Hello everyone! The next meeting will be here in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 28th July at 2.00 pm. As usual, sign the attendance book and if you visit The Seahorse Centre at other times sign in at Reception and wear a visitor badge. There is no smoking allowed inside or in the vicinity of the building.Â
Our address: The Seahorse Centre, Stephenson Road, Minehead, TA24 5EBÂ
West Somerset Disability Association Trustees
Martin Greenwood; Peter and Heidi Morse; Sue Horne; Tim Poat; Terry Venner.
Transport
Dave Willett organises a taxi for partially-sighted people to come to the Monthly meetings. This must be booked with him. If you can’t make it, PLEASE RING HIM, to cancel it.Â
If you cannot access other transport you can register with Atwest community transport 01643 707090 and use the SLINKY bus to come to meetings. You must have a bus pass.
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU!!! Transport queries about outings should be addressed to the Events Committee.
Useful Telephone Numbers
West Somerset Disability Association Committee Members
President:  Jean Gilbert  01984 641197
Chairman:  Gordon Wright  01643 862167
Vice Chairman: Mary Court   01643 702129
Secretary:  Molly Newstead  01984 634739
Treasurer:  David Kendall  01643 863505
Transport for the monthly WSDA meeting only:
   David Willett  01643 708592
Members’ Representatives:
 (Minutes) Marlene Saunders 01643 702972
(Welfare) Margaret Bruford  01984 656367
Events Committee:
   Peter Kilner  01643 821464
   Sylvia Griffiths  01643 704637
IT Tutor   Chris Brinkman  01643 708025 Mobile 07971 285878
Seahorse Centre IT room   01643 702021 or 07971 285878
   Messages (Reception) 01643 705000
E-mail: wsomersetdisability@tiscali.co.uk or wsomersetdisability@yahoo.co.uk
Web Site: www.westsomersetdisability.org.ukÂ
Computers
The newsletter is also on our website with news of our activities and forthcoming events. Please tell us your e-mail if you have one, as an e-mailed newsletter is free but we must pay to post them. Help us to help you!
If you would like computer training, please us know or talk to Chris our IT instructor. You must be a member of our association (£10.00 per annum) before you can have lessons, which cost £2.00 per hour. If anyone has a problem with their computer at home and would like help from Chris, he will tell the committee of the problem and they will then decide what to do.
Disability Advocate
The service is provided by A4e. Contact Jackie Churchill at 07841250277. The A4e website is www.a4e.gov.uk. Their address is A4e, 2nd Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3JZ. The service will offer help if you need assistance with care arrangements, equipment, housing, blue badges, etc.Â
President’s Report
Hello everybody, although we didn’t have a meeting last month, I with others, have been extremely busy. Had an evening with Helen, from the Seahorse Centre, Jean Kent and myself talking to the Brownies in Watchet about disabilities. They all seemed to enjoy themselves and Nellie, Jean’s dog, managed all her tasks to perfection. All the Brownies got their badges, but driving home did think of all the mum’s having to stitch all the badges on!!
Next month Carol Harmon is coming to talk to you, and is bringing all the forms for benefits. She is very informative, so any questions, have them ready
Please be aware that if you have a Blue Badge, you are not being informed when it is due for renewal. The new number for renewals is 01278 437255. You have been warned!!
All our best regards go to Martin Greenwood, one of our Trustees, whose Mum, Vera died quite suddenly. She was a member of this group and always enjoyed her computer lessons. Two members are attending her farewell at Wells.
Have been to other meetings and keep very much in touch with all our service partners.
Thank you, everyone for all the wonderful cards and presents on my birthday.
Keep well
Jean
Vice-Chairman’s Report
Diane and Jackie, who are two advisors from A4e (the disability advocacy service) came and talked to us at the meeting. They gave us all advice about benefits and care issues and had one-to-one sessions with members who were interested and had particular problems.
Marlene and I have been invited to lunch by the local Polio Foundation, which is based in Bath. Bath is too far away for us to attend the meetings and so for this occasion all of the members will come to Minehead and have lunch at a date to be arranged.
Mary
Treasurer’s Report
The raffle raised £41 at the June monthly meeting. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the funds.Â
Events’ Committee Report
Trips and Events 2008
Friday 11th July Cream Tea at Pine Mills, by Fyne Court
Saturday 12th July Coffee morning, 10.00 to 12.00 at the Carantoc Centre, Millett Close, Carhampton. Bring-and-buy sale. Come and support us.
Saturday 2nd August Taunton Flower Show   £3.00 eachÂ
Tuesday 9th September Weston-Super-Mare   £2.50 each
Friday 12th September Coffee morning and Bring and Buy sale from 10.00 to 12.00 at the Methodist Church Hall, Minehead. If anyone with a car could help with transporting stuff from Carhampton to Minehead it would be appreciated. Please ring Peter Kilner on 01643 821464.
Saturday 4th October Bristol Hippodrome
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Tuesday 25th November Christmas Shopping at Clarks Village, Street  Â
Friday 12th December 12.00 noon Christmas Dinner at Foxes Hotel, MineheadÂ
Saturday 20th December One of Ireland’s favourite Singers, Curtis Magee, at the Royal Ordnance Factory Social Club, Puriton, near Bridgwater.Â
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Announcements
Speakers at our monthly meetings:
July 28th: Carol Harmon talking about Benefits and bringing leaflets
August: no meeting
September 29th: Sam Rawle and Tom Bowen from the West Somerset Council talking about your problems with disabilities.
October 27th: Barbara Mullen from Magna Housing, explaining all the services they offer.
November 24th: Roy, who is talking about hearing dogs for the deaf.
December: no meeting
Articles, letters and e-mails
Visit to Buckingham Palace, May 20th 2008
West Somerset Disability Association won “The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2005†and as a result this year we were invited again to send two members of the Association to a reception at Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on Tuesday May 20th 2008. Margaret Bruford and Susan Horne, who is also a volunteer for Somerset Association for the Blind, attended the reception on the behalf of the WSDA along with another 360 guests from around the country who have all won the Queen’s Award over the last few years. Susan and Margaret said:
“We arrived at the Palace, drove through the gates and parked. We ascended the grand staircase and were directed to the Throne Room where champagne and canapés were served after which we were presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. We were then left at liberty to wander through the staterooms where we were once again introduced to the Queen and had the opportunity to talk about the WSDA. We left the Palace at 8.00pm having had a very memorable evening!â€
To find out more about the SAB (Somerset Association for the Blind) please contact Claire Packwood on 01643 841174.
Excellence award for Seahorse Centre
STAFF and volunteers at the Seahorse Centre are celebrating after the centre was named a centre of excellence.
They were presented with the Centre of Excellence Award for their positive attitude at a Somerset County Council Community Directorate Awards Ceremony.
The team was congratulated for the high quality day services provided for adults with learning disabilities in West Somerset.
The centre provides a variety of activities such as gardening, cookery, sports and computer classes as well as days out including boat trips, visits to the theatre and laser-rifle shooting.
My Daughter’s Wedding
My daughter Emily-Rose was already engaged to Andrew when all the family stayed in Newquay after William’s wedding in St. Merryn’s church. She had originally thought of an engagement of about eighteen months to two years so that Andy and she would have enough time to plan a wedding as lovely and perfect as William and Tabis’s. Unfortunately, their plans had to be brought forward because of two quite serious accidents my Father had in 2004 and 2005.
When Andy and Emily first got engaged my Father suggested that they had a reception in his garden so that they could walk from the church straight into the garden – exactly as I did thirty-six years ago. Emily and Andy thought it was a great idea and so from then on we planned for everything to take place in the village of Wootton Courtenay.Â
After much consultation with my Dad and Stepmother, Andy’s parents, my brother Chris’s family and the vicar and his family we decided that the wedding should be at 2.30 p.m. followed by video and photos of the bridal procession walking from the church, through the archway into my Dad’s garden. We’d then have introductions and chatter with speeches interspersed with Pimms and nibbles, finishing that part of the afternoon with a champagne toast to the bride and groom. Â
We thought that by now it would be about half-past five and time for the wedding breakfast in our village hall, which would be followed by a disco. We assumed that the party would break up at about two in the morning, when Andy and Emily would call cabs to take some of the guests to Dunster and William and Tabis would stay in the village hall until the bar was cleared up and the staff gone.Â
Before the wedding there were heaps of fun things to do such as organising the bride, bridesmaids and bride’s mother’s outfits. I felt very important to be the bride’s mother. There was also the meal to arrange, the food for the wedding breakfast and the buffet for the disco and dance.
At last the wedding day arrived and the weather forecast was quite reasonable. After breakfast Emily, Tabis and Alison went into Minehead to keep their appointment Emily had arranged with a salon hairdresser. While they were out I took the opportunity to have a shower and dress up in my outfit.Â
At ten o’clock the people making the video arrived and nearly caught me in my underwear because Emily and Andy thought they were coming at eleven. They were a really nice couple and we got on well straight away. Emily, Tabis and Alison arrived at about a quarter past eleven and we all felt that the wedding had really begun.Â
We all drank coffee and ate croissants and sausages, laughing all the while. Janet arrived to do my hair in ringlets to match the bridesmaids’ hair and I felt years younger. Maple, my guide dog, must have realised she was going to have an exciting day because she ran in and out of the house and garden, up and down both lots of stairs.Â
At about twelve o’clock we set off for Old Rectory, my Dad’s house where we were having speeches and photos after the wedding service. My Dad was sitting on the lawn because the sun had just come out but there were clouds on the horizon. He told us which room he and Sue had decided should be our boudoir for preparing for the wedding and then Emily began to watch the weather anxiously, hoping for a fine day at least until we were all in the village hall eating our meal. We all assured her that it seemed the type of day that the weather would change many times and went on with getting ready. It was really special to be part of all this – I shall really love the video.Â
At just after two o’clock Chris came to collect Emily and take her to the church so that he could give her away and the rest of us started to walk to church. It was lovely to see friends from the village watching us go by and being kind enough to say we looked lovely. The ushers showed us to our places and we all talked nervously, waiting for Emily to arrive. William sat on my left, Ken on my right and Maple squeezed under my feet trying to hide.Â
Absolutely at half-past two the wedding march started and my Emily, Ali and Tabis arrived.Â
The wedding went by as though I was in a dream and I am so pleased that there is a video so that I can get a copy and listen to it over and over again. I have been waiting for this day for so long that I can hardly believe it is here at last. I remember the vicar telling Andy and Em to slip into the vestry for a few minutes so they could have a while to themselves just after they had made their vows. The churchwardens at Wootton Courtney hadn’t wanted anyone in the vestry so the vicar added a nice touch by overruling them.
I can remember following the bride and groom out of the church and through the arch of flowers into Dad’s garden, holding up the traffic as we went. I heard later that that Emily and Andy put the wedding bouquet on her Dad Geof’s tombstone.   Â
When we arrived in my Dad’s garden the weather was as near perfect as I can ever remember. The sun was warm but certainly not too hot and the wind was a pleasant breeze. Ken, Maple and I sat on Dad’s lawn in the sun, drinking Pimms, chatting to members of the family while we waited for the toasts and speeches. What a perfect day!
The speeches and toasts were very entertaining and put us all in a very happy mood for the rest of the day. I am really going to enjoy the video at Christmas!
At about half-past five we began strolling towards the village hall where Emily and Andy had arranged to have their wedding breakfast. William took Maple home to Woodbine Cottage and got back very quickly while Rosy and her husband Nigel, the bagpipe player, Ken and I walked up to the village hall where Emily and Andy soon joined us at the top table.Â
……….
Everyone seemed to enjoy the wedding breakfast and of course there were many toasts to the bride and groom. At about half-past-seven chairs were cleared for dancing and the disco began.Â
I don’t usually enjoy parties but I enjoyed this one. Emily introduced me to some ex-Queenians I hadn’t met and I talked to family members and friends whom I hadn’t seen for years. Katie, Miriam and Emily used to ride over the moors and play in each other’s houses a lot when they were all small.Â
Later I danced with Andy’s brother James and then his aunt Madge from Australia who is very amusing and made me laugh so much!
At about half-past eleven Ken said he was very tired and couldn’t stay up any longer, so John, Andy’s Father, offered to walk us back to Woodbine Cottage.Â
I was rather pleased that I didn’t completely disgrace myself when we walked down the hill because I managed quite well and Ken only stumbled a little bit. I felt I must have had more than I should have to drink in Emily’s wedding day.Â
However it was Ken who felt rather ill in the night. He couldn’t face any food the next day and so missed out on a really super family lunch grill organised for us all at the Dunkery Hotel the next day.
………..
Emily’s wedding turned out to be just as perfect as William’s had been. My only sadness was that Kath Brown, Emily’s Godmother, had died just before Christmas, 2005, so she missed the wedding she was so looking forward to. Geof, too, missed out because he would have been the proudest Dad in the world to have a son-in-law like Andy and parents-in-law like John and Sandy.
Stephanie Witherick
Peter’s Report of his holiday
On 19th April we went on holiday to Stalham, Norfolk. We arrived around 3.00pm. It took eight hours by coach.
On Sunday we went to Sea Palling a little fishing and surfing village. There next to the pub, are nice disabled toilets but you can’t get onto the beach.
Monday was in Great Yarmouth where we were looking around and looking for disabled toilets. There’s loads all over Great Yarmouth so if you go there you won’t be disappointed.
On Tuesday we had a nice time on the Broads on a boat called ‘Queen of the Broads’. What I took notice of was the lift for wheelchairs and one person had her disabled scooter taken on the lift to go on the boat and, yes, there were toilets on all decks. This was at Wroxham.
Thursday was a nice hot day at Hillside Animal and Shire Horse Sanctuary in West Runton, near Cromer. Their disabled toilet was very clean and big. You could turn your wheelchair round in there. To come back to Cromer, we phoned for a taxi, Ace Cabs. They are in Cromer. I have found out that these taxi drivers have had first aid training so they can take disabled people no matter what your disability is. The other day he had a person in the back of his cab who was very bad. So he stopped the cab and saw to her, gave her her tablets, so after a while she felt better. They are very polite and are the only ones to do this in Cromer. Their phone number is 01263 511749 in case you come to Norfolk. They are very cheap, too.
On Friday we went to Sutton Windmill Broads Museum in Sutton. They have disabled toilets. Then afterwards to a car boot sale where they had toilets but no disabled ones.
On Saturday we visited Thrigby Wildlife Gardens, Thrigby Hall, in Filby. They had the best disabled toilets we had seen so far, but we have been enjoying ourselves.
On Sunday we were at the biggest car boot sale. Then we looked around Stalham Broads and there were no toilets at all in Stalham. Please don’t go to Stalham, like we did. It is a dump; no buses go from here. The last bus back is 6.10pm, and no bus on Sunday. There is nothing to do at all in this village.
On Monday we went back to Great Yarmouth to look around the cafés. We found out there are disabled toilets in them, but watch out! Some disabled toilets are upstairs or downstairs so how is the disabled person going to be able to use them.
On Tuesday we went to Sutton Staithe to look at more boats and while we were there we popped into the restaurants to see if there were any disabled toilets in them. Yes there are toilets there and if you like smoking there are tables outside with ashtrays. Very nice place to visit. We walked 2½ miles into Sutton.
On Wednesday we went to Norwich. Everyone has to go to the cathedral. It is very big inside and they have a gift shop and tearooms upstairs. There is a lift to go up to the tearooms. There are disabled toilets and more by Norwich bus station and some in the town. There are disabled toilets right beside Norwich market. You need a full day here, but it is worth it to see the old buildings.
On Thursday and Friday we had rest days and packing ready to come home early on Saturday morning. We are going back there in August to do the other side of Norfolk so wish us luck.
We didn’t find the nudist beach. That would have been nice! Hahaha!!
Peter Kilner
Handy Numbers
A4e Disability Advocate: Jackie Churchill 07841 250277 www.a4e.co.uk
Age Concern Information Line 0800 00 99 66 www.ageconcern.org.uk
Arthritis Care 0808 800 4050 www.arthritiscare.org.uk
A Taste of Exmoor: Home cooked food delivered to your door! 01643 709856 or 07919 816197
AT West Community Transport 01643 709701
Blue Badge (Disabled Parking Scheme) 0845 3459133 or 01823 335285
Breast Cancer Care 0808 800 6000 www.breastcancercare.org.uk
CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) Minehead 01643 707484
Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 167 1677 www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Depression Alliance 0845 123 2320 www.depressionalliance.org
Diabetes UK 0845 120 2960 www.diabetes.org.uk
Free Directory Enquiries (with adverts) 0800 100 100
Help the Aged 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk
Hospital Transport 01278 727444
NHS Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
MIND (National Association for Mental Health) 01643 708 765 deborah.melmoth@mindinwestsomerset.org.uk
Open DAWS (Cathy McGill) 01643 821112
PALS (Patient Advisory and Liaison Service) Ruby Haq 01278 437013 www.somerset.nhs.uk/pals
Piper Lifeline (Cynthia Lewis) 01643 709234
Prestige Mobility (Customer Focus Team) 0970 787 1975 www.prestigemobility.com
Samaritans 08457 09090 www.samaritans.org.uk
Sky Helpline for the Disabled 08442 410333
Somerset Association for the Blind 01823 333818 www.sab-fund.org.uk
Stroke Association 0845 303 3100 www.stroke.org.uk
Talking Newspapers 01984 640 471
West Somerset Advice Bureau (similar to a Citizens’ Advice Bureau) 01643 704624
Winter Warmth Helpline 0800 085 700 www.dh.gov.uk
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 28th July at 2.00 pm.
