact: Rhiannon Batsford

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standard Ticket Application Form. You’ll find this in your Guild Administration Pack, or you can download a

for all even ts will b e subject to the social d istancin g rules ap plic at the ti able me.

Scarborough, here we come!

Please note new date

We are planning two National Carol Services – first in Derby, where Continuing our work to raise Florence Nightingale spent her early awareness of issues faced by years, and then in Bristol, where the unpaid carers, TG is hosting a cathedral’s stained-glass windows conference bringing together an depict World War II auxiliary workers expert panel of those who work such as nurses. We hope to support carers of all ages. that we will be able We will also be launching the to meet many of report of research, including The Nationa you to celebrate the survey in l General Kno wledge the resilience Issue 1 2020 of Quiz Final ha and fortitude of Townswoman, been postpo s ned Townswomen after which you can until 2021.

Look out for a difficult year. still complete more details . at www.the-tg.

INTERNATIONAL com/campaign/ WOMEN’S DAY 2021 caring-for-carers/32.

Monday 8 March, subject to change; time to be confirmed Bredbury Hall Hotel, Osborne HOW TO APPLY FOR Street, Bredbury, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 2DH • For all events apart from the Tickets: details to AGM, the easiest option is to visit be confirmed www.the-tg.com/shop and apply TGHQ contact: for your tickets online.

Kelli Jones • Otherwise, use the In 2021, our annual International Women’s Day celebration will take place in Stockport. Look out for information about speakers and tickets in our next issue.

SOC DISTANIAL CING Arrang ements

AGM 2021 Wednesday 16 June 2021 8am Doors open 10am Meeting starts 4.30pm (approx) Meeting closes Scarborough Spa, South Bay, Scarborough YO11 2HD Tickets: Delegate and Banner Carrier tickets are complimentary; Observer ticket price to be confirmed. For more on the application process, see future issues.

TGHQ contact: Kelli Jones We may have had to cancel the 2020 AGM, but we will all still be able to meet in Scarborough, as we will be heading to the seaside town for next year’s AGM – and for a better-than-ever celebration ✳⑧➙  ☛✙➯➯✙➙ᙆ➯✼♣ᙆ✙ɮ✙➙ ☞✙❛✙☛➙➯❂⑧♣ of our wonderful organisation. ⑧✳ ⑧➸➙ ɯ⑧♣✒✙➙✳➸❛ ⑧➙✴♣❂➡➯❂⑧♣ِ

TG EVENTS

copy from the Members’ Area of the TG website (www.the-tg.com).

• Paying by cheque? Please make it out to ‘Townswomen’s Guilds’.

All events – We will not reserve tickets except the for any event – we must AGM – are op en to non-mem have your payment be (carol services rs before we will allocate case-by-case on a basis). tickets to you.

So bring a friend!

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BULLETIN EVENTS ROUND-UP VERSION REPRO OP

Down memory lane With lockdown putting TG’s national events on hold, we asked seven past National Chairmen about some standout occasions during their terms of office

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JEAN ELLERTON JP (1986-1989) Do you remember Operation Dhaka? TG took up the challenge to raise £750,000 to build a children’s nutrition unit in Bangladesh for the Save the Children Fund (SCF) – and with their usual flair and ingenuity, members ended up raising over £1m. So, in March 1987, I went out to Dhaka with SCF’s UK Chairman for the ceremony to lay the foundation stone – which we collected from beneath the mosque where the stonemason worked. At the ceremony I spoke about Townswomen’s Guilds before President Ershad of Bangladesh laid the stone, expressing his gratitude to both the SCF and TG for caring about the children of his country. All in all we spent 10 days in Bangladesh, including a trip to see the work of SCF in Khulna, about 150 miles south of Dhaka. We went by boat – an elderly paddle steamer called The Rocket, what a misnomer!

– a journey of some 30 hours down the Ganges delta.

IRIS SHANAHAN MBE, JP (1995-1998) Many of my memories are to do with embarrassing moments, such as at my second National Council Meeting in the Royal Albert Hall. We were welcomed by Lord Mayor of London Mary Donaldson – the first woman to hold the post. She was highly educated and involved in a lot of projects to do with the arts, so I introduced her as a true Renaissance woman, which fitted exactly. The vote of thanks to her was to be given

by Professor Lalage Brown, a muchloved Honorary Vice President of TG. I had to give a brief introduction

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for her and, thinking that I mustn’t repeat myself, heard myself welcoming her to the microphone as ‘a well-rounded woman’ – which, unfortunately, she was. The Albert Hall erupted in laughter and Lalage gave me a smack on my bottom as she made her way to the mike.

Fortunately, we were very good friends and had a good giggle later, but at the time I wished that the floor had opened under my feet!

MAGGIE CHILTON MBE (2001-2004) The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Westminster invited my husband, Alan, and me

to a Civic Reception and Dinner.

What a splendid occasion, probably the most glittering event I have ever attended – but I lead a very sheltered life!

Two gun carriages of the Royal Horse Artillery flanked the entrance to the building and a guard of honour provided by the Queen’s Colour Squadron of the RAF led us into the Dining Hall. The Great Hall is a splendid medieval building – high ceilings, wood panelling, painted escutcheons and, just behind my seat, a Holbein.

Our dinner companions were fascinating. I was sitting between two millionaires, chatting about

Events, 1 TG Holidays provided many highlights for Sue Smith during her time as National Chairman

presented with my OBE by the Queen in recognition of my work with our organisation nationally. All memories, though, are part of over 46 years with friends and staff of TG. Now, my hope is that Townswomen will be able to meet up at various events in the future and rekindle our friendships.

TG members rose to Pauline Myers’ challenge to wear red, white and blue at the 2011 AGM

their recent purchases of new Rolls-Royces (as we would discuss a purchase from M&S) and entertaining us with stories about other guests!

The evening concluded with Drill by the Queen’s Colour Squadron – interesting having guns pointed at you at short range, presumably they weren’t loaded. And the Sunset Ceremony – ‘Taps’ with the lights going down – was very moving.

SUE SMITH OBE (2007-2010) Many memorable incidents have happened during the hours spent travelling back from TG

Holidays. In France, for example, our coach developed a problem and we were forced to stop in a lay-by. When boarding the coach, the French mechanics were very surprised to see ‘recycled teenagers’ laughing and enjoying themselves. A Union Jack was planted in the grass as a memento for the assistance received.

Hotels played their part too.

Being trapped in a full lift between floors is not to be recommended, and expecting a nice fireman to come to our rescue, we were rather disappointed when it was an elderly caretaker instead.

Possibly my most memorable occasion, though, was being

PAULINE MYERS (2010-2013) Where does one start when asked to produce a report upon the three years spent as National Chairman of TG? There were so many highlights, but one occasion in particular holds special memories.

At our 2011 AGM, I suggested that the following year, as it was to be the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, everyone should arrive wearing red, white and blue. Many of you began planning your colour schemes, if not the entire outfit, on the way home that very afternoon, and as the year progressed, I heard snippets of news about a huge variety of potential headgear and dresses, but nothing prepared me for the view on the appointed day.

The entire area was a sea of red, white and blue. I couldn’t believe how magnificently you had accepted the challenge, worked so hard upon your outfits and travelled to Birmingham from all parts of the UK on public transport, wearing so many beautifully crafted hats of all sizes and descriptions. How proud I was of you all, and how wonderful it was to greet so many of you, sharing our joint pride in our organisation and our country.

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BULLETIN EVENTS ROUND-UP VERSION

They allowed me to go back into the hotel, saying I’d have a lovely black eye or two in the morning

Margaret Key ‘enjoyed’ a memorable moment at her first AGM as National Chairman

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MARGARET KEY (2013-2016) My first year as National Chairman had been wonderful, travelling to all parts of the UK to meet members at Guild and Federation events. Everyone had been so welcoming and friendly and I was looking forward to meeting many of them again as my first AGM approached.

On the day, taking my place at the podium and turning my attention to the agenda, I felt happy and relaxed. I gave the official welcome and proceeded with the next item when, suddenly, from the middle of the auditorium, someone shouted one word: ‘Sit!’ I briefly wondered if someone had brought a guide dog and then continued with the agenda. I could hear shuffling in the front row and, glancing up, saw one of the four former National Chairmen lowering her hands and silently wording ‘down’. It hit me like a thunderbolt – everyone was still standing. Following the official welcome, I had omitted to add ‘please be seated’.

What could I do but apologise profusely, invite everyone to sit and carry on with the meeting?

I was numb with nerves until we left the platform at the end of the morning session. Needless to say, my attention to the wording of the afternoon agenda was 100%.

JENNY RIDEOUT (2016-2019) There are many things that I could tell you about what happened to me during my time on the board and as Chairman. I travelled in many things: cars, planes, trains, coaches and even a police van! And then

there’s this story, involving an ambulance.

Just another night in the hotel in Birmingham for a board meeting, and I was fast asleep when the fire alarm went off. Putting my clothes on over my pyjamas, I made for the stairs to head down from my sixth-floor room. As I reached the main door, I looked to see if the other Trustees were safely outside – completely missing the step and flying out along the pavement and wall. Next thing I knew I was sitting at the bottom of the steps, shaking. A fireman arrived with the most enormous first aid box I had ever seen. Out came a silver wrap, which he put round me before an ambulance arrived. The paramedics checked me over – with Jenny Thorne keeping the very attractive firemen talking – and they confirmed that I hadn’t broken my cheek or jaw. Finally, after nearly an hour, they allowed me to go back into the hotel, saying I’d have a lovely black eye or two in the morning. Luckily, though, I ended up with nothing more than a very sore and sorry-looking face and wonky glasses!

TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY Face-to-face events might have been cancelled over the past months, but – as you’ll see throughout this magazine – individual Townswomen, Guilds, Federations and National Trustees have all been using the power of the internet to keep on meeting.

City of Lichfield Guild, for example, have been keeping in touch via Zoom, sharing cooking and baking ideas and hearing birds tweeting in the background!

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Recruitment in lockdown

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TGHQ may have been temporarily closed, but nothing puts recruitment work on hold. National Vice Chair Beryl Hales explains what’s been happening

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or National Recruitment Officer Sara Trayers, every morning starts in the same way – answering queries from women who have contacted TG via our website about joining Guilds, which Sara thinks is brilliant. ‘I have had as many as 15 enquiries in one day and there is rarely a day without at least one. It’s thanks to our members who have used our logo in their windows, and shared what they’re doing on social media and in many other ways, that many more women are aware of TG and want to be a part of it,’ she says.

Sara gives enquirers details of Guilds in their area and sends a contact email to the chairman or secretary so the prospective Townswoman can talk to them about what normally happens in their meetings. Of course, with the hold on meetings due to the pandemic, Sara has also been pointing them in the direction of TiG (Townswomen’s Internet Guild) meetings, as well as guiding them to TG’s Facebook page, inviting them to the TG quiz (see page 29) and staying in touch via email so they can find out more about TG. Prospective members can come as a visitor to two TiG meetings to see if it’s what they are looking for before paying their subscription as Associate Members.

They need a unique visitor number to come to the meetings, and take part by using their phone, tablet, laptop or PC.

TiG members are provided with ideas for putting together their Guild programme

Sara Trayers hard at work at home during lockdown

Having paid their annual membership subscription through our online shop, TiG members can then go to meetings via the Members’ Area of the website, accessed using their membership number. Like all Guilds, TiGs have a regular meeting time. This can be in the morning, afternoon or evening, on any day of the week, including weekends.

Each meeting lasts for an hour and the members of each TiG decide whether they want to meet weekly, fortnightly or

monthly. They are given a helping hand with the first couple of meetings and provided with ideas for putting together their Guild programme.

Current members might like to join an existing TiG or form a new one, and Guilds might like the option of having a regular online meeting through the TiG meeting place.

To book a TiG session, please email Sara Trayers – sara@the-tg.com ISSUE 03 2020 THE-TG.COM 17

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RECRUITMENT OUR CAMPAIGNS

YOUR TG LETTERS VERSION REPRO OP

Mailbag

For the next issue, email letters to mailbag@ the-tg.com or post to TGHQ by 14 August – email may be preferable due to Covid-19

Email mailbag@the-tg.com or write to Mailbag at Townswomen’s Guilds, Gee Business Centre, First Floor, Gee House, Holborn Hill, Birmingham B7 5JR SUBS

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Please note: letters may be edited or omitted, and may be published on www.the-tg.com as well as in Townswoman. The views expressed in Mailbag are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Townswomen’s Guilds or the publisher

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Townswoman Linda Nicholls was asked to write a diary entry about a day in lockdown for Zion Community Art Space, which will form part of a history of the area.

Here are a few extracts. To read Linda’s full diary entry, visit www.facebook.com/ZionBristol and search for ‘Linda’.

Saturday 25 April: I’ve been wondering over the last 10 days, since I agreed to write a diary post, how to start mine off and how it’s going to compare to others. But that’s the point, it shouldn’t be compared. Everyone has had to work out what’s best for them and how to deal with lockdown and how it affects them…

My son, Graham, and husband, Rick, have requested a full afternoon tea, so I make some fresh scones. I haven’t baked this much in years, partly as my family think I’m a disaster in the kitchen…

My daughter, Louise, and her partner, Andy, arrive with our shopping. We chat – us from the door, them in the

STAR LET TER garden. We throw virtual hugs and kisses at each other before they leave to check on the two dogs, Dougie and Daisy, they are fostering during lockdown… Then I make a couple of phone calls to Townswomen’s Guilds members and friends.

Earlier in the week I managed to break my iPad screen, and the slippers I’ve been wearing have holes in them.

Normally I would have been off to the shops. Instead I go on the internet to see if I can replace said items. Slippers I can get delivered in a week, the iPad will have to wait until after lockdown. This brings it home that I cannot just pop out to the shops or go for a day out. It also reminds me how lucky we are to have a back garden, family, friends and neighbours who will help, and I hope we can help in return.

We enjoy the sunshine and our afternoon tea in the garden. I chat with our neighbour, Sarah, over the garden wall. Sarah is a key worker working at

the children’s hospital. I share some of my baking with them, which helps us, and my hips thank them…

Tomorrow Rick will be running a 10k in our garden – 500 laps along with Kelly, our neighbour, who will be doing the same in hers. Running buddies to the last…

Linda Nicholls, Uplands and District (Bristol) Guild

STAR LETTER PRIZE Linda wins board game The Good Life – great for time spent at home!

Ever wanted to go self-sufficient? Here’s your chance try it! Use your wheelbarrow to move around the board to collect fruit, veg, pigs and chickens. The winner is the first to fill their garden and allotment. Seems simple? It is. But the ‘Green Fingers’ cards turn up twists and turns… You’ll have to protect your chickens from foxes, sell your crops and livestock at the fair, and avoid drought or your animals escaping. Now, are you ready for ‘The Good Life’?

See www.thegoodlifegame.co.uk for information. TG members qualify for a 10% discount – simply enter ‘Town’ at the checkout.

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Mailbag, 1

FRIENDS IN NEED When lockdown began in March, to make sure their members didn’t feel alone, Guilds went to great lengths.

Here are just two… * After seeing the news about isolating over-70s, we wanted to support this but also support our ladies. Therefore, we set up a buddy system. Each member rings another member and so on – asking what they’ve been up to, whether they need food or tablets – so that no one is missed. Then if anyone is worried about someone, they call the committee members with younger families who can support and help.

Sue Wade, Penwortham Guild

* Our amazing committee member Wendy (left) has been telephoning every Guild member during the lockdown. She says that, as she cannot see her husband, who is in a nursing home, what better way to keep in touch with all her friends at TG, than to make a cup of tea, sit down, pick up the phone and call someone – checking that everyone is well, organising help and listening to many stories. Up to the end of April, Wendy had made over 370 calls, completing our register four times. By the beginning of June, it was over 500 and counting. Thank you to a true Townswoman.

All at Chepstow Jubilee Guild

TAKING CARE Hucclecote Guild were particularly interested to read Rhiannon Batsford’s article in Townswoman (Issue 1 2020), having chosen Gloucestershire Young Carers as their nominated charity back in 2018. At this year’s February meeting, Jane Dyer from Gloucestershire Young Carers gave an informative presentation on the valuable work they do and the support they provide young carers. She was joined

by Meg, who has spent several years helping to care for a member of her family struck down with a debilitating illness. Meg gave an insight into the pressures faced by a young person shouldering this responsibility, alongside trying to maintain friendships, a social life, continuing education and working towards an independent future.

Members were humbled by this young lady’s story, and the collection made after her presentation reflected this.

Such a valuable organisation deserves support.

Linda Rosam, Hucclecote (E) Guild

We only have space to publish a handful of your letters.

So if you have something to share abou t your Guild, post it on yo ur Guild page on the TG w ebsite or your Guild Facebo ok page, and let your local paper or com munity website know .

FOR THE RECORD I was taken with your thoughts on keeping a record in your Townswomen in Contact newsletter. I have been keeping journals for 39 years in September. I write monthly, not weekly; it gives me space to think about things more. My writing is about life in all its many colours, events of every kind. Births, marriages and the death of my lovely husband of 61 years, two years ago. Floods, fire and earthquakes included.

My first entry in September 1982 began: ‘Today is a day of rejoicing. The mortgage payment on the house finished after 20 years. In these days of recession and unemployment

we give thanks for having work that paid the debt…’

My most recent entry, March 2020, is about the coronavirus, the silent killer stalking the world. I have included the letter we received from the Government and a leaflet about the virus. March is the month of my birthday and also of my friend, Dorothy. We are children of the WWII years.

We have been friends since we were nine years old. We are both now 83. How amazing.

So ladies, be inspired by your life, get the pen out and begin writing.

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Townswomen together

t issue, For the nex res to email pictu g.com, -t e th @ contact HQ, TG or post to st u g u A 14 by

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It’s been a strange few months, but despite putting meetings on hold, members have been keeping busy

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SET IN STONE Lutterworth Guild’s Jan Spiby has painted many stones, including this one for the Guild committee to use as a paperweight.

For more of Jan’s work, see page 34.

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MAKING WAVES TG’s website and social media adviser Karen Moore put two TG Teds in her window to greet any children on a lockdown bear hunt.

FOOD FOR FRIENDS Great Wyrley Guild shared their last pre-coronavirus photograph – a happy gathering of their Lunch Club.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE Earlier this year, at Daventry Abbey Guild’s AGM, seven members (six of whom are pictured) were presented with long-service badges and certificates with a combined total of 280 years.

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Guilds & Feds, 1 IN THE PINK Rugeley and District Guild shared a pre-lockdown photo from their Wear it Pink night, raising money for breast cancer charities.

A CUT ABOVE With hairdressers closed, National Trustee Maureen Brown cut her own lockdown locks, and donated the cost of a haircut to a local hospice.

SHARE YOUR SNAPS

IN THE PICTURE Linda Cox of Cambridge Queen Edith (A) Guild took to her paintbrush during lockdown and created this colourful artwork.

A FINE ART Pauline Farnsworth from Chesterfield (E) Guild completed this beautiful and intricate piece of blackwork embroidery.

We have space to publish only about 15% of the pictures we receive, but we post as many as we can on www.the-tg.com.

We also suggest that you put your pictures and activity reports on your Guild page on the TG website, and share them with the local press.

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GOING FOR A SONG Earlier this year, following their AGM, Knowle (Bristol Castle) Guild were joined

by John Pendlington for an afternoon of favourite songs from every era.

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TWO’S COMPANY The 60th anniversary of former National Trustee Sheila Baker and her husband, Michael, fell on 26 March – three days after lockdown began.

Although celebrations were cancelled, their daughter, Stephanie, made sure they received lots of greetings by posting this picture on Facebook.

FLYING THE FLAG Pam Smith of Fleet (M) Guild created this beautiful display outside her house for VE Day.

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Guilds & Feds, 2

GUILDS & FEDS YOUR TG WARM-HEARTED In January, representatives of One25, a charity supporting women in Bristol, received much-needed donations of gloves and more from Uplands & District Guild.

CREATURE COMFORT Karen Hill of St Johns Guild used the pattern on the TG website (www.the-tg.com/ NewCrafts) to knit an octopus family for her three-year-old grandson.

FAB FOUR Gwen, Pat, Jenny and Denyse of Lake (M) Guild created ‘Yesterday’ – and even played the song on an iPod for a true multimedia experience.

GRIN AND BEAR IT To keep members’ spirits up during lockdown, Sedgley (E) Guild decided to use Zoom for a regular ‘Catch Up with a Cuppa’.

COMING UP… MARIGOLDS In Trustee Marilyn Lawton’s garden, TG Ted got on with putting in some bedding plants.

Because of the number of pictures received, only a selection will be published and we are unable to reply to submissions

WHAT A CARD! Wetherby Guild’s Cath Storr has been spending her time making many beautiful greetings cards.

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Dogs for Good

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Back in March, at Stamford Exeter Guild’s AGM, member Joan McNeill spoke about her experience as an evacuee in World War II. Here’s her story…

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hen the war started I was five years old and living with my family in East Dulwich, south London. My mother had 13 children, eight of whom survived. My two older brothers were eligible to serve in the forces and three sisters worked in factories. When the Germans started to bomb London, the Government decided to send school-age children to the countryside for safety.

I was put on a train with hundreds of other children and ended up in Paignton, Devon. We had a label attached to our coats with our details. We were taken to a church hall, then people came and chose us to take home with them. I was billeted with a lady I don’t remember much about.

I do remember having to beat rugs for her in the garden. I obviously wasn’t very happy or she didn’t want me, because I was moved to another couple, with whom I stayed for the rest of the war.

I saw my mother once during that time.

So for five years I was brought up by Auntie and Uncle, as I called them, and they were very good to me.

Auntie was a seamstress making suits and dresses at home. Uncle was a roundsman for the local Co-op. His bread round took him all over Dartmoor. He was a keen gardener and kept chickens – I remember going to the fields at harvest time to pick up the corn left behind to feed them.

They had two children, Margaret and Frankie. Margaret was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service and only came home on leave occasionally. Frankie was at Totnes Grammar Boarding School and came home for holidays. As the bungalow had only two bedrooms, sleeping arrangements were a little difficult when they both returned.

I remember sleeping

Joan in the 1940s…

in the Anderson shelter, which Auntie had put in their bedroom! This was when Plymouth was being targeted by bombers.

Only one room was heated, so on winter evenings we were all in the main room. On Saturday evenings we would listen to a play on the radio, but my bedtime was 9pm and I never heard the end of the plays as they did not finish until 9.30! Looking back, I feel a little hard done by.

I became used to doing things on my own. Auntie sent me to the beach to play, and after helping her with chores on a Saturday morning, I was given money to get the bus into town to get a fish and chip lunch and go to the children’s cinema. I had complete freedom.

Later in the war, Auntie and Uncle took my younger sister too. My brother was also evacuated to Devon but to another family, who wanted to adopt him!

In May 1945, my sister married and she and her husband stayed with Auntie and Uncle for their honeymoon. As the war was now over, Evacuee poster

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…and as a TG member today

they brought us all back home. They must be the only couple who came back from their honeymoon with three children!

Neither my brother nor I wanted to leave Devon – we felt that we didn’t know our family anymore. Auntie and Uncle had been strict but kind. At the end of the war, I only passed the 11-plus exam and attended the local grammar school because I was given maths and other work to do in the evening. The discipline helped me through.

After the war I kept in touch with Auntie and Uncle, going back to Devon for the summer holidays. When Margaret married I was one of her bridesmaids and used to spend weekends with her – and I am still in touch with her children and grandchildren.

SHARE YOUR STORIES We’d like to hear your story of life during a time of crisis – whether related to wartime or the current situation, or to something more personal. Write to TGHQ or email contact@the-tg.com TAKE ACTION

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Joan’s war

A MEMBER’S STORY YOUR TG

Campaigns, 1

OUR CAMPAIGNS UPDATE VERSION REPRO OP

Campaigns in the time of coronavirus

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TG has been working on ways to boost our campaigning spirit both now and in the future. By Rhiannon Batsford

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and public footpaths, making them (and/ or legal guardians, for minors) accountable for their behaviour.

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ith Covid-19 and its associated trials dominating the nation’s time and attention, there is only so much any of us can do to further campaigns which are not in some way connected.

But that doesn’t mean that TGHQ has been idle. Instead, we have been using this time to reflect on our approach to campaigns and how we might improve.

NEW CAMPAIGNS STRATEGY

One thing we have lacked in recent years is a solid base from which to build our campaigns activity and ensure that members, Guilds, Federations and TG nationally are all communicating between each other.

We have therefore made the most of the lockdown situation to draft a new TG campaigns strategy that will set out what TGHQ and Trustees can do to strengthen our campaigning power, but also what members can do – individually, as Guilds and as Federations or similar local networks – to help us get TG firmly back in touch with our roots and become a voice to be heard and listened to.

As you read this, we will be putting the finishing touches

to our new strategy so that we can include a copy in the August mailing. We hope that you will all support us as we continue to make women’s lives better.

WEBSITE UPDATE

We had hoped that by now the campaigns section of the website would have been revamped into something more dynamic and userfriendly. Unfortunately, circumstances have meant we have been unable to lay the groundwork that would allow this to happen – but it is something we have planned and we would love a collection of members’ campaigns stories and photographs that we can

publish once the background structure is in place.

MANDATE PROPOSALS 2020/2021

With the AGM cancelled, a decision had to be made regarding the mandate proposals that were to be discussed. Having considered the options, we have decided that both of the proposed topics are of a nature that allows us to carry them forward. Therefore, in 2021 we will be debating the two mandate proposals selected for 2020’s AGM: • TG calls for a framework of legally enforceable rights and responsibilities for cyclists using roads

• TG is concerned that the decline in the number of free-to-access public toilets is a threat to citizens’ hygiene, health, mobility, dignity and equality. We therefore urge Her Majesty’s Government to make adequate provision of free public toilets a legal requirement for local authorities, supported by protected, sustained funding.

Unless anything sufficiently urgent to qualify as an emergency mandate arises, we will not be choosing any new topics in January 2021.

SOMETHING NEW

Even though we will not be adopting any mandates in 2020, there will still be something new for members to get their teeth into before the year is out. Details will be in the next Townswoman, but what we can tell you is that the topic we will be looking at is one that affects everyone, and that everyone has some impact on – whether or not they choose to believe it.

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Hedy Lamarr

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Trustee Beryl Hales on the Hollywood actress who was blessed with brains as well as beauty

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n preparing a documentary of her life in 1997, Hedy Lamarr was recorded as saying that she did not want to be remembered only as an actress and ‘wanted to sell my story… because it’s so unbelievable’.

Growing up in Vienna, Austria, Hedy’s father encouraged her to use her brains.

He discovered that she was interested in how things worked when, at the age of five, she took her music box apart and then put it back together again.

They would often discuss the workings of different machinery and, from then on, she counted invention as one of her hobbies and pursued it for many years.

But it was her looks rather than her inventions which led to her career. She found fame as an actress first in Germany and then in America, where she stopped being Hedwig Kiesler and became Hedy Lamarr. But despite Louis B Mayer, head of MGM film studios, promoting Hedy as ‘the world’s most beautiful woman’, she still felt there was more to a person than looks alone. She said that, ‘The brains of people are more interesting than the looks, I think.’

Meeting entrepreneur Howard Hughes, she became interested in his engineering work and plane building. He described her as a genius after she solved the problem of how to make his planes go faster, by redesigning their wing shape.

At the start of World War II, Hedy took part in war work in the way expected of a film star, by entertaining the troops, promoting war bonds and, famously, selling kisses. But she was not satisfied with doing just this.

She met composer and inventor George Antheil after following up some health information in one of his newspaper columns. They discussed the war effort and found a common interest in the subject of torpedoes – something about which Hedy had gained some knowledge during her first short marriage to munitions manufacturer Friedrich

Hedy Lamarr: 9 November 1914 to 19 January 2000

At the age of five, she took her music box apart and then put it back together again Mandl. This led to them working together on a torpedo radio guidance system to support the war effort.

Hedy and George patented their frequency-hopping system in 1942 but it was not adopted by the US Navy at that time. However, it was not totally forgotten and was used by the US Navy in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Although it had expired by this time, the Antheil-Lamarr patent was subsequently referred to as the basis for further work in this field. In 1997, Hedy was finally

honoured for her work by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the system has gone on to be used in modern wireless communication technology including GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Two years after making her last film in 1958, Hedy was recognised for her roles in films such as Cecil B DeMille’s Samson and Delilah with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the last years of her life she became a recluse, seeing few people and only communicating by phone. She died of heart disease, aged 85.

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Remarkable Women, 1

REMARKABLE WOMEN LIVING

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Silver linings The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the toughest of times, but there has also been kindness and compassion, as Jane Yettram reports

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ack in January, in Townswoman’s news pages, we wrote: ‘As we start our next TG decade, one thing we want to focus on is kindness and gratitude – which does so much good for both giver and receiver.’

Little did we know how important these would become when life began to change out of all recognition.

We clapped for our carers for 10 weeks. We witnessed Captain Tom raise over £30m for the NHS. We saw neighbourhood groups springing up to support each other, even among city dwellers who had never spoken to anyone in their street before. And there have been thousands of people doing all they can to fundraise or give their time to others.

Sophie (below with one of her sons) has involved her family in the food foraging, including her sons and their girlfriends

STEPPING UP

One of these is Sophie Ziegler. When lockdown started, she realised that – with demand soaring and many fooddonation points closing – food banks were beginning to struggle. So, inspired by a similar initiative nearby, she set up Foodbank Foragers in Ealing, west London. ‘The concept was very simple,’ she says. ‘Collect food from those who have some to spare and take it to groups who can hand it on to those who really need it.’

Sophie and some friends and neighbours did a local leaflet drop, asking people to put spare groceries on their doorsteps the following day. ‘We had no idea whether we’d end up with one tin of beans or a car full,’ she says.

‘As it turned out, we collected five cars full to the brim with food, weighing 684kg and filling 57 crates!’

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and a soup kitchen, as well as families in need and older people referred by Age UK. ‘The overwhelming generosity of so many people often left us with lumps in our throats and welling tears,’ she says.

By late May, eight weeks in, Sophie’s Foodbank Foragers were leafleting 3,000 households a week and collecting over two tonnes of food to help with the ever-increasing demand. ‘Last year, in the week up to 28 May, Ealing Foodbank was feeding 241 people,’ she says. ‘This year it was 1,022 – over four times as many.’

Another of those making a difference is 27-year-old Olivia Strong from Edinburgh who – along with friends Alice Taylor and India PappalardoStrachan – set up Run for Heroes, hoping to raise £5,000 for NHS staff and volunteers. The idea was to run 5km, donate £5, then post a picture and nominate five others on social media to do the same.

The £5,000 target was smashed in four days. Within a month over £5m had been raised, with runners taking part all around the world – including celebrities such as Princess Eugenie and Downton Abbey star Lily James. Non-runners were involved too. Olivia’s own 90-year-old grandad did a 5km walk, her 98-year-old grandad scooted 5km on his electric mobility scooter, and others have done five-minute swims or indoor exercise before donating.

‘It’s been amazing to see people as old as 98 and as young as eight take part,’ says Olivia. ‘From the beginning of the campaign it was important for us to make it inclusive for everyone.

It’s thanks to all those who ran, walked, cycled, swam and wheelchaired the 5km that we raised the amount we did!’

As we go to press, the total is £6.7m and people can still get involved, with money now being raised for care workers and others too (see www.runforheroes.uk/donate).

LENDING A HAND

Not surprisingly, Townswomen have also been part of that great army doing their bit. Once it became apparent that personal protective equipment (PPE) was in critically short supply and frontline NHS workers desperately needed scrubs, gowns and bags, plus extenders to make masks more comfortable, many members started to sew and knit.

Silver Linings, 1 Run for Heroes, founded by Olivia Strong (above left), Alice Taylor and India Pappalardo-Strachan, has attracted support from a wide range of participants, including Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill (left) and Olivia’s own 98-year-old grandad (far left). So far, the initiative has raised over £6m, and people are still able to take part

‘I’ve been stitching every day, sewing scrubs for NHS workers and knitting baby blankets for a maternity unit,’ says Hetty Garlick of Dronfield (M) Guild.

‘It passed the time while I was alone in lockdown.’

Sheila Fraser and Linda Nicholls of Uplands & District Guild turned their hand to masks and mask extenders as well as scrubs bags. And – in addition to buying and donating groceries to the local food bank – Rugeley Guild members also set to sewing scrubs bags.

‘We’re making the bags for the staff from our local hospitals and care homes,’ says Chairman Jane Pallister. ‘They put their uniforms in the bags after their duty and place them in the wash.’ Just a few of those doing the same are Arle, Greasby and Garforth Guilds, whose Angela Hewitt has also been sewing masks for the local medical centre.

In Bournemouth, Trustee Jean Watkins put out a call asking members to knit teddy bears wearing removable

face masks for vulnerable children.

‘The request came from a senior child protection officer as key workers have to wear face masks, adding an extra barrier to building relationships with children,’ explains Jean. ‘Members responded amazingly and within a week many bears had arrived. So far 68 have been knitted by Townswomen, with more coming in!’ The initiative even led to the publishing of a story booklet about bears in face masks, to be read to children in order to help them understand the wearing of PPE. THINKING POSITIVE

As well as an upsurge in compassion, there have been other positives. Some wildlife has thrived – such as the endangered puffins expanding their breeding ground on the Farne Islands.

Carbon emissions fell – by June, the drop in demand for electricity meant the UK had gone without coal-fired power for a record-breaking two

months. Pavements have been widened and towns’ infrastructure overhauled to encourage walking and cycling. And we’ve finally recognised the importance of key workers – carers, refuse collectors, NHS staff, transport and retail workers…

Not that there haven’t been negatives too. As author Malorie Blackman wrote for Perspectives, a series of essays by Penguin authors responding to the pandemic, ‘All crises bring out the best and the worst in us. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have witnessed compassion and sacrifice, friendship and humour. We have also witnessed shameless profiteering, blatant selfishness and some of those with a lot calling on those with a lot less to shoulder more than their fair share of the financial burden.’

What everyone hopes is that the positives will bring welcome change after the crisis has finally passed.

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The TG Zoom quiz has helped members stay in touch

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talking to BBC arts editor Will Gompertz in April, felt things might change for the better. ‘I think we may be seeing a big reset button,’ she said. ‘Wars and pandemics reset our relationship to nature and they reset our relationship to the circulation of wealth… The arrow of time does not go backwards.’

A TECH REVOLUTION?

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For TG members, one particular change could be a step in the right direction. Lockdown has meant that many of those who had never had the inclination to go online have begun to see the benefits technology can bring.

In fact, a new study by Home Instead Senior Care UK found that 75% of older Britons found technologies like Zoom and FaceTime made lockdown more bearable, with 21% ‘attending’ a virtual family celebration, such as a birthday, online. And almost three-quarters plan to continue using technology to keep in touch post-lockdown.

For many Guilds, technology has helped members keep in contact.

For example, Prittlewell Victoria Guild has been having weekly Zoom meetings, including bingo competitions and quizzes. Sedgley Guild had a VE Day Zoom meeting, and even put on a virtual Open Gardens show on Facebook, with pictures of members’ own plots. Otley Guild turned to WhatsApp, with 20 members staying in touch using the messaging app.

And North Middlesex Federation Choir met on Zoom for breathing exercises to keep their voices in trim.

Members have discovered other benefits of the internet too. ‘I did my first-ever click-and-collect supermarket shop,’ says Stella Tratt of Knowle (Bristol Castle) Guild. ‘I’ve never ordered food online, but I should have done it a long time ago.’ And Stella is not the only one.

In April, a report by Kantar showed that over-65s were spending 94% more on supermarket deliveries compared to a year ago.

The Trustees too have been making the most of technology, not only having board meetings via Zoom, but running

weekly online quizzes for all members.

‘We took up the challenge of using social media and modern technology to keep in touch with as many members as we could,’ explains former Trustee Janice Collins. ‘Seeing how useful Zoom is for countering isolation, and knowing how much most members enjoy a quiz, we decided a TG Zoom quiz was the way forward. Trustee Beryl Hales organised the administrative side and, hey presto, the quiz was born. Since the first one, with about a dozen of us, more and more members – as well as friends and partners – have been coming back each week for questions, fun and laughter. This is one of the good things to come out of this pandemic. I hope it will be a regular feature in the TG world.’

INTO THE FUTURE

Let’s hope many more positives come out of this pandemic. Certainly, organisations like TG can help keep issues like the environment on the agenda, as well as the heightened sense of community – something Townswomen have always been good at.

As Malorie Blackman wrote: ‘What this pandemic has revealed more than anything else is how interconnected we all are. How the fate of people on the other side of the world – or indeed, the other side of the street – may have an impact on all our lives and our sense of wellbeing… We have all had a stark lesson in the need to embrace community. We need to look out for and look after each other because if one hurts, then we all hurt.’

Interested in the Zoom quiz?

Email beryl.TG@outlook.com for an invitation.

Angela Hewitt’s masks and the teddy bears and booklet (right)

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Setting up a...

Guild book group

REVIE BOOK F W A OR TG We n

eed book for Townsw reviewers oman an the TG w ebsite – an d d the suggestio ns in Tip 8 are perfect to help you write one.

Interested Let us kn ? ow by em ailing rhiannon @the-tg.c om

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Bring fellow Townswomen together for reading and friendship with these expert tips

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1. HOW MANY MEMBERS? Eight is often a recommended number for a book group. Fewer may mean that no-shows make meetings difficult, but don’t go too big. As Dymphna Flynn, Producer of BBC Radio 4’s Bookclub programme, says: ‘Too many and shyer people may not get heard.’

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2. HOW OFTEN? Most book groups meet once a month. ‘Monthly meetings give everyone a chance to read the book, but are regular enough to keep people engaged,’ says UK charity The Reading Agency.

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3. WHERE TO MEET This depends on current social distancing rules, but traditionally, ‘Libraries, bookshops, cafés and pubs are all ideal venues for hosting your group,’ says The Reading Agency.

Make sure any public place doesn’t have too much background noise, which can make it hard for people to hear each other – or meet in a member’s home on a rotating basis instead.

4. TRY ONLINE If meeting face to face isn’t possible, remember that many book groups operate online. As long as everyone in the group has an internet connection and a device of some sort, you could use a platform such as Skype or Zoom.

5. GETTING STARTED Before you start for real, have one meeting to make sure all members are – excuse the pun – on the same page. Book publisher Penguin suggests that you: ‘Gather everyone together to discuss the first book option, the permanent meeting location and time, how the Book Club will be run…’

Oprah’s Book Club also suggests chatting about what members want to get out of the meeting. ‘Will your time together be spent largely focusing on the novel at hand, or will camaraderie and refreshments ultimately be the most important?’

6. CHOOSING BOOKS ‘Many libraries have specific reading group collections, or book lists from which you can choose,’ The Reading Agency advises. You could also check out newspaper reviews and book-prize shortlists — such as the Women’s Prize for Fiction or the Costa Book Awards – or browse through curated lists such as those at www.readinggroups.org/finda-book. Then make the final choice ‘by taking turns, lucky dip or voting’, advises The Reading Agency.

7. GETTING BOOKS Again, libraries are ideal for sourcing a set of books. If buying, remember that hardbacks are expensive so it might be worth waiting for a new title to come out in paperback. Plus

some members might prefer to read a digital edition on their eReader.

8. READING Having a few questions in mind will help members gather their thoughts while reading the chosen book. Dymphna Flynn suggests considering: ‘Your emotional response to the book, characterisation, themes, most memorable parts (descriptions/ dialogue), strengths and weaknesses.’ OprahMag.com also has a list of questions to think about for different genres (www. oprahmag.com/entertainment/ a31047508/book-club-questions).

9. MAKING NOTES It’s easy to forget those gems, so write down your thoughts as you read. Post-its are ideal for library books when scribbles in the margins or turned-down corners are out. And don’t forget that you can highlight passages and make notes on eReaders too.

10. GETTING THE DISCUSSION GOING On the day, it’s handy for either the book group organiser or the person who chose the book to have a few questions for kicking off discussion.

These could be similar to those above, or you can find reading group guides for specific books on many publishers’ websites.

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A day in the life...

In March, Operation Smile, a charity providing life-changing cleft-lip or cleft-palate surgery, ran its first female-only mission to Morocco.

Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Nur Lubis was part of it

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INTERVIEW JANE YETTRAM

6.30am

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The whole team meets for breakfast, and then to discuss today’s plan. This is important because it is the only part of the day that we are all together. Although I’m not a morning person, I always try to have a good breakfast when on a mission, as I know I have a full day ahead. This is my eighth time volunteering with Operation Smile, and there is a different buzz because it’s the first-ever all-female mission. I’m a Consultant Anaesthetist in the NHS and it’s incredible to be here with such a diverse team of women – 54 of us from 25 countries – all working together with the same goal.

7.30am For this mission we are lucky that the hospital is within walking distance – no chance of being stuck in rush-hour traffic, so we can leave the hotel a bit later than usual.

Parents and children – many having travelled very long distances – are already waiting to be seen for the pre-op assessment on screening days. Operation Smile’s work has already been going on for months, with local coordinators visiting towns and villages throughout the country to find those living with cleft conditions.

Often mothers are fearful when their babies are born, and feel responsible for the condition. Many spend months, or even years, never knowing that there are 32 THE-TG.COM ISSUE 03 2020

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solutions out there for their children.

That’s why it’s so important to spread awareness about cleft lip and what we can do, including using TV, radio, billboards and social media to reach as many people as possible.

8am On screening days, all children have a thorough assessment to make sure they’re healthy enough for surgery.

Everyone on the team is involved – surgeons, paediatricians, anaesthetists, nurses, dentists and speech therapists.

We usually see over 300 patients in one or two days – it’s a bit of a marathon but it’s one of my favourite parts of the mission.

First up this morning is three-year-old Radouane. Although friends and family have been supportive towards him and his mum, Safia, others haven’t. Children with cleft lip or palate can be shunned by their communities, who see them as cursed.

Initially shy, Radouane stays glued to his mother’s side. But the team works hard to put them both at ease and to explain everything involved, and soon he’s bouncing around. One key thing is patients’ weight. Children with cleft conditions can struggle to feed properly, so some are malnourished and must first be referred to a volunteer nutritionist to ensure they reach a healthy weight ahead of surgery.

On surgical days, I’ll already be in the operating theatre preparing for our first patient. Beforehand, volunteer play specialists help reassure children by showing them pictures of the doctors, the operating room and the equipment.

Such compassion is critical. Some children will need to return for further surgery so it’s important they have a positive experience from the beginning.

I know we’re doing it right when a child holds my hand trustingly as I guide them to the operating room.

HOW YOU CAN HELPÉ Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft condition, and – in many parts of the world – shunned by their community. They may struggle to eat and speak properly, and later their condition will affect every aspect of their lives, including job opportunities and marriage prospects.

That’s why, in 1982, Dr Bill Magee, a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathy, a nurse, founded Operation Smile, which has since provided hundreds of thousands of safe, free surgeries all over the world. Each operation, delivered by Operation Smile’s medical volunteers, costs £150. To make a donation, please visit www.operationsmile.org.uk.

A Day in the Life, 1 Dr Nur Lubis is on a mission to help children with cleft conditions

11am Five-year-old Yassin is about to have surgery. Because of the infection risk, his mum can’t be with him when he receives the anaesthetic, but I have talked everything through with her. She is both anxious and excited when I leave her to go into the operating room. It’s scary for kids to go through this without their parents, so we make the environment child-friendly and fun. Here, children sit in a toy car and drive themselves into the operating room. As Yassin slips under, a nurse holds his hand.

After the 45-minute surgery, we take Yassin into the recovery room, where a nurse and I check on him as he comes round. Then the door opens and in comes his mum. This is a very emotional time for parents. At last, their son or daughter looks like every other child. With help from our dentists, speech therapists and the local support team, Yassin will soon be able to talk, eat and smile. There are often tears of joy in the recovery room.

1.30pm I grab some lunch in the break room and chat to other volunteers. This afternoon they’ll be running cleft surgery simulation

Improving local health care is an amazing legacy workshops to teach techniques to local plastic surgeons because, although treating children is our focus, sharing expertise is crucial. On this mission, I’m also mentoring two trainee anaesthetists from Spain.

It’s due to sharing expertise that Operation Smile Morocco now has three Cleft Care Centres run by local medical professionals. In fact, over 85% of missions around the world are carried out by local teams. They in turn train more medical staff, who can then use their skills to help all surgical patients, not just those with cleft conditions.

Improving local health care in this way is an amazing legacy.

6pm After several more surgeries, I look in on Yassin, whose mum is beside him and smiling broadly. As with all patients, Yassin will be followed up in a few weeks’ time. This can be difficult when patients live in remote areas, so local hospitals and universities help, as do the Cleft

Care Centres, which provide year-round patient care.

7.30pm The working day ends and on my way out I pass Safia. She is overjoyed that Radouane has been cleared for surgery.

Now she is confident that he has a happy, healthy life ahead of him.

8pm Back at the hotel, I catch up with my room-mate, an Australian nurse, who tells me about her day on the wards.

It’s great to hear that the children are happily playing and pain-free post-op.

We head out to the souk with others for some traditional Moroccan food.

A street vendor selling flowers recognises us as Operation Smile volunteers and gives us each a rose.

10pm Time to sleep before another busy day.

This all-female mission – which I hope will encourage girls to become medical professionals – is so inspiring. And, of course, it is utterly life-changing for the 130 children we will have helped find their smiles by the time the mission is over.

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The Teapot Trust uses art therapy to help children with chronic conditions

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A picture of health Whether you’re a Picasso with a paintbrush or just love to doodle, art is lots of fun – and, crucially, it’s good for us too, as these projects prove. By Andréa Childs UNLOCKING CREATIVITY

‘Our exhibitions, with artwork by prison inmates and others within the criminal justice system, showcase brilliant work, but also tell the stories of those who wouldn’t usually be heard.’ So says Fiona Curran of Koestler Arts, which, as well as organising exhibitions, provides mentoring and runs the annual Koestler Awards for people in prisons, secure hospitals and other settings. ‘Our shows are full of hope, reflection and honesty,’ Fiona adds, ‘and help change negative perceptions about the people who produce them.’

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Jacob’s Ladder, Koestler Arts Mentoring Scheme, Gold Award for Painting

with evidence showing it can improve wellbeing and family connections, and provide opportunities for self-reflection and rehabilitation.

Every year, around 7,500 works from 3,500 people are entered for the Koestler Awards, including classic ‘prisoner art’ made from carved soap and matchsticks, as well as drawings and paintings. ‘Days in prison can be monotonous, so creating art and entering the awards is something positive for people to talk about with visitors – and family members can attend the exhibitions, which makes inmates feel proud,’ says Fiona.

‘Feedback on every piece is handwritten by the volunteers who come

GUILD GALLERY Four Townswomen share what drawing and painting bring to their lives…

Sax Man, HMP Thorn Cross, Emma Buckmaster Silver Award for Mixed Media

in to judge the work, and many entrants are moved that someone has taken the time to comment. There’s growing evidence that engagement in the arts in prison can contribute to a calmer atmosphere, but it can also help grow a person’s confidence and be the first step on a journey into education for them.’

Once they leave the criminal justice system, former inmates can volunteer for a one-year mentoring scheme, working with a professional artist to achieve a goal. ‘The aim might be to get onto an art course at college, to have the confidence to enter a gallery alone, or simply to carry on creating, but the outcomes have a huge impact on people’s lives,’ emphasises Fiona.

As one artist told Koestler Arts, ‘I worked so hard to earn a place in your exhibition. I set a goal, promising my mum I would give it everything I’ve got, and when you invited her, that meant I had set myself a target and reached it, and I’ve never done that before. The sense of self-worth that has given me is a big part of the reason I’m doing so well now. It has changed the way I look at myself and the way others look at me.’

CHILD’S PLAY

While Koestler uses engagement in the arts as a tool for self-progression, the charity Teapot Trust provides art therapy in UK hospitals (and now online) for children with chronic conditions. Last year, it provided more than 3,600 sessions to children and young people. ‘Our therapists use art as a way to support the mental health and wellbeing of children, helping them explore the impact of their condition and find a safe space to express themselves,’ says Amy Telford. ‘One boy was five when he suddenly became very

Christine Shemming, Ipswich Belstead Guild ‘I’ve always thought I’d like to draw but was too scared to try. Then during the lockdown, Sky Arts began a Portrait Artist of the Week session on Facebook and I thought I’d follow along. At the end of the four hours I was amazed to see I’d produced a passable portrait. I’ve joined in every week since and feel I’ve found a new hobby – the positive feedback from family and friends has given me confidence to carry on.’

Jan Spiby, Lutterworth Guild ‘Three years ago a local girl named Isla was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. She was unable to do much but she loved painting stones and hiding them for her family to find, and soon a Facebook page was set up to encourage others to join in. I don’t have much artistic talent but I find painting the stones focuses my mind away from any worries and I feel so satisfied when I get a good result.

It’s wonderful when people take the trouble to post a photo of one they’ve found – one little boy loved my Easter egg stone so much he asked if he could keep it. Isla said there’s no such thing as a rubbish stone but my designs have improved so much in the two years I’ve been painting them. I feel so chuffed with myself that I’m doing this.’

Christina Shinton, Yate & District Guild ‘I wanted to go to art school when I was younger but needed to get a job instead. I ended up working as a draughtswoman. Painting is such a relaxing hobby. For me it’s an escape from everyday life – a few hours when I don’t feel I should be vacuuming the carpet and can instead spend time in my own space, forgetting any stresses.’

Brenda Wainwright, Bramley Guild ‘I began painting at age 67, when I retired. I simply paint what comes into my head when I’m in the mood; mainly stylised images with lots of intricate detail. I get lost in it and it helps me to relax. My main love is colour and even though I use watercolour, I always choose intense shades. I don’t exhibit or show my paintings anywhere; I simply paint for the love of it.’

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The Test, HMP Greenock, Highly Commended Award for Portrait

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The process of making art can be calming and a relief from the stresses of life

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ill and was admitted to hospital with a complex autoimmune disease. Art therapy helped him process his difficult experiences at hospital, including the fear of his debilitating illness and the challenges of his recovery. His first drawings were full of baddies and danger, but returning to these images over the weeks, he began to introduce goodies and rescuers. The scenes moved from feelings of hopelessness to more adventurous and confident scenes.

Art therapy allowed for questions and difficult discussions, with him an active part of his treatment – something done with him and not to him.’

Teapot Trust’s art therapists sometimes use the ‘squiggle game’ when someone is struggling to get started, as a blank sheet of paper can be a little daunting. Close your eyes and let the pencil scribble over the paper – don’t worry about what you are drawing. Do this four times, using a different colour each time, then look at what you’ve created and see if you can find an image or shape in your scribble.

‘Remember, you don’t need to be any good at art to do it,’ says art therapist Saskia Neary. ‘There’s no getting it right or wrong, and you don’t need to share what you’ve made if you don’t want to. The process of making art can be calming and a relief from the stresses of life. Enjoy it!’

ART PRODUCTION CLIENT

EXPRESS YOURSELF Creativity isn’t just about what we produce; it’s also a great way to express our emotions, says Saskia Neary, art psychotherapist at The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

• Control Creating an image or

Wipe Out, HMP Whatton, First-Time Entrant Award for Painting

artwork can give us a sense of agency and control, especially if we are facing challenges in our lives.

• Distraction We can use creativity as a way to avoid stress. In a recent interview, artist David Hockney

talked about drawing flowers and blossoms on his iPad during isolation. ‘We need art, and I do think it can relieve stress.

What is stress? It’s worrying about something in the future.

Art is now.’

• Contemplation We can use creativity to give us the mental space to reassess problems in our lives and make plans.

• Development Making art can help boost resilience by building up self-esteem and confidence.

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A Picture of Health, 2

LIVING ART AS THERAPY

VERSION

At our service

REPRO OP

Doctors, nurses, carers… To celebrate their work, we look at titles about those who do so much for us all

REVIEW A BOOK FOR TOWNSWOMAN

• We give you a list of the

featured books to choose from.

• You get about a month to read your chosen book.

• You email or post us your thoughts.

Interested? Let Rhiannon at TGHQ know.

SUBS

THE CARER

BY DEBORAH MOGGACH

ENDELL STREET

BY WENDY MOORE

ART PRODUCTION CLIENT

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and niece of Millicent Garrett Atlantic Books, £17.99 Fawcett (whose National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies THE BOOK evolved into TG) and her Review

by Nati ed During World War I, partner, Dr Flora Murray, onal Truste Barba e two suffragist doctors set up hospitals in France ra Cobain set up a 573-bed caring for thousands of military hospital wounded soldiers. staffed almost entirely by They succeeded so well that, women. There they treated an in 1915, they were asked by the incredible 26,000 war casualties, War Office to set up another and pioneered treatments for hospital in Endell Street, which mortar and gas injuries suffered became known as the best by front-line soldiers. hospital in London. In 1919, after caring for victims of the THE REVIEW Spanish flu, their hospital was This is a well-written and closed and everyone dismissed. diligently researched Flora died of cancer in 1923, account of the work of our aged 54. In 1939, Louisa forgotten heroines of the volunteered as a surgeon at the medical profession.

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson In 1914, Louisa Garrett Hospital. She died of cancer in Anderson, daughter of 1943, aged 70.

HOLD ON EDNA!

BY ANEIRA THOMAS Mirror Books, £12.99

THE PULL OF THE STARS

BY EMMA DONOGHUE

Tinder Press, £8.99

Only in 1975, after the passing of the Sex Discrimination Act, were medical schools and hospitals forced to accept women on equal terms with men.

I recommend this book to all who wish to know what we owe to these medical pioneers.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

BY JAKE JONES Quercus, £16.99

Picador, £16.99 At one minute past midnight on 5 July 1948, as her mother Edna gives that final push, Aneira (or Nye) emerges into the world – the first baby delivered by the new NHS and named after its creator, Nye Bevan.

This is Nye’s moving story of her working-class family, and how the NHS brought salvation to those previously denied healthcare because their pockets were empty.

With astonishing contemporary relevance, this novel is set in a Dublin hospital in 1918 when Spanish flu is rife. It brings us up close to the women in the tiny maternity/fever ward where new life and imminent death jostle for dominance. Here, Nurse Julia Power discovers strength, compassion – and fleeting love. Forensic, passionate and moving.

TAKE ACTION

It’s the first question a paramedic always asks – to the elderly recluse marooned in her own excrement, to the collapsed footballer with ashen skin, to the workman fallen from a platform into a pit. With visceral but beautiful prose, and combining shocking truth with deep compassion, Jake Jones shows us what life on call is really like.

Funny and tender, this story of two middleaged siblings, their ailing father and the carer who moves into his home thwarts our expectations as it explores family, marriage, love and prejudice, and what being a carer really means. Just out in paperback, by the author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

CLOSE TO WHERE THE HEART GIVES OUT

BY MALCOLM ALEXANDER

Michael O’Mara, £8.99 Newly out in paperback, this memoir, subtitled A Year in the Life of an Orkney Doctor, transports us – along with Dr Alexander, his wife and four sons – to tiny Eday.

There he takes up his new role as sole GP on the wind- and wave-battered Scottish island with a population of 125.

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Books, 1

BOOKS TIME FOR YOU

TIME FOR YOU FOOD FOR THOUGHT VERSION REPRO OP

Rise and shine

SUBS

Making bread soothes our souls as well as fills our bellies, as Jessica Feehan discovered when she spoke to Tim Leach, aka The Mindful Baker

ART

T

PRODUCTION CLIENT

im Leach never planned to be a baker. In fact, up until around two years ago, he didn’t even really eat bread.

‘It was probably a low-carb thing,’ he laughs. ‘I just felt I didn’t really need it.’

An offhand offer from his cousin’s husband to teach him how to make sourdough changed all that. Fast-forward to 2020 and bread is now Tim’s business.

From his home in Battersea, London, he started the year teaching sourdough bread- and pizza-making courses to small groups. When the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic made that impossible, he began posting step-by-step tutorials on YouTube to guide people through baking their first loaf.

With yeast in short supply, sourdough – which uses wild yeast and naturally occurring lactobacilli as a leavening agent – was suddenly all the rage. But there was something else behind its popularity too.

‘People are noticing the meditative effects that baking can have on them,’ explains Tim. ‘We’re always racing around trying to find an answer for everything, and with sourdough it takes 36 hours to make one loaf, so you have to take your time.’

For Tim, these meditative effects aren’t just a by-product of bread-making, they’re the reason he started The Mindful Baker and what makes his classes unique.

Sure, you’ll leave with a loaf, but you’ll also emerge equipped with a range of mindfulness techniques designed to help you feel happier and more engaged with the world around you.

Tim’s own introduction to mindfulness came as he struggled to get his life back on track after a horrific skiing accident.

38 THE-TG.COM ISSUE 03 2020

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Tim Leach

A course he attended closed with a 15-minute guided meditation. ‘As it ended,’ says Tim, ‘everything slowly started to sink into place. I just felt this immense calm.’

What he practises now is an amalgamation of everything he’s found has worked for him over years of research and training. And the sourdough baking process, with its pauses for rising and proving, has turned out to be the perfect vehicle for demonstrating mindfulness in action. Even tasting can be an exercise in mindful eating!

Inevitably some attendees are more interested in the bread-making side.

‘I love to cook but it’s so rare I bake, so

I thought, “Well, here’s somewhere to start!”,’ says Annabel Dickson, who took a class with Tim. For others, such as the group of South Americans on a business trip whose boss organised the class to tackle workplace stress, being introduced to mindfulness is the whole point.

Whatever his clients’ needs, Tim is keen to dispel some myths about mindfulness that might put people off. ‘I’m not saying you have to suddenly be a saint, or a yogi with crossed legs in the lotus position. I’m just saying you can lead a more fulfilling life if you follow some of these techniques.’

It’s been an eventful first year for The Mindful Baker and Tim’s not sure what

For this recipe, youíll need a sourdough starter ñ see Timís videos at www.youtube.com/c/timthemindfulbaker

Annabel Annabel (above, far right), wanted to learn how to bake bread, while this group from South America (left) were interested in mindfulness

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS? As we rush through our day, it’s easy to lose touch with our body and get caught up in worrying about the future or thinking about the past.

Mindfulness is all about living in the moment. Research shows that simple mindfulness strategies can help us feel more present and engaged, and they are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence as a way to manage feelings of anxiety, stress and depression.

For more information, visit www.oxfordmindfulness.org or the NHS website.

the future holds, but it’s clear the path he’s found himself on is the right one. ‘After my accident, I reached a point where I could have gone into a state of despair, or I could pick myself up and make something good of it. So that’s what I’m doing.’

And does baking sourdough still help him relax now that it’s his job? ‘Yes, I would say so! It’s not like I’m trying to fulfil a task, although there is a direction I’m heading in. I’m in the moment, just happy doing it.’

Head to www.themindful baker.com to find out more about Tim, his classes and how to book.

TAKE ACTION

INGREDIENTS ï 30g sourdough starter ï 250ml water (room temperature) ï 8g olive oil, plus a little extra ï ‫ ✴♣⑧➙➯➡ ✴ זב‬ɯ✼❂➯✙ ⑧➙ ⑧➸➙ ï 10g salt ï rapeseed oil for frying ï toppings of your choice METHOD 1. In a bowl, whisk your starter with the water. Add 8g olive oil; whisk again.

2. X♣  ❛➙✴✙➙ ☛⑧ɯ❛ً ❦❂ 2.

X♣  ❛➙✴✙➙ ☛⑧ɯ❛ً ❦❂ ➯✼✙ ⑧➸➙ ♣✒ ➡❛➯ ɯ❂➯✼ ɵ⑧➸➙ ♣✴✙➙➯❂↔➡ِ ≥❛⑧ɯ❛ɵ ✒✒ the starter, water and oil mixture from step 1 and knead with stiff ♣✴✙➙➡ ➯⑧ ☞⑧❦☛❂♣✙ِ (⑧♣ ➯ ➙➸➡✼ٍ 3. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes, ➯✼✙♣ ◗♣✙✒ ✴❂♣ ✳⑧➙ ɮ✙ ❦❂♣➸➯✙➡ ➸➡❂♣✴ ɵ⑧➸➙ ♣✴✙➙➡ ♣✒ ◗♣➸☞◗❛✙➡ِ Cover the bowl with a damp cloth ⑧➙ ☞❛❂♣✴ ❛❦ ♣✒ ❛✙ɮ✙ ✳⑧➙ ⑧♣✙ ✼⑧➸➙ِ 4. With slightly oiled hands, fold the top edges of the dough into the centre and press down with your knuckles to form a mound. Use your whole hand to turn it over, then brush with olive oil before covering again.

5. Leave to rest at an ambient ➯✙❦↔✙➙➯➸➙✙ ٢‫! בא א‬٣ ✳⑧➙ ‫ ז ה‬ hours, after which it will have risen to almost twice its original size.

6ِ ¡❂↔ ➯✼✙ ✒⑧➸✴✼ ⑧♣➯⑧  6ِ ¡❂↔ ➯✼✙ ✒⑧➸✴✼ ⑧♣➯⑧  ⑧➸➙✙✒ ➡➸➙✳☞✙ and divide into three or four pieces.

»➡❂♣✴ ɵ⑧➸➙ ♣✴✙➙➯❂↔➡ً ➙⑧❛❛ ✙☞✼ ↔❂✙☞✙ into a ball before using your palm to ➯➯✙♣ ➡❛❂✴✼➯❛ɵِ 7. n✙ɮ✙ ➯✼✙ ☛❛❛➡ ➯⑧ ↔➙⑧ɮ✙ ❂♣  7. n✙ɮ✙ ➯✼✙ ☛❛❛➡ ➯⑧ ↔➙⑧ɮ✙ ❂♣  ⑧➸➙✙✒ً airtight container for one hour ٢‫! בא א‬٣ِ ¡✼✙ɵ ➡✼⑧➸❛✒ ✼ɮ✙ ✙♣⑧➸✴✼ room to rise slightly without touching the top.

8. I➙✙✙ɿ✙ ♣⑧ɯ ⑧➙ ✴✙➯ ☞⑧⑧◗❂♣✴ٍ Ö♣  8.

I➙✙✙ɿ✙ ♣⑧ɯ ⑧➙ ✴✙➯ ☞⑧⑧◗❂♣✴ٍ Ö♣  ⑧➸➙✙✒ ➡➸➙✳☞✙ً ✴✙♣➯❛ɵ ↔❂♣☞✼ ♣✒ prod the ball into a circle, creating a crust as you work your way around.

To increase the size, pick it up and use its weight to slowly stretch it out. ✒✒ ❦⑧➙✙ ⑧➸➙ ❂✳ ɵ⑧➸ ♣✒ ❂➯ ➡ ➡➯❂☞◗❂♣✴ ➯⑧ ɵ⑧➸➙ ♣✴✙➙➡ِ 9. Brush an ovenproof frying pan with rapeseed oil, add a pinch of salt and fry the pizza base on high for two to three minutes until the underside is brown.

10. Add your chosen toppings, then pop under a preheated grill for ɮ✙ ❦❂♣➸➯✙➡ ⑧➙ ➸♣➯❂❛ ❂➯ ❛⑧⑧◗➡ ➙✙✒ɵ to eat.

ISSUE 03 2020 THE-TG.COM 39

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Food for Thought, 1

TIMíS SOURDOUGH PIZZA BASE

TIME FOR YOU PUZZLES & PRIZES VERSION

Break time BRAIN-TEASERS AND GIVEAWAYS

WIN! A £100 VOUCHER FROM JOE BROWNS

SUDOKU

SUBS ART PRODUCTION

Joe Browns is a feel-good lifestyle brand that is a bit different to your typical clothing label. Not only does Joe Browns offer great-quality ladies and menswear that is a little more distinctive, the brand is built on the philosophy of having fun and enjoying life!

Joe Browns’ belief is that individuality should be celebrated, and its mission is to make people feel remarkable. Full of personality, beautiful designs and exceptional detailing, the clothing range is perfect for those looking for styles you won’t find elsewhere.

After all, everyone is unique, so why should you want to dress like everyone else? See www.joebrowns.co.uk.

CLIENT

For your chance to win, complete the crossword and correctly identify the hidden word. Then send the word to the address on the right to be entered into the prize draw.

Train your brain with a sudoku workout.

Fill in all the squares in the grid, so that each row, column and 3x3 square contains all digits from 1 to 9. See the TG website for the answers to last issue’s sudokus.

EASY

9

2

3

7

5

2

4

Would you like to imagine you’re somewhere far away rather than being stuck at home? With the Radio Garden app you can tune in live to any radio station around the world by spinning the globe and zooming in on the country of your choice.

You could dance around the kitchen with Rio de Janeiro’s Rádio Viva o Samba, have a country music singalong with Nashville’s WSM Radio – or choose from any of the other 25,000 talk or music stations on offer. Download onto your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play.

5

6 5

9

8 6

2

4 9

1 3

8

4 7

7

4

1

9

8

2

5

9

6

HARD

7

OUR DIGITAL WORLD

4

5

6 7

5 1

7

2

3

4

2

6 8

1 8

4 2 5

3

8 2

1 3

4

7

1

4

9

9

2 5

ENTER NOW To enter the crossword competition or giveaway, send the answer (if relevant), along with your name, address, phone number and member ID by email to tgprizedraws@ thinkpublishing. co.uk or on a postcard to Townswomen’s Guilds, Gee Business Centre, Gee House, Holborn Hill, Birmingham B7 5JR. Entries should arrive before 11.59pm on 30 September 2020. Terms and conditions apply: 1. Open to residents in the British Isles only, aged 18 or over, who are members of Townswomen’s Guilds. 2. The prizes: see left and right.

3. To enter: see above. 4. One entry per person.

5. Promotion closes: see above.

For full terms and conditions, visit the Members’ Area of the TG website (www.the-tg.com).

PICTURE THIS Add the pictures together to find the name of a cartoon character who made his first appearance 80 years ago in July 1940.

Picture puzzle answer: Bugs Bunny, who made his debut on 27 July 1940 in A Wild Hare

REPRO OP

Look out for all winne rs’ names and the crosswor d solution in th e next issue

40 THE-TG.COM ISSUE 03 2020

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

Break Time, 1

PRIZE CROSSWORD

For a chance to win this issue’s prize (see left), fill in the crossword and combine the letters in the shaded squares to reveal a style of dress. Email or post your answer to the address on page 40 before 11.59pm on 30 September 2020, marking your entry ‘CROSSWORD’.

WIN! CRANES CIDER GIFT SET

17 News stories about fortified wines (7) 18 Gothic American author dies strangely in TV instalment (7) 19 Posh mob gal gets mixed up in complaint (7) 22 Type of orange Japanese pottery (7) 24 Tiny Greek letter (4) 25 Litter seen in the Andes (5) 26 Nasty eye infection (4) 29 Quickly add some rum to delicious pasta sauce (6) 30 Scotsman was disturbed and upset by gaudy parrots (6) 31 Confused son cannot find agreement (9) QUICK CLUES

6 Abduct (6)

Across

7 Indigenous Arctic dweller (6)

1 An official communication (9)

10 Flowering bulb (9)

8 Rubbish; subject of first TG mandate in 1954 (6)

11 Guild representatives at TG AGM (9)

9 Quite recent (6)

15 High-fat dairy product (5)

12 Where a country’s coins are made (4)

16 Informal name for a young cat (5)

13 Part of a flower (5)

20 Completely grown or developed (6)

14 Tool for smoothing objects (4) 17 Sudden loud noises (7) 18 Part of a television series (7)

21 Spotted South American wild cats (7) 22 Female British astronaut (7)

3 British sailor understands the mission objectives (7) 4 Directive decided at TG AGM to go out with a guy (7) 5 Catch female amphibian (4) 6 Snatch forty winks next to child (6) 7 Obsolete ski-mobile used to transport Arctic inhabitant (7) 10 Silly to crash into a climbing winter bloomer (9)

27 Capital of Norway (4) 28 Look at something carefully (4)

15 Quickly learn about English elite (5)

19 Pain in the lower back (7)

24 Ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (4)

2 Thanks, Lawrence, initially, for the London art gallery (4)

11 TG Guild representatives get leased out at least once a year (9)

23 Residential part of town (6) 22 Easy-peeling citrus fruit (7)

Down

Cranes co-founders, Ben and Dan Ritsema, handcraft a refreshingly natural cider (www. drinkcranes.co.uk) that comes in three tantalising flavours: Blueberries & Apples, Cranberries & Limes and Raspberries & Pomegranates. Cranes Ciders contain 30% fewer calories compared to brand leaders!

All of Cranes Ciders come in a crafted gift set, including a premium pint glass. Available from Amazon, price £16.99.

For your chance to win, email or post your entry, marked ‘CIDER’, to the address on page 40.

ISSUE 02 2020 CROSSWORD SOLUTION WINNING WORD: TULIP

Across: 1 Discovery 8 Cancan 9 Cooper 12 Hens 13 Genoa 14 Mini 17 Largest 18 Younger 19 Editing 22 Podcast 24 Girl 25 Helen 26 Echo 29 Remain 30 Trowel 31 Hydrangea Down: 2 Inca 3 Concert 4 Victory 5 Rook 6 Banner 7 Seeing 10 Challenge 11 Migration 15 Media 16 Guide 20 Israel 21 Greener 22 Preston 23 Archer 27 Mary 28 Rose

CRYPTIC CLUES

16 Young cat in the pool (5)

25 American saloon car (5)

Across

26 Eye infection (4)

1 Formal declaration found in New Testament (9)

20 Full-strength cocktail of rum and tea (6)

ISSUE 01 PRIZEWINNERS

21 Coolest wild cats in South America (7)

Crossword: Ann Nash, Bristol.

Guava & Gold® Body Lotion: Patricia White, Weymouth.

The Happy Dog Cookbook: Hilary Briggs, Carnforth.

29 Hey ______! It’s magic (5) 30 Colourful New World parrots (6) 31 Not a vowel (9) Down 2 Sugar magnate (4) 3 Goals (7) 4 An official TG directive (7) 5 Lizard-like pond dweller (4)

8 Rubbish cause for first TG campaign led to 1958 Act (6) 9 His new concoction is still fairly fresh (6)

22 Starman swaps tango for hydrogen to become British astronaut (7)

12 This herb is best kept in perfect condition (4)

23 Billy Joel’s girl lives in a nice neighbourhood (6)

13 Smashed plate could be used for confetti (5)

27 Wandering solo in northern European city (4)

14 Put document away in a folder (4)

28 Check barcode of small tin (4)

ISSUE 02 PRIZEWINNERS Crossword: Eileen Willett, Rugby.

Martha Hill creams: Shirley Clancy, Hook. Cranes Cranberry Gin: Denise Baker, Chesterfield.

ISSUE 03 2020 THE-TG.COM 41

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VERSION REPRO OP

Norma Barker To support premature babies and their families, Norma is tapping into 50 years of crocheting experience and a passion to make a difference

SUBS

INTERVIEW JESSICA FEEHAN

ART

I

PRODUCTION CLIENT

first heard about Octopus for a Preemie UK from my daughter, who works for the NHS. She knows I have always loved to crochet and posted a video of premature babies holding tiny octopuses on my Facebook timeline on 8 April 2017 with the words: ‘Mum, watch this video as I know you will enjoy it.’

I joined the Facebook group that same day.

The charity actually operates almost solely through Facebook as its membership is so large. We supply around 3,000 octopuses and jellyfish each month to 130 specialcare baby units across Britain (Northern Ireland has a separate group shared with the Republic of Ireland). All are donated free of charge.

There are a few different types of pattern for people to choose from – stuffed and unstuffed, knitted and crocheted. The octopus tentacles are designed to resemble the umbilical cord so that when the babies grasp them it calms them and stops them pulling on their tubes and wires. Some members also make hearts, which are included in every package for mums and dads to keep close when they can’t be with their baby.

Everyone who joins the group is provided with our online rules and regulations

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those who are robbed of that moment. Being born too soon comes with many risks, and some preemies don’t make it. Our members also make wings and butterflies, which are attached to octopuses to be sent to parents who have lost a baby to comfort them in this terrible time.

After being part of this group for over three years, I cannot imagine life without it. It’s overwhelming the love, support and time that everyone gives to being a volunteer. Whether they’re making octopuses or raising funds, nearly everyone will tell you how addicted they’ve become – it’s so rewarding to see your work really being appreciated.

The octopus tentacles are designed to resemble the umbilical cord to make sure they understand our terms. We take health and safety very seriously indeed, which hospital staff especially appreciate – we have adapted our patterns in line with British Trading Standards and hospital guidelines, and all octopuses are posted to one of our 60 local coordinators to be checked for size and length, and any holes or loops.

Alongside the coordinators, we have three moderators and six trustees, including myself, who run the admin side of the charity. We all have our own jobs to do and the fact that we get on so well keeps the group as popular as it is.

Since I joined the admin team, I don’t make as many octopuses as I used to, but I feel very lucky to do the PR work since it means I deal directly with the mums of our preemies. Many send me photographs and videos of their baby’s progress to turn into charity videos like the one I first watched.

Everyone loves to spot their octopus being used; it gives our makers so much pleasure.

It’s heart-warming to be able to keep in contact with families and to hear when baby finally gets to go home – I’m as proud as they are for this special moment. But I also shed a tear with

To make sure those tiny babies are safe, hospitals will only accept octopuses that follow regulations and are checked and delivered by Octopus for a Preemie.

To get involved, join the Facebook group at www. facebook.com/groups/ octopusforapreemie.

If you don’t use Facebook, ask a family member or f riend to join the group on your behalf. For more information, see www. octopusforapreemie.com TAKE ACTION

Norma Barker

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My World, 1

LIVING MY WORLD

Oakhouse VERSION REPRO OP SUBS ART PRODUCTION CLIENT

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

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GXpillows VERSION REPRO OP SUBS ART PRODUCTION CLIENT

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

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