9 minute read
CARING
Countrymen UK marks 10th anniversary at Dorset farm
At the end of July, many local people gathered at Ryland’s Farm, just outside Sherborne, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the innovative Countrymen UK Club which has featured on Escape to the Country and BBC Countryfile. The organisation was formed by farmer’s daughter Julie Plumley when she realised that her father, who was suffering from Parkinson’s, had no outdoor spaces or areas where he could engage in some meaningful activity. ‘He had always been a farmer and was not used to just sitting in a room indoors.’ From this realisation, Julie established the Countrymen UK Club for men with various life-limiting conditions that make accessing a practical work environment or farm or countryside activity difficult to manage independently.
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In the past ten years, the Countrymen UK Clubs have expanded and proved to be beneficial to men from all walks of life. Julie explains that the Countrymen UK Club has been positively evaluated by Essex University for helping to improve men’s wellbeing and improve sleep. Over the last ten years, they have trained 11 other spaces and farms across the country to use the countrymen’s club model from Cornwall, Buckinghamshire and Wales to Scotland. Julie says, ‘We hope that now Covid is more manageable that we will be able to train more sites in Dorset.’
The success of the Countrymen UK Clubs can be summed up from various comments heard throughout the day:
‘My husband loved it here; it was the best thing for him.’
‘I knew when he got on the bus he would be well cared for and I could relax. He always came home with a smile on his face.’
‘He loves it here being part of the farm team. He feels at home, he does so much, I can’t believe it when I see what he has been up to in the photos.’
The Lord-Lieutenant Angus Campbell gave a toast to the unpaid carers and families who support the men and who have had such a tough time during Covid as well as to the men who are no longer with us and the current men who attend, commending them for their strength and bravery.
Refreshments included a tasty Ploughman’s from Wyke Cheese from Bruton who donated butter and cheese as well as home-made cakes. There was also a much needed ice cream from Ecco Gelato from Sherborne.
GREAT HEAT HERALDS GREAT FIRES!
By Tracey Warren, Stoodley and Son
After what seems like an endless summer with sweltering temperatures, we watched in shock and horror the images coming from France and Spain depicting devastating forest fires. In the UK, fires near Heathrow, and more locally at Studland, sprang up at alarming speed on the tinder-dry fields. Many supermarkets stopped selling disposable BBQs to prevent accidental fires, a move which I applauded. Fire always brings devastation and change. Looking back at 2 September 356 years ago, a much bigger fire was on people’s minds – the Great Fire of London.
In 1665 London was devastated by the great plague brought over from the East, probably in textile exports; the plague ravaged its way through Europe before coming to England. The plague was spread by fleas, and the overcrowded pestilential conditions were ideal for the spread of rats – the fleas’ host. It began in London in the poor, overcrowded parish of St Gilesin-the-Field. It started slowly at first and by May of 1665 just 43 people had died. In June 6,137 people died, in July 17,036 people died and at its peak in August, 31,159 people died. In all, 15% of the population perished. Huge plague pits were dug to bury the dead and the population was left in a state of grief and despair.
The plague lasted until late autumn when harsher colder weather arrived which killed off the fleas on which the plague was transported.
In 1666 London was back to its bustling self as people returned to a sense of normality. Trade continued and the dockside was once again an energetic hive of activity. The summer, however, was exceptionally hot, and weeks without rain had left the wooden houses tinder dry. broke out. Unable to contain it, it spread quickly to neighbouring properties fanned by the hot dry winds.
The Lord Mayor Sir Thomas Bloodworth was raised from his chamber to be informed of the fire. He quickly made his way to the scene and declared that ‘a woman’s piss could put this out’. Sir Thomas promptly left the scene and went back to bed.
Firefighting methods of this time were primitive and the use of firebreaks was the only way to quell the spread. Firebreaks were created by the demolition of houses surrounding the fire. However, as it was wilful destruction of property, the order for it to happen had to come directly from the lord mayor, and he denied the order.
Seeing the spread of the fire, large scale demolition of houses in the fire’s path was then ordered, but it was too late; the ensuing firestorm overtook the firebreaks.
There was widespread public disorder as rumours stated that immigrants had started the fires, and immigrant groups were attacked by marauding gangs of the now homeless.
The fire was now out of control and King James made direct orders for more houses to be pulled down. It spread through to London Bridge and then onwards to the Tower of London and its supplies of gunpowder and arms’ store.
St Paul’s Cathedral, built of brick construction, became a potential safe haven; people flocked to it to hide their valuables within. Printers and booksellers crammed the building with all their precious manuscripts thinking it would be safe. During the time of the fire, St Paul’s was undergoing a repair project and was surrounded by wooden scaffolding which quickly ignited. The intense heat melted the lead surrounding the windows and in the roof. Soon the whole building was alight and everything destroyed. On Tuesday 4 September, there were two bits of good fortune; the wind had finally dropped and the garrison at the Tower of London had grown impatient. Despite pleading with King James to send the army to save the tower, they had still received no reply. On the evening of Tuesday 4 September, they used gunpowder from their store and started blowing up houses to save the tower and to create a more substantial firebreak.
By Wednesday, the fire was under control as the firebreaks had done their work, but it was at a huge cost.
Between 13,200-13,500 houses were destroyed, as well as 86 parish churches, 44 company halls, The Royal Exchange, St Paul’s Cathedral, the custom house, along with city prisons and three western city gates. In total, an estimated loss of £1.79 billion in today’s money. The human toll, though, has been debated throughout the years, it has always been six or eight deaths. However, for a fire of this size in such a populated area the death toll would have been considerably higher.
The human cost came later. Huge refugee camps sprang up housing over 100,000 people, and they were about to face one of the hardest winters, meaning many died in the camps due to exposure, starvation and disease.
The rebuilding of the city was commenced, and noted diarist of the time Samuel Pepys was tasked to design the new St Paul’s Cathedral which stands today. If you go to London there is a simple monument to the Great Fire of London at Pudding Lane; a fire that changed the landscape of London for ever.
VOLUNTEER: HELP A YOUNG PERSON AND YOURSELF!
By Faye Dimdore, Learning Associate, The Rendezvous
The Rendezvous is a local youth charity, and we've run our unique learning project in Sherborne for seven years and in Yeovil for one year. It's going so well that we're looking for more English and maths tutors to join our Learning Teams in Yeovil and Sherborne. We match our volunteer tutors with individual learners aged 16-25 who’ve missed out on maths and English qualifications at school for whatever reason. Our learners and tutors work together one-to-one, at the pace of the learners, who take their exams when they are ready.
Tutors are from all backgrounds, not necessarily with a teaching qualification. Jackie is one of the maths tutors in Yeovil. She has just received a one-year service award and says ‘I’m very confident with maths, but I’m not a trained teacher. So, over the last year I have developed skills in maths tutoring, finding out how my learners think about problems and adapting to their individual needs.’
Jackie adds ‘The Centre at Morley House, Yeovil, is really pleasant to be in, and the other tutors and staff are great to work with. I really enjoy working in an organisation that is helping to improve the lives of young people. I enjoy working with the learners and feel a sense of purpose.’
We recently got all our volunteer tutors and learners together to celebrate all our achievements of the last six months; our 46 learners passed 123 modules in maths and English level 1 and 2 across our Sherborne and Yeovil Centres!
Alison has been a volunteer English tutor with us for four years, and she shared her experiences with everyone. ‘I can’t tell you how rewarding it all is. I feel valued and I leave the sessions each week with a smile and a spring in my step. The volunteer team and staff are encouraging and supportive. The Rendezvous contributes to my own 'wellbeing!'
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Alison recalls ‘My first tutee was extremely shy, and it was a difficult start, but we persevered through lockdown. They started to pass their exams and I witnessed a profound change in them. It was an absolute joy to see them grow and gain the confidence needed to gain a place on a course at Yeovil college.’
She concludes ‘We give so much more than just teaching. We build confidence and trust, and we help our students to believe in themselves and have hope for their future.’ We plan to keep up with demand in Yeovil and Sherborne! We're getting more and more young people selfreferring and local organisations pointing young people in our direction. I want to bring in more volunteers to join the current Yeovil and Sherborne teams, so we can keep saying yes to helping local young people with their maths and English qualifications. If you're interested in volunteering as a tutor with The Rendezvous, I'd love to hear from you. Please contact me, Faye Dimdore on Learning@therendezvous.org. uk to request an application pack and, if you'd like, an informal chat. More information is also available on www. therendezvous.org.uk/be-atutor.
The Rendezvous is committed to safeguarding and safer recruitment. All applicants are interviewed, and references and DBS checked.
Volunteer as a 1 : 1 English or Maths Tutor
Help a young person get the qualifications they need to progress in life
Info at: www.therendezvous.org.uk/be-a-tutor Email: learning@therendezvous.org.uk
