West Somerset
Disability Association

Hello everyone!  Here is the October newsletter.  I hope to see you all at the next meeting, at 2.00pm on Monday 27th November at the Seahorse Centre, Minehead.  As usual, don’t forget to sign the attendance book provided 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 at the front of the building.  You can smoke at the back of the building.
The address of the Seahorse Centre is: Stephenson Road, Minehead, TA24 5EB

West Somerset Disability Association Trustees
Martin Greenwood (Chairman); Peter and Heidi Morse; Terry Venner; Una Wright.

Transport
If you booked to come by taxi to the monthly WSDA meeting and you can’t make it, can you PLEASE RING DAVE WILLETT, who organises this transport, to cancel it.  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:  Steven Elliott  01643 702321
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:
Sandra Kendall  01643 863505
Shirley Williams  01984 632265

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
Web Site: www.westsomersetdisability.org.uk

Computers
Our new website is up and running now.  You can see the newsletter there as well as news of our recent activities and forthcoming events.  Please give us your e-mail address if you have one, as an e-mailed newsletter is free to send but we have to pay to post them.  Please help us to help you!
If you would like some computer training please let one of the committee members know or talk to Chris our IT instructor.  You must be a member of our association (£6.00 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 (0800 288 8712).  They are based at A4e, 2nd Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3JZ. The A4e website is www.a4e.gov.uk.  The service will offer help if you need assistance with care arrangements, equipment, housing, blue badges, etc. 

President’s Report
How time flies.  They are telling me it’s all about age.  OOP’S!!!  Had an excellent holiday and I ached with laughter.  The innocent things that had me in hysterics.  It was very hot, up in the 30s morning, noon and night.  When I awoke in the morning, I thought I had woken up on a split water bed!!   Whilst we were there, we went out in an old pirate boat to see the whales and dolphins.  Well at one stage the sea was so rough I thought we would be joining them!!  Yes we got very wet.  Yes, there as well!!
Another year has gone, I am not sure where, and it’s been a peculiar year we have had an awful lot of illness within the group, people moving, new members coming in and look in bewilderment at what we achieve being we are all disabled.  How we get everyone in the right place at the right time sometimes amazes me, because the last minute phone calls, if we are going somewhere is gobsmacking.  The usual one is ‘Aunty Flossie has turned up and I can’t come’ or something similar!!  Then we get you all out and then you don’t want to come back because you are all having such a good time!!
Am still busy going to meetings and seminars on your behalf and bringing back to you all the relevant information and am constantly networking.  The last talk was to the volunteers of the Association of the Blind and Steve came with me.  It was very well received and everyone was amazed how much Steve does, as do a lot of our partially sighted.
Good luck to Dot on her retirement as Chairman, and we shall probably see as much of her at meetings as she will remain an active member.
Please don’t forget if you are getting pension credit and you want some decorating done there is help out there.  The person’s name is Alan Boyd on 01278 442406.  He has a waiting list and you can get him on a Tuesday.  Mind you it might cost you a lot of pennies to get the paint in the first place!!!
Let’s hope this next year we all have better health and get the Lottery bid.  So all of you please keep your fingers crossed, a tremendous amount of hard work has gone into this bid.  Thanks Martin for your input.  You definitely haven’t lost your touch!!
See you all next month, when I hope we will have A4e coming to talk to us about benefits etc.
Jean

Chairman’s Report
This is just a short letter to say cheerio to you all and to thank every one for all the support that I have received from the members and committee during my five years as Chairman of the WSDA. I hope the association will continue to grow and thrive as it has done to date. I wish Steven Elliott, the new Chairman, good luck and hope he will enjoy the holding this very special post.
I look forward to continuing my life in the group as an ordinary member and helping if the need arises on special events.
Dorothy Lloyd   (Retiring Chairman)

Vice Chairman’s Report
Hello Mary here
Here we are once again and by the time you read this you will all know the results to the A.G.M. It will be common knowledge.
It has been a roller coaster year and we have had our ups and downs but life is never straight forward. I hope the New Year will run smoothly for all concerned.
Dorothy Lloyd our Chairlady was taken ill and was absent for some time,
I am pleased to say that she is much better now but has decided to retire for health reasons.  We shall miss her but that is how life goes and we have to accept many changes in our lifetime.
I wish Steve Elliott all the best as the new Chairman, I am sure he will get plenty of help from the Committee and he will soon find his feet, Good Luck Steve.
I hope the coming year is a good one for all, and with Christmas nearly on us there are lots of things to start thinking about.  I would like to take this chance to wish you all a merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I know it is early but I may not have the chance to say it later, and I will have sent the first wish.
Well, that is all from me.
Bye, Mary

Treasurer’s Report
At the meeting, we collected £34.00 from the raffle and £26.57 from the bottle for the general collection.

Events’ Committee Report
On Tuesday 14th November we have a minibus going to Street for a shopping trip, leaving the Seahorse Centre at 9.30am.
On Friday 24th November we have a minibus going to Barnstaple for a shopping trip, leaving the Seahorse Centre at 9.30am.
Anyone wishing to go on either of these trips please let me know as soon as possible.  (01984 656367)
On Thursday 7th December we have our Christmas Lunch at the Foxes Hotel, the cost is £8.00 per person, which I will collect at our November meeting.  Anyone wishing to come please let me know as soon as possible.
The Events Committee would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported them this year and wish the new committee well for the coming year.
Margaret

Poets’ Corner
My Home Town – Northampton

I was born in Harlestone, some ninety years ago.
Once more I traced my footsteps and wandered too and fro!
Northampton was so simple, nowhere hard to find,
Now you loose yourself on ring roads, outlets never kind
Coventry, Leicester and the M1, all so very clear,
Nothing shows the way to Rugby or Long Buckby,
The road on which my village sits, just four miles away.
Sorry dear, just drive around once more!
At last we saw a signpost, which pointed to the left,
On it, it said Harlestone, what joy, to lead us out.
On then through New Duston, Harlestone Firs, a woodland, neat and trim
On to my village, where life for me began.
The first stop was the Church yard, where my parents are at rest.
The Church where I was married, a loved one rests there too.
In my early teens, I drove sheep and cattle, from places A to B;
Oft times, to Northampton Cattle Market, on Wednesday or a Saturday.
In Harlestone on a hillside, there is a Memorial Fountain,
Dedicated to the memory of Lady Charlotte Spencer;
The inscription reads:
“She that for God’s dumb creatures care
Feels for their pain and in their troubles share.
This wayside fountain, in the years to be,
Will quench their thirst and keep her memory.”

I sincerely wish that she could have seen the pleasure, as cattle and sheep enjoyed their refreshing drink on their way to or from Northampton Cattle Market.

Len Cross

AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR

We remember the fallen of our armed conflicts around the world at this time. I found a poem on a piece of paper in a telephone box in Bracknell several years ago. I hope Bill Ridley will not mind me putting it in to our newsletter.

Why Do We Still March?

Why do you still march old man
x
With medals on your chest?
Why do you still grieve old man
For those friends you laid to rest?
Why do your eyes gleam old man
When you hear those bugles blow
Tell me why you cry old man
For those days long ago.

I’ll tell you why I march, young man
With medals on my chest
I’ll tell you why I grieve young man
For those friends I laid to rest
Through misty folds of gossamer silk
Come visions of distant times
When boys of very tender age
Marched forth to distant climes

So young they were, with blossom cheeks
Their eyes shone bright and clear
Scant knowledge of this sinful world
Thought nought of hate or fear
Their laughter rang through strange bare rooms
Hardships, they were soon to know
All they knew, was beyond their shores
Was a deadly vicious foe

They left behind their boring life
They had nothing much to give
so they laid their lives on the line
so you, young man, would live

With bayonet, gun and blossom cheeks
The innocence of their youth
They stood alone, with fearsome pride
And perceived the awful truth
The truth they learnt, they had to die
(it’s not easy when you’re young)
the gods of war had chosen them
and stilled their youthful tongues

The guns they crashed, the Stukas dived
Shell tore their flesh asunder
I smelt their blood, watched them die
The war lords claimed their plunder
And as these warrior gods passed by
They smiled at their obscene death
Gone were their apple-blossom cheeks
Scorched by napalm burning breath!

We buried them in a blanket shroud
Their young flesh scorched and blacken
A communal grave newly gouged
In the blood-stained earth
And you ask me why I march! Young man
I march to remind you all
But for those apple-blossom youths
You would never have known freedom, at all.

Bill Ridley 90 ©
Contributed by David Kendall

Articles, letters and e-mails
EUNICE GREENWAY
Eunice Greenway died recently at the home of her family in Bristol. The WSDA was represented at the funeral
The family of Eunice are holding a Memorial Service to celebrate her life and to enable her many friends in Minehead to have the opportunity to say their own farewell. She was a much-respected member of the WSDA and I am sure many of you would like to take part in the service.
The service is being held at the, Methodist Church in The Avenue Minehead at 11.30 am on Friday November 10th. Light refreshments will be served in the Church Hall after the service. The family hope that many of you will join them to enable them to meet some of her many friends from the WSDA.

Steven Elliott wrote:
On Wednesday, 11th October, Jean and I met Claire Packwood and about 30 helpers from the Somerset Blind Association.
The idea was to tell them what this association does and how it can help visually impaired people.
Jean gave a history of our association and I told them what help it has been to me with the computer training and the various visits.
I got feedback from my helper. They had no idea what we did and were quite surprised at the variety that we offer.
We are confident that some of their “clients” will come and join us.
Steven

Beryl Scott wrote:
The Isle of Wight
On October 9th Sylvia and I set off to the Isle Of Wight for a 5 night mini break, we travelled with Atwest transport and our driver was Chris. After a good run down we caught the ferry at Southampton and went on to the Red Funnel ferry over to Cowes, then onto Sandown and our hotel “The Sandown”.  After unpacking we had a drink at the bar and then it was time to go in for dinner.
On Tuesday we had a ride around, first to Blackgang Chine but as we found that it was too steep for some of the people to walk down decided to give it a miss and off we went again, this time to Alum Bay where there are 21 different coloured sands to play with and also a good number of shops.  As it was the end of the season most things were half price.  We then set off for Ryde where we had an ice cream, a ride around, then back for dinner.
On Wednesday I was unwell but the others went off to the Butterfly farm but as it was raining it was closed, so they went and had lunch at a Garden centre, then back in the afternoon for a rest and chatter.  In the evening there was entertainment, a singing Duo who were very good.
On Thursday we were off to Brickfield Farm to see the Shire horses and also Goats, Donkeys, and an assortment of other animals.  In the evening we sat in the Lounge and told jokes (clean) and reminisced on other hols we had been on.
We had a lovely break and a good trip with a driver who pulled out all the stops for us, taking us to wherever we wanted to go, then home again and back to reality.
Beryl Scott.

CARER SUPPORT PROGRAMME

St John’s Ambulance – in association with Somerset County Council (Community Directorate) and Adult Learning and Leisure – Presents the Somerset CARER SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Do you provide care for a member of your family, a friend, or neighbour?
Would you like the opportunity to gain more skills and knowledge to help you in your caring role?
Do you need training in Stress Management, basic First Aid, Safe Moving and Handling, and how to Prevent Falls?
Do you want to meet other carers to share experiences, exchange advice and ideas and at the same time, make friends?
If you answer ‘yes’ to any one of these Questions then the St John Ambulance Carer Support Programme will help you as it has been developed specifically to help people in a caring role.
St John Ambulance offers the programme FREE of CHARGE, including Lunch.
Minehead Care Support Group Programme 2007
Friday 12th January Introduction to Care & Basic First Aid
Friday 19th January Benefits Advice & Managing Continence
Friday 26th January Safe Management Handling & Preventing Falls
Friday 2nd February Stress Management & Relaxation Skills
Each course comprises 4 mornings of 3 hours each, 10.30am – lunch 1 or 1.30 To find out more, or book your place please contact St John Ambulance on 01823 345920 or write to St John House, 60 Staplegrove Road, Taunton TA1 1DH.

Handy Numbers
Age Concern Information Line 0800 00 99 66 www.ageconcern.org.uk

Arthritis Care 0808 800 4050 www.arthritiscare.org.uk

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

Help the Aged 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk

NHS Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Piper Lifeline 01984 635100

Prestige Mobility (Customer Focus Team) 0970 787 1975
www.prestigemobility.com

Samaritans 08457 09090 www.samaritans.org.uk

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
Winter Warmth Helpline 0800 085 700 www.dh.gov.uk

Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Monday 27th November at 2.00pm at the Seahorse Centre. I hope to see you there.