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Rose Prince meets Friends & Family group
Rose Prince, food writer and judge on Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards, talked to the Family and Friend’s group meeting on 2nd October. She challenges many food fetishes and recommends a balanced, common sense approach to cooking well-sourced food with a view to making meals stretch further as often as possible. Soups which are easy to eat and nutritious are a particular favourite of hers. She stressed the importance of variety and making food look tempting.
She has given us many easy to eat recipes which we are hoping to make into a booklet including a wine jelly which preserves the alcohol! Butter has anti-viral properties the well-attended meeting was also glad to hear.
The subject certainly proved popular as many people were keen to receive the recipes and chat to Rose and others afterwards.
Walk at Cornbury Park
Saturday September 12th was a glorious day for our annual Sponsored Walk, this time on the Cornbury Estate at Charlbury.
About 60 people, including a couple of toddlers, took part, many dressed in red MND T-shirts, carrying balloons and wearing ribbons.
We set off up the driveway towards the "great house" and were greeted by a herd of deer, just as ordered. We then went on to the Vista Gate, back around the house to the North Lodge, and into Charlbury. After a picnic lunch, Bruce left with about 20 tough people who had chosen to go on the long walk to Chilson and back through the Wychwood Forest. Jackie led the rest on a more leisurely shorter return trip via Cornbury to our parking place. Everyone had a great time.
Top marks for effort go to Jeannette who managed most of the way on foot.
Thanks to everyone who took part the event has so far raised about £1000 for the work of the Branch in the Oxfordshire area (with more to come!).
Special thanks should go to Jackie and Bruce who organised the event and who are seen here enjoying a well-earned rest at the end of the walk.
You can see more of Jackie's photos of the walk on her Snapfish account.
Coffee Morning, August 15th
Barbara Ferrar held her annual coffee morning in aid of our Branch at the Witney Methodist Church Hall. Barbara and her friends attend the Ducklington Parish Church but the Witney venue attracts more people. The event was very well attended, everyone enjoying the delicious coffee and cakes. Several branch members were able to attend.
There was also a stall with homemade cakes and jams provided by Barbara's friends. Barbara's son, wife and grandson helped by collecting and helping with our Branch information stand.
We were especially pleased to welcome two guests. Roy Gill and his wife, Roy from the Royal Ancient Order of Buffaloes Witney has adopted our Branch as his charity during his year of office, in memory of Barbara's husband who died of MND.
Brenda Cook, one of the trustees from the Witney based Bartlett Taylor Trust was also present. The Trust has funded equipment for people with MND who live in the Witney area.
The morning raised a splendid £325 for our Branch.
Moira Climbs Snowdon!
I went to the summit of Mount Snowdon last week. Yes, the SUMMIT! - Moira
Pam, Mark, Nev and Marie, all from my old road running club took me to Mt Snowdon on 11th July. We travelled to Llandundo the day before and stayed at the Premier Inn. This was very good as Pam and I shared a disabled room. We headed off to the Orme on arrival where we debated the views. Could we see the Isle of Man and where was Anglesey? Then we returned to the hotel to change for dinner. I am afraid I opted out of dinner and opted instead for chips followed by the large double bed!
Later that evening when Pam returned and I said "drink?", thirstily, she replied "Yes, I've had a few!". However, I slept like a log and was up early for our trip. We parked at the base of Snowdon. We went on the platform for the train up and the staff were most helpful. An easy ramp and I was on the train. The weather was sunny and the views over Snowdon are absolutely spectacular. It was a marvellous trip up the mountain and over so fast in 50mins.
Suddenly, just 200yds from the top, a mist fell. We got off the train and headed to the cafe and out the other side. Pam said "Do you want to go the summit?" How?, I thought. Facing me were some old grey slate steps twisting round and disappearing into the mist.
A small crowd gathered as people were curious to see if this person in a wheelchair was going to the summit. Pam announced to the crowd what was wrong with me. Suddenly, two blue-plastic-wearing superheroes appeared out of the mist and said "we will help get her up".
So I agreed to go!! On the way up, Mark and Nev carried me (minus chair!) and the superheroes walked behind. I touched the summit! We had been up over 100 old steps and no rails! On the descent,the superheroes took my arms and my friends took my legs!
Marie and Nec ran down the mountain to try and beat the train which they did with great aplomb! More chips at the base as we basked in the sun before winding our way home.
What an amazing trip!
Ayres & Graces
On the 21st June, an open air event with songs, minstrels, troubadors and a jester was held in the riverside garden of the Plough Inn, High Street, Witney. The Ayres and Graces madrigal group performed to much acclaim.
Attendance was good and the evening was thoroughly enjoyable.
Stalwarts like Jeanette seemed to be doing very well.
And, newcomer to these events, Jean, reportedly enjoyed the evening greatly.
Of course, there was a drink or two for everyone. But, most important, the event raised over £800 for the Branch. Thanks to everyone who came, and most of all to the organisers who generously gave the proceeds to the Branch.
Family and Friends Meeting
Physiotherapist, Liz Bellido (pictured left) gave a very interesting talk to the Family and Friends Group about the benefits of exercise to everyone for their well being. She said that it was important to get the balance right between enough and not enough to avoid fatigue, so a personal plan was recommended. However she also gave out some general exercises that could be used by anyone.
Worton Park provided a pleasant friendly venue in rural surroundings for the meeting to talk about the benefits of exercise to everyone for their well being.
Socialising afterwards provided a chance to exchange ideas and experiences, meet new contacts and enjoy the tea and cake.
Co-operative Society Award
This award is part of the Anglia's Share 600 scheme which started in 1985 and which has made donations to virtually all major charities. The awards are derived from Anglia's Members who donate the dividend from their purchases to Share 600, instead of putting this on their own share number. This scheme has raised over £690,000 since 1985 for local charities and worthy causes.
These awards are designed specifically for the benefit of local branches of the chosen charity. Here, Director Jean Humphreys of the Anglia makes the cheque presentation to David Cairns, our Branch chair in Abingdon. Paula Lloyd and Steve Wing, Managers of the Comfortmaker and Contact Electrical Stores (part of the Anglia Group), and Douglas Boyall, Chairman of the Anglia Group, also gave their time to make the award a special occasion for the Branch.
In Praise of Parks And Gardens
Oxfordshire has an abundance of open gardens, parks and wildlife places, but are they accessible? Well we have visited a number of different ones around Oxford and here is our review of a few of our favourites. Both places are accessible from the centre of major towns with good bus routes. Once in the parks you can get enjoyment if you only walk a short way or explore wider in a wheelchair. For any more details about getting to these places please feel free to contact the Batt-Rawdens on batt-rawden@rosepergola.plus.com.
Abbey Meadows - Central Abingdon
Abbey Meadows is a vast area of parks, play areas and gardens in central Abingdon, but is perhaps its best kept secret as well. Only 5 minutes from central Abingdon the Abbey Meadows comprises of formal gardens, children's play areas, a swimming pool, golf course , the River Thames and a Lock. There are a few free blue badge disabled parking spaces immediately adjacent to Abbey Meadows. Some park in Waitrose and find the route into Abbey Meadows. Once you have arrived you will find the whole area is flat with plenty of accessible paths for wheelchairs and walkers alike. Quite near the carpark is a useful toilet block. The disabled accessible toilet is fine but needs a RADAR key so don't forget yours. You will also find a kiosk selling snacks when it is open. Around the Abbey ruins (which the Meadows gets their name from) you can relax and picnic, or head to the childrens play area and water jets! (if you know anyone who is 5+ they will know what they are!). Your can wend your way along the side of the River Thames or nearby stream. If you are looking for a wheelchair friendly circuit from Abbey Meadows then head to the weir/lock on the Thames about quarter of a mile inside the meadows past the golf course (there is only one bit of the path that needs good driving in a wheelchair) you can cross the main weir which is spectacular in a wheelchair but you will find the lock inaccessible! BUT here is another secret, the lock keeper has a set of ramps and will get you across. Don't forget to get your ice cream at the lock. Once over the lock head down the tow path or road towards Abingdon Bridge, back into town and when you see a double archway on the right in town head through there and within a half mile you are back in Abbey Meadows carpark.
Why we like Abbey Meadows so much is that it really is a family location with something for everyone. For us all areas are accessible, there is a toilet and you can get an ice cream.
University Park - Central Oxford
University Park is just North of the City Centre of Oxford. Parking is difficult on the town side of the park, but if you head for the roads behind the park, particularly the very end of Norham Gardens, you will find free disabled parking with no time restriction and a lovely entrance to the park between two walls. All of the park is completely flat and there is loads to explore.
Entering University Park you may start to think you had entered the set for Logan's Run!. This cult film was based on a world where everyone was around 18-20 years old. As this park is the play ground of Oxford University everyone you see is in this age group.
Getting practicalities out of the way this is a big park and in the middle is the cricket pitch. Head for that and you will find a toilet block with a good open disabled access toilet. On the Oxford side of the park you will also find a mobile stall selling pancakes and ice creams in abundance.
This park is a mix of formal sports ground ponds, tree lined walks and gardens. This including a cricket ground. Several years ago I saw a player bashing the ball all over the park, turned out to be Robin Smith ex-England player. We once went to this park because Susan wanted to put a tree in our small garden a specimen of which was in the park. We found the tree and it was beautiful, only 100ft high and wide!
The last time we went to the park we intended to go through to the Pitt-Rivers and Natural History Museum but the weather was so good we "hung out" on the grass, we saw ducks, punters on the nearby Cherwell and ate ice-cream – bliss. After a hard day relaxing at the park we decided to get some food – the park usually shuts at Dusk so read the boards about the actual time. We headed for Browns at the top end of St Giles. This is a bistro type place inexpensive good food and very welcoming to us. All the restaurant is ramped and accessible the staff were excellent and helpful. The only downer is that there is a disabled toilet on the same level as the restaurant but it is too small to take a wheel chair without it sticking out of the door, blocking the corridor! However it is worth the hassle and you can always use the park facilities first as Browns is about 5 minutes from the park.
Competition
The following competition is from the Batt-Rawden family.
The competition for October is all about lists. Come up with a list of up to 10 things, completely of your choice and give it a heading of your choice. It could be, my 10 favourite TV programmes, 5 songs that make you smile, 2 films that are special to me. The choice is yours. Here is my (David's) list of songs that give me inspiration:
War of the Worlds (both CDs), Land of Hope and Glory, the theme from the film the Piano, Three Lions World Cup song, Piano Man by Billy Joel, Sit Down by James.
The winner will be the list picked out of a hat.
The prize this month is something out of or to do with your list - if you pick 5 movie stars you won't get one of them! but you might get a DVD of one of their films. Happy listing.
David, Susan, Hannah and James Batt-Rawden
Answers to: batt-rawden@rosepergola.plus.com
Previous competitions can be found on our News Archive Page.
Parachute Jump
Richard from Witney who had an uncle who died of MND last September does events for charity each year. This year it was for the MND Association. He did a tandem parachute jump at Weston on the Green airfield on Sunday April 26th. He had a large group of supporters including Jackie Reeves, our Branch Secretary.
Surprisingly, Richard did not seem a bit nervous. The participants went up rather high in what seemed a ramshackle plane and eventually we were able to see them descending with very colourful parachutes.
Richard landed safely and found the whole experience exhilarating.
Richard hopes to have raised about a £1000 for the Oxfordshire Branch.
Historical Archive
Earlier news items can be found on our Historical Archive page.
Archive of Competitions
Stock Car Racing at Standlake
There are not many places in the world that you can see a Capri or a Mini Metro doing 140mph and they still stay in one piece! The place where we saw this and much more was Standlake Stock Car Arena. Hidden in the countryside behind Standlake is a small round racing circuit that attracts motor racing fans from all over.
A "stockcar" can be any car that started life as an on-road vehicle. Almost everything is taken off, a safety roll cage welded in and the engine tuned and that is basically it. We spent May Bank holiday at the circuit and had a Fantastic time. There are loads of different races at Standlake, the majority are no-contact races but very exciting to watch as they go very fast. Some which are best known involve bashing cars into each other - but all are really fast and really fun. There is even a sesion where cars queue up to roll over and over!! Seems a Mission Impossible - why? you may ask.
When we went we thought it might be difficult in terms of access as the nice ladies on the gate admitted there were no facilities for the disabled. However it was actually fantastic. Firstly there is banking around the circuit so if you did not want to get out of the car you could still see. There are lots of flat areas to unload a wheelchair easily. Also because you agree to a safety disclaimer as long as your arm, everywhere you want to go is accessible and flat. You can go in the pits, go near the fence, touch the cars, smell the petrol "feel the speed". You would never get that freedom in Formula 1. We did not use the toilets but the one near the main competitors pits looks better. There is a flat entrance into the block but you may need a friend to help as there are no extra grab rails.
You may need to take ear defenders for you or children and dig out your copy of "Days of Thunder" before you go! Keeping the theme if you "feel the need, the need for speed" then go to Standlake Arena.
Question:
There are three clues in this article to a famous leading actor - name the actor.
(No extra points but if you can name the films as well it would be fun)
Past Newsletters
The main contents of the past few issues of the newsletter are shown below. If you missed or can't find a previous issue you can request an email copy from our Branch Secretary.
November 2007
- Family and Friends outing to Burford
- Annual Jazz evening
- Branch walk at Henley
- Profile of our Regional Care and Development Adviser
- Recipe for hungry teenagers
July 2007
- Report of the AGM
- Family and Friends discussion of travel facilities
- How to 'live' in hospital
- Website for gardening and DIY
- Garden party in Blewbury
- Gala concert in Oxford Town Hall
March 2007
- New Year's party
- Family and Friends discuss hospices
- Keeping warm and mobile
- The Oxford Care Centre
- Useful equipment
- Cotswold Mobility
- Recipe for mushroom and bean hotpot
- Poem from Moyra
December
2006
- Family and Friends meeting
- Help with communication
- Sponsored walk to Combe
- Jazz evening at Charlbury
- Recipe for squash quiche
- Poem by Christina Rosetti