Editorial August/September 2011

Win Glendenning 1920-2011

Win died unexpectedly at a family gathering in Ireland, on 22 May 2011.Until her death she had certainly lived a very full and energetic life, and will be hugely missed in our village.

Win and her husband Bob were delighted to move into the village in1978 and lived at Frostwood, Bell Lane. Bob, an engineer, was production manager at Anderson Springs in Wallingford, whilst Win was a secretary working for the County Council’s Youth Department. They had two daughters, Freda who lives in Australia and Ruth who is in Wales and then five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

From the start they became involved in village activities, including the campaign to save the orchard from development. Win was a very proactive member of the WI, becoming the treasurer. She baked regularly for the weekly WI market in Wallingford and took her turn on the rota to sell. She was a keen gardener, a member of WAGS and became president of the Wallingford Flower club in 1999. Win was very talented with flower arrangements and enjoyed the challenge of competitions. In her nineties, Win was the first to volunteer when a floral display was required for an area WI meeting. She joined U3A and took part in many of the activities offered by WI and Denman College. Win was involved with Age Concern, feeding information to the Villager regularly. She had been a volunteer hospital driver and had also delivered meals on wheels.

Her continued enthusiasm and willingness to engage with new people and activities left most of us breathless. She took delivery of her first computer for her 80th birthday, so that she could e-mail her daughter Freda in Australia, and followed several courses to learn more! Joining the Quilting group at its inception, in her late 80’s she made her first quilt. Weeks before she died she applied for a new passport and ordered 2012 Calendar and diary. For Win, every day was an opportunity for learning and living.

Her daughter Ruth writes: ‘One of her diaries tells me that she helped to plant a lime tree in the Millennium Wood ‘‘The diaries have been a source of inspiration and information for me. What an amazing lady!’

We would all echo this, Win was truly a village treasure and her vivacity and love of life an example to us all.
 
Sue Collett and Cynthia Hurley

Derek McCarthy 1930-2011

Where to begin with memories of Derek? He had many roles in his life, husband, father, uncle, friend, sailor, air traffic controller, musician, thespian, scene builder, house builder and furniture maker, football supporter - the list goes on.

So, let’s begin at the beginning. Derek was born in London; in his teens he was an active member of the Sea Cadets. On finishing school his first job was learning to make bagpipes. Derek did his national service in the Royal Navy and then signed on as a regular for several years. After he left the Royal Navy most of Derek’s working life was spent as an Air Traffic Controller at Heathrow.

Derek was an active member of the Sinodun Players. One of my earliest memories is seeing him on stage, wearing impossibly high platform shoes and a large purple wig in his role as the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. He was handy on and off stage, building sets and working at great heights on the roof of the Corn Exchange when the players undertook that conversion and made the building their permanent home.

The family’s move to Sotwell Hill Lodge saw Derek concentrating his DIY skills on the house as rooms were added and extended and a new garage and stable built. Much of this work was done by Derek He also built a dresser and a large dining table, designed especially to fit the house.

Derek liked football and supported Chelsea Football Club, he enjoyed reading, especially crime novels, and he was passionate about keeping the local Post Office open, so never missed an opportunity to use its services. He and the family supported many of the village events and he was always willing to lend a hand.

Derek was a quiet and gentle man, a really nice guy. He was always hospitable, offering tea as soon as you stepped inside the back door. His quiet sense of humour was ever present and gatherings of friends were inevitably punctuated by laughter.

Much loved by his family and friends Derek will be missed by us all.

Janice Chilton

Village Fete – 9 July 2011

There is nothing certain in life – other than death, taxes…and a record breaking Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Village Fete, it seems! Having broken through the £4,000 ceiling for the first time in 2010, Fete profits were close to £4,500 this year.

The money is very important of course, because it helps many village organisations to develop. Just as important, though, a financially successful Fete means that people have really enjoyed themselves. That is very rewarding for all the stall-holders and helpers who do so much to prepare for it.

The same stalls as usual made most money: White Elephant, Books, Pimms, Bottles, Teas, and the WI’s home made and grown produce. It was also great to see new ideas proving popular this year – from archery to wind organs. Everyone who put in so much hard work deserves our thanks. Most of all a very big thank you to Jim and Madeline Sanger for so patiently putting up with us in their lovely Moreton House garden.

Profits now get split between different village organisations, who bid to meet a specific funding need. While the rules are not hard and fast, we do try to favour organisations that have made big efforts to support the Fete, and other fundraising events during the year.

Hugh Roderick

Brightwell School

As I write this, we are nearing the end of a very busy couple of terms. Children in Years 2 and 6 have been assessed at the end of KS1 and KS2 with National Tests, all other year groups undergoing annual internal testing. We are very proud that our SATs results are up again this year with all pupils at both Key Stages achieving or exceeding their personal targets with the majority exceeding national levels.

There have been plenty of opportunities for some more creative work and some fun events! Our Class 5 children had a wonderful week at PGL in Osmington Bay, Dorset and took full advantage of all the experiences offered – particular highlights include survivor training, rafting and the death slide! The whole school has been very busy over the past few weeks rehearsing for a variety of productions and plays. Class 3 produced a play based on their WWII work and Class 5 a ‘Fashion through the Ages’ show. Classes 4 & 5 worked together to produce the musical ‘Gel’ and KS1 are busy preparing for their forthcoming sharing assemblies.

We have made a number of trips out and welcomed visitors into school. Classes 3 and 5 will be travelling to London to visit the Science Museum and explore our capital city later this week. Class 4 will be visiting Reading Museum as part of their work on the Egyptians. Year 6 visited Townlands Hospital in Henley as part of their PSHE work and there have been a number of trips to Wittenham Clumps and around the village and local area. Amanda Potter continues to help us with our Tapestry Project and several of our Mums enjoyed a morning of pampering when we hosted the local WOW group.

The children have taken part in many sporting activities; all our Year 6 pupils successfully completed their Cycling Proficiency course, our Year 3/4 tennis team came home with a cup from the South Oxfordshire Tennis Tournament, children from various classes have taken part in football and cricket tournaments, Year 1 pupils took part in a multiskills event and Year 2 had an Orienteering afternoon.

FOBS have had a busy term too, they entered a float in the Wallingford Carnival with a 1960’s Back to School theme, and won a rosette! They also organised a very successful (if damp) summer fair, which raised over £1000 for the school.

The end of the school year is always tinged with a little sadness as we have goodbyes to make. Miss Smith will be leaving us to work nearer to home in Berkshire and our Year 6 children move on to their respective secondary schools – we wish them all the very best for the future. We look forward to welcoming our new Reception children in September, along with Mrs Pearson who will be returning to teach our Year 1/2 class.

Liz Hunt

Flower and Produce Show

Alcohol – in the form of Gilbert Talbot’s legendary G and Ts – has always been a key part of the Produce Show tradition. However, this year saw a new threat to our ability to stand upright: the many amber and damson-coloured bottles of nectar entered in the alcoholic fruit drink class.

Naively, when we planned the schedule, we had decided we couldn’t ask our judges to tackle this, so voted to reach a decision by consensus. We had reckoned without the enthusiasm of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell’s many home brewers…However, it’s the kind of problem we’re happy to cope with!

On offer for the first time was a new flower-arranging trophy – a silver salver kindly given by Cynthia Hurley in memory of Win Glendenning. We hope this will encourage more entries in these classes.

This was the last show for our flower arranging and produce judges, Iris and Les Novell, who are taking a well-earned retirement. We are really grateful to them – and to all those who give so generously of their time each year.

Sally Dugan

TROPHIES

The Swan Allotments Cup for the best-kept allotment: Chris Drewitt.

The Talbot Cup for most points in show: John Rodda

The Talbot Rose Bowl: Margaret Smith

The Win Glendenning Memorial Salver for Flower Arranging: Sally Dugan

The Joan Sheard cup, for the best under-16 entry in an adult class: Beatrice Marshall, aged 5.

Junior Trophies: Amelia Butterfield (9-12 year olds) Isabelle Peach (5-8 year olds).

Bunting – judged by popular vote: Caroline Annets.

Flower Arranging. Judged by Iris Novell.
1.A miniature floral cake decoration. 1. Ann Linton; 2. Sally Dugan.
2.An arrangement of flowers all one colour. No entries.
3. A symbolic arrangement. 1. Sally Dugan (‘The Ascent of Man’); 2. James Davys (Arrangement for a blind person).
4. A bowl of floating flowers.1. Sue Booth; 2 Josephine Butterfield; 3. Amelia Butterfield.
5. A bridal bouquet. 1. Ann Linton.
6. MEN ONLY Arrangement of foliage 1. John Rodda; 2. James Davys; 3. Brian Smith.
 
Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables. Judged by Les and Bernard Novell
7. A Vase of Cottage Garden Favourites 1. Paul Chilton; 2. Margaret Smith; 3. Sue Booth.
8. A rose, Hybrid Tea – 1 stem 1. Margaret Smith; 2. Josephine Butterfield.
9. A rose, multi-headed – 1 stem1. James Davys; 2. Josephine Butterfield; 3. Paul Chilton.
10. Three stems flowering shrub, not rose 1. Josephine Butterfield; 2. James Davys; 3. Josephine Butterfield.
11. Potted plant, flowering or foliage 1. Helena Varley; 2. Paul Copley; 3. Helena Varley.
12. Dish of soft fruit of one kind 1. John Rodda; 2. Paul Chilton; 3. Garry McCracken.
13. 3 sticks of rhubarb, trimmed. 1. Richard Mason; 2. Richard Mason; 3. John Rodda.
14. Box of vegetables – 3 varieties. 1. John Rodda; 2. Rosemary Greasby; 3. Paul Chilton.
15. Box of salad vegetables. 1 Paul Chilton; 2. Garry McCracken.
16. 3 courgettes 1. Paul Copley; 2. Maria Wells; 3. John Rodda.
17. 6 potatoes (Named variety) 1. John Rodda; 2. Paul Copley; 3. Paul Chilton.
18. 6 pods broad beans 1. John Rodda; 2. Felicity Peach; 3. Sue Myatt.
19. 4 named herbs 1. John Rodda; 2. Sue Booth; 3. Irene Lascelles
20. 4 onions 1. Paul Copley; 2. John Rodda.
21. 6 hen’s eggs 1. Isabelle Peach; 2. Rosemary Greasby; 3. Viv Moll.
22. Pick of the crop 1. Paul Copley; 2. Beatrice Marshall; 3. Paul Chilton.
23. Any fruit or vegetable not listed above 1. John Rodda; 2. Paul Chilton; 3. Richard Mason.
 
Cookery. Judged by Mrs Jean Calvin Thomas.
24 A ramekin of fresh salsa 1 Charlotte Woods; 2. Jill Brooks; 3. Claire Lynch.
25 A jar of marmalade 1. Derek Nightingale; 2. Irene Lascelles; 3. Josephine Butterfield.
26. A jar of any jam 1. Garry McCracken; 2. Irene Lascelles; 3. Derek Nightingale.
27. A sugarcraft icing decoration. 1. Karen Mason; 2. Amelia Butterfield; 3. Amelia Butterfield.
28. An Alcoholic fruit drink (Judged by consensus!)1. Irene Lascelles (damson gin); 2. John Bloomfield (cider); 3. Viv. Moll (sloe gin).
29. MEN ONLY: 4 squares of tiffin 1. Philip Farrand; 2. Matt Wells; 3. Stuart Homann. Highly Commended: Jim Lynch.
30. LADIES ONLY: A celebration cake No entries
 
Photography. Judged by Kevin McCarthy
31. Photograph, unmounted: ‘Sunset.’ 1. Eric Dore; 2. Lawrence Gray; 3. Keith Brooks.
32. A set of four photos, b/w or colour, on the theme of ‘B-cum-S’ 1. Eric Dore; 2. John Rodda; 3. Paul Chilton.
33. Photograph, unmounted: ‘Nature’ 1. Keith Brooks; 2. Viv Moll; 3. Richard Mason.
34. Photograph, unmounted: ‘Make us smile’. 1. Margaret Smith; 2. Amelia Butterfield; 3. Josephine Butterfield.

Art: Judged by Pat Owen
35. A painting or drawing of a local landmark 1. Rosemary Greasby; 2. Alexandra Peach; 3. Claire Lynch. Highly Commended: Fred Clamp-Gray
 
Junior Section Judged by Pat Owen
9-12 year olds
36. A home made apron 1.Leah Gordon; 2. Georgia Wornham; 3. Amelia Butterfield.
37. A flag for Brightwell-cum-Sotwell 1. Charlie Fuller; 2. Amelia Butterfield; 3. Georgia Wornham.
38. 4 jam tarts 1.Natasha Zalinski; 2. Amelia Butterfield; 3. Amelia Butterfield.
 
5-8 year olds
39. A Crown 1. Isabelle Peach; 2. Louis Wornham; 3. Ava Gordon.
40. Design a flag for Brightwell-cum-Sotwell 1. Max Fuller; 2. Josiah Mason; 3. Benji Davys.
41. 4 jam tarts 1. Jamie Zalinski; 2. Isabelle Peach; 3. Benji Davys.
 
Under fives
42. Decorate a crown 1. Tom Seth Gordon; 2. Theo Stephenson; 3. Milly Homann.
43. Design a flag for Brightwell-cum-Sotwell using a template drawn by an adult. 1. Theo Stephenson; 2. Maisie Stephenson; 3. Honey Harvey.

Kamuli Mission Hospital Uganda

Please support the Charity Quiz at the Red Lion on 29.August, Bank Holiday Monday. All funds raised from the quiz will be used to support the Kamuli Mission Hospital in Uganda where I have been a volunteer for the past 3 years working on the wards and teaching staff.

The hospital serves a large rural area with a population of 1,500,000. It is situated in a very poor area approximately 3 hours N/E of the capital Kampala. It has 160 beds with wards for surgery, medicine, maternity and paediatrics.The outpatient department operates a 24 hour casualty service and there are departments for antenatal care and the treatment of TB and HIV. The hospital sees 50,000 outpatients and admits 10,000 inpatients each year. There is a nursing school attached to the hospital where nurses receive general nursing or midwifery training.

The fabric of the hospital is very poor. There is a lack of basic equipment. There are constant power cuts some lasting for many days .Recent donations have provided generators so that operations can continue when this happens. Funds have also been raised for a water harvesting system which collects rain water from the hospital roofs and for shipping out donated beds, mattresses, wheelchairs and other essential equipment.

Patients have to make a contribution to the costs of their care.As many of them are subsistence farmers without any paid employment and living in very limited circumstances, this can be very difficult for them. The hospital keeps charges to the minimum level so that most patients are not excluded from getting health care. There is a constant tension between raising enough money to keep the hospital running and making health care available to everyone.

Mosquitoes that spread cerebral malaria are rife in the area and many babies and children who are especially vulnerable die. Diarrhoeal disease due to unclean water is also a problem. Fractures and injuries from road traffic accidents are common.

Patients come to the hospital with relatives or friends who are responsible for providing them with clean bed linen and food. They sleep outside the wards and collect water for washing linen, and consumption from a pump in the hospital grounds.

All funds raised are used to provide equipment for the hospital. There are no administration charges. For more information and a short film on the hospital go to:- www.friendsofkamulimissionhospital.org

Jill Brooks