NORTH BEDFORDSHIRE BRANCH

NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2019

WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP?

The Fellowship is an association of staff who have retired from any of the

wide variety of professions and occupations in the NHS, their husbands and

wives and others who have been closely associated with the service.

What is the Fellowship? 1

North Bedfordshire Branch information. 2

Editors’ Note 2

Welfare 2

My South African Adventure - Rita Beaumont 3

Shackleton’s Forgotten Men - Debby Horsman 6

It’s a Long Way to Bendigo - Pam Garner 8

Easter Tea and Meet a New Friend 9

MND - Scott Maloney 10

Coventry Trip 12

NHSRF Regional AfternoonTea 16

Visit to Highclere Castle 17

AGM 20

Kenya Trip 2019 - Ronnie Atkinson 22

Visit to Medical Detection Dogs Training Centre 24

Clever Dog, Pip 26

Programme June 2019 to May 2020 27

Christmas Lunch 28

Retiring from the NHS? 29

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NORTH BEDFORDSHIRE BRANCH

The North Bedfordshire Branch of the Fellowship was

formed in March 1981 and has a membership of

approximately 150. Meetings are held on the last

Wednesday of each month at 2.30 pm in St Andrew’s

Church Hall, Kimbolton Road, Bedford. Outings and

talks are arranged at other times.

EDITORS’ NOTE

Welcome to the 2nd

edition of the newsletter for 2019. We do hope you enjoy

reading about any of the talks you have missed and the outings we went on.

A big thanks to Val for all her hard work organising all these trips for us it

really does take a lot of time and effort.

At the AGM in June Pauline talked to people about volunteering for the

committee which is a very friendly group. Committee meetings are every 2

months and generally only last for an hour so it really wouldn’t take much of

your time and would allow the group to keep going. Hopefully you might

want to volunteer having read the newsletter and been reminded of all the

interesting things that were organized over the last year.

Unbelievably it is time to talk about Christmas, the menu is included in this

newsletter and we are returning to Sharnbrook as everyone had such a good

time last year. We are asking you to make your choices for your Christmas

lunch and return the separate sheet to Val, keeping a copy for yourself so in

December you can remember what you ordered.

We hope you enjoy the rest of the summer dodging the showers. It is

certainly raining as this is being written. Some of you have already told us

about your holidays - maybe this will inspire you to share your summer

holiday memories with us all.

Linda Hiscott and Jill Stephen

WELFARE

If you require help, know of a member who is ill, admitted to hospital or

requiring help in any way please inform Mrs Janet Wilkins, the Welfare

Secretary, on 01234 360895.

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MY SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE

Rita Beaumont 30th January 2019

South Africa and a holiday of a lifetime, started on a very cold, wet afternoon

at the beginning of March 2018 at Heathrow Airport waiting for a night flight

to Johannesburg; when we landed a wall of heat hit us, blazing sunshine, 90

and rising! We retrieved our luggage, met Matt our wonderful tour guide for

the 16 days and we were on our way!

First stop the Apartheid Museum, evoking memories of South Africa’s recent

turbulent past; some of us had tickets to enter via the White’s Only door and

some via the Non White’s entrance. Each room documents the history of

Apartheid with graphic illustrations including never seen BBC World Service

film footage. One particular room includes 131 nooses powerfully illustrating

the number of political prisoners hanged during apartheid. Some harrowing

sights but ones we would never have missed, it reminded us of how far this

Rainbow Nation had travelled in a short time.

We soon learnt an early start was

the name of the game on this tour!

Breakfast then up and out on our

way to Kruger National Park

traveling through miles of lush

landscape up to the Panorama

Route and the magnificent Blyde

River Canyon with unbelievably

spectacular views of the Great

Escarpment. The Blyde River has

over the centuries carved its way

through 2,300 feet of shale rock to

create a scenic jumble of cliffs and

plateaus and bush covered slopes to form the 12 mile canyon.

Next stop Hippo Hollow Country Estate, the perfect resting place to relax.

The hotel is well named, each evening at around 7pm a large mother Hippo

emerges from the river in front of the dining room to graze and show off the

family! We were lucky as she had two very new children and one a little older

to be viewed with pride. The river is also home to a single male crocodile

called Sidney who sadly lost the love of his life when she meandered off to

pastures new! Tiny monkeys played in the garden like boisterous children

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under the watchful eyes of a

pack of females.

Next morning at 4am we were

up and out on the first of two 4

by 4 Safaries in Kruger

National Park. What an

amazing experience!!!

Elephants, lions, water buffalo,

antelopes of all descriptions,

hyena, monkeys and so much

more.

After two brilliant days we were

back on our travels, on to the

Battlefields of Kwazulu Natal

on a very long journey passing through Swaziland.

An early Sunday morning drive in brilliant sunshine took us to Isandlwana and

Rorke’s Drift to see the Zulu battle sites and hear the history of the war plans

from Dalton a brilliant Zulu historian, all that was missing was Michael Caine

and the sound of the warriors coming over the ridge but I was convinced I

heard Men of Harlech being sung in the distance!!!

South Africa is a land with many faces and our travels took us south to

beautiful Mossel Bay with sandy beaches and a rocky shoreland. A day visit

to the Swartberg Mountains and the spectacular dripstone limestone Cango

Caves with massive caverns linked by narrow tunnels. The journey back to

our hotel took in a hilarious detour to see an Ostrich Farm including getting

up close to Lady Madonna, a feisty lady with a love of nibbling unsuspecting

visitors and swallowing cameras, keys and any other objects in her reach!

Next stop the seaside town of Hermanus: in season, whales can be watched

in a bay where once they were hunted almost to extinction. Then two days at

Devon Valley in the lush green Stellenbosch wine area ready to try a little

wine tasting as well exploring the historic town of Franschoek and the close

by open prison from where Nelson Mandela was finally released after his long

confinement.

Last stop Cape Town and A List final highlights: Kirstenbosch Botanical

Garden, a day taking in the glorious Cape Point complete with very naughty

baboons who had advanced talents as master thieves and visiting the

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penguin colony at Boulders Beach, hundreds of comical little birds who all

seemed to be saying “ take my picture”!

Our final day brought us full circle with a morning visit to a local township

then a short boat ride over to Robben Island. All tour guides are previous

political prisoners which made our visit all the more meaningful. Our guide

had been a boy of 17 when he was imprisoned, spending the next 12 years

of his life growing into adulthood; he told us about his experiences and the

influence of Nelson Mandela and other senior civil rights activists.

Then it was homeward bound, with so many amazing memories and

experiences to remember.

Rita Beaumont

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SHACKLETON’S FORGOTTEN MEN

Debby Horsman 27th February 2019

Debby is the closest living relative of the photographer and padre of the

Ross Sea party, Rev. Arnold Patrick Spencer-Smith. She was given a lot of

information by a distant relative and with more research provides talks on

the subject. Debby told us the fascinating story of the forgotten men who

were part of Shackleton’s polar expedition. The expedition group was split

into two. Shackleton set off from the west side of Antarctica with 5 men to

travel to the Ross Sea on the eastern side on a boat called Endurance, this

part of the story is well known and documented. Whilst a second group

known as the Ross Sea party led by Aeneas Mackintosh, who was a

Bedford Modernian, set off in the other direction to lay the supply depots

across the Great Ice Barrier from the Ross Sea to the Beardmore Glacier

along the polar route established by earlier Antarctic Expeditions. Their boat,

the Aurora, was not fit for the task, but due to the timescales the men had no

choice but to set sail. The boat was later torn from her moorings leaving the

group without any essential supplies.

They pulled the provisions of clothes, water, food and medicine over 2,000

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miles on dog sleds to build depots every 60 miles to support Shackleton on

his long journey. The men endured terrible conditions suffering frost bite and

other illness. The group did not want to let Shackleton down so they pushed

on unaware that Shackleton’s boat Endurance had been lost and that

Shackleton and his men would not be coming. In trying to complete their

mission, three of the group died as a result of the conditions and the

remaining survivors had to wait two years to be rescued.

Linda Hiscott

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IT’S A LONG WAY TO BENDIGO

Pam Garner 27th March 2019

Our talk on March 27th was given

in very entertaining style by Pam,

a branch member well known to

many of us.

Pam explained that Bendigo is a

city to the north of Melbourne,

Australia, which grew rapidly

when gold was discovered there

in 1851. It is blessed with

beautiful Victorian buildings,

especially the Post Office, Bank

and churches. Queen Victoria’s

statue graces Victoria Park.

Gazanias grow in profusion

everywhere.

Pam’s talk was the fascinating

tale of how she and her family

came to have links there. It

started when Russell, Pam’s son,

a Sergeant Cartographer in the

Royal Engineers, was given a job exchange with Sean, a military cartographer

from Bendigo. Russell enjoyed the work and the wonderful sporting facilities,

but the best part of the experience for him was meeting local girl Tracey.

They fell in love and Russell visited her family. Too soon it was time for him

to return to the UK but as soon as possible he returned to Bendigo and

proposed. When he came home from that trip he was engaged. He told Pam

that they planned to get married the next January. To her astonishment the

wedding was taking place in Kingshorn, Scotland, where Tracey’s ancestors

had lived before sailing from there to Australia in 1853 in the Gold Rush.

There followed a hilarious account of the journey to Kingshorn in a snow

storm, accompanied by Tracey’s mother and brother who had come over for

the wedding. Happily, all went well in the end, but following a traditional

Scottish wedding with kilts and a piper and a honeymoon touring Scotland,

Tracey had to return to Bendigo with her family while Russell completed his

army service. Eventually he was discharged to move to Bendigo in November,

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where there was a second

wedding for the Australian

relatives.

Pam and her husband, Brian,

were able to visit Bendigo a few

years later and meet other

members of Tracey’s family. Even

this was not uneventful, as Brian

inadvertently featured in a

television programme within 24

hours of arriving in town! Pam, on

the other hand, really appreciated

the attractive dress shops.

The fairy-tale has continued.

Russell and Tracey have a

daughter, Brittany, and they came

to England last year to celebrate

their Silver Wedding.

Members were fascinated by the unusual circular family tree which Tracey’s

mother had thoughtfully given to Pam and Brian, and this was passed round

for all to see. Thank you, Pam, for telling us your story.

Rosemary Pestell

Photos courtesy of Pat Gibson

EASTER TEA AND MEET A NEW FRIEND

24th April 2019

With the seating rearranged so groups of people could chat, we held our first

social tea event when members could bring friends who might be interested

in joining the branch and also have time to meet existing members they may

not have spoken to before. A lovely tea of sandwiches and cake was

provided. Feedback from members was that they really enjoyed chatting and

getting to know one another and so we’ll be repeating this social event next

year.

Jill Stephen

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MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE

Scott Maloney, Regional Clinical Development Advisor for

Central Midlands Region of the Motor Neurone Disease

Association. 29th May 2019

We were very fortunate to be addressed by a professional expert on MND

and also a long term sufferer and his wife (Alastair and Kay Varley) who

between them gave us a great overview of this dreadful disease and its

implications for all concerned.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) is a Registered Charity

that receives no Government funding and has an annual turnover of £16

million of which £8 million is spent on research. There are local and national

Groups who work independently and collectively to fund raise and raise

awareness of MND.

Scott explained a little about several aspects of MND including:

It is a rare condition, there is no test for MND, clinical diagnosis only, motor

nerves and not sensory nerves are affected. In the USA it is called

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the usual survival rate is 30 months

from diagnosis. However, although this type of MND accounts for 80% of

those diagnosed another 5 – 15% have Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)

and survive under 4 years and 2 – 3% have Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)

and can survive over 10 years.

MND affects men to women 2 – 1, can affect adults of any age but most

usually between 50 and 70yrs, it does not affect children. It affects 2 in

100,000 people worldwide and there appears to be a link with being super fit.

Only 5 – 10%of people with MND have a familial condition.

Scott spoke at length about the signs and symptoms of MND and the

problems associated with them from diagnosis to eventual death.

However the real star of the afternoon was Alastair, Al, who spoke about his

own experience of living with MND. Diagnosed at aged 27 years old he has

lived with the disease for 27 years. Recently engaged to Kay when he was

diagnosed, he was all for calling off the marriage, however he

underestimated Kay who said nothing had changed in her feelings/love for

him. They have been married 25 years this year and enjoyed a wonderful

week in the New Forrest, even attending and taking part in a Murder Mystery

Party where Al played the part of Stephen Hawkins.

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Diagnosed eventually in 1991 at Queens Square Hospital in London, Al was

advised NOT to look up symptoms, prognosis etc. and so he was ignorant of

what he (they) were facing. However, the full reality of their situation hit them

several months later.

Al spoke about his initial frustration of not being able to do all he wanted to

do, needing help and support with simple tasks such as dressing and

undressing. With time though Al has come to the realisation that he has

experienced much more time than others suffering from MND and has

decided to live life to the full and take every opportunity to do this. Al and Kay

have just recently had a house built to accommodate his needs, complete

with a beautiful Wet Room. The time Al has been given has also allowed him

to plan for his future care and eventual death and he spoke eloquently about

his sorrow at having to give up work and some hobbies he really enjoyed. He

also spoke with pragmatism and humour about the great people he had met

along the way, his many friends with MND and the uplifting and inspiring

nature of the human spirit when challenged by something as awful as the

MND diagnosis.

Lastly but not least Al expressed his thanks and admiration for the MNDA and

all the work it undertakes on behalf of suffers, their carers and all concerned.

The whole audience were totally impressed and inspired by Scott, Al and

Kay, but Al certainly gave us much to think about and be grateful for. I will

remember this afternoon for a long time.

At the request of several members we undertook a collection for MNDA which

Kay kindly took on behalf of the Association and which amounted to £100 as

well as the usual speaker fee of £50.

Pauline Panter

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COVENTRY TRIP

On a very sunny Wednesday 23rd

May, 28 members and I went to Coventry

to visit the Transport Museum and the Cathedral.

On arrival members had a choice in the morning, of either visiting the

Transport Museum or having free time before the visit to the iconic

Cathedral in the afternoon. I chose the former.

The Museum has 14 galleries covering all types of transport vehicles from

cycles, motor cycles, cars and various types of commercial vehicles

spanning over two hundred years. It also included the land speed record

holder cars called Thrust 2 and Thrust SSC. On the last floor there was a

very comprehensive collection of transport models, some of which brought

back memories from my childhood.

My personal favourites in the Museum were the iconic Model T Ford, and a

six seater bicycle with double wheels.

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After lunch, members met at the Cathedral for our guided tour. Due to

accessibility problems our party were split into two groups. My guide was

Mary from Derbyshire, who was very knowledgeable on all the many

historical events and facts covering the birth of the Cathedral to the present

day. The overriding theme on the destruction and rebirth of the Cathedral

was that reconciliation was the most important issue and various statues and

plaques reinforced this.

There are so many interesting aspects to the visit, I cannot list them all but

some of my most memorable ones are: the use of the nails saved from the

ruins, the charred wood to reconstruct the cross, the

man and woman embracing over the barbed wire

(not shown), the statue from Dresden, the stunning

stained glass windows near the entrance, the 1962

pennies inlaid into the floor of the new Cathedral and

of course the world’s largest one piece tapestry

behind the altar.

I am sure members will have their own favourites for

this fascinating site.

After the Cathedral visit, John Burgess took some

members to St. Mary’s Guildhall which was close by.

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This was considered to be one of the finest remaining medieval guildhalls in

the country. It was built around 1340 and contains the “Coventry Tapestry”

one of the rarest and most important copies of art in the country. Also inside is

a minstrels’ gallery, with good close up views of the detailed decorated ceiling.

I also liked the ante room with the sloping floor, a little bit like being inside a

galleon.

The visit to Coventry was an exceptionally interesting and varied day and I

would like to thank Val for organising it with assistance from John Burgess.

Mike Tuffnell

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NHSRF REGIONAL AFTERNOON TEA

On Tuesday 11th June on a bright and sunny summer afternoon Janet, Rita

and I went over to the beautiful Putteridge Bury in Luton to attend the

Annual NHSRF Regional Afternoon Tea. Set in a lovely country setting

Putteridge Bury looked and felt amazing and we were directed by the

waiting receptionists to a light and airy room for our tea.

Never having been to this event I was somewhat mystified as to what I

would experience, however I needn’t have worried. It was simply a lovely,

friendly and welcoming afternoon and the tea was delicious, I have never

seen so many sandwiches, cakes and scones in one place! We arrived

slightly late (my fault as I misjudged the time it takes to get to Luton!) and

were directed to our table just as one of the National Officers was giving her

talk and thanks to the region. Oops! Despite our somewhat late arrival we

were made very welcome and Lorraine Taylor came around on a couple of

occasions talking to us and making sure we were all ok and well fed.

After the speeches (only a couple and they were very short) the afternoon

tea began to arrive starting with endless tea and or coffee as required,

followed by lovely finger style sandwiches, then warm scones complete with

the usual cream and jam and much debate about which goes onto the

scone first (jam first for me every time!) and finally loads of beautiful dainty

cakes followed by more tea or coffee. A couple of hours passed quickly and

all too soon we were loading up plates with left over sandwiches, cakes and

scones for those who wanted them. There was certainly enough to eat and

great company.

There were about 10 tables of 10 people and clubs were mainly sat

together. I was delighted to realise that we were with the Hertfordshire club

as I trained as a nurse at “the old” Lister Hospital in Hitchin and we had

several ladies on our table who I had worked with many years ago. It was

great to catch up and learn about what my former colleagues were up to.

There were representatives from all the Fellowship Groups in our Region

and I think that Janet, Rita and I will be going again next year.

Why not join us? The afternoon cost £18.50 and was worth every penny!

Pauline Panter

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VISIT TO HIGHCLERE CASTLE aka DOWNTON ABBEY

On a very bright and warm morning of 17th July, 30 people waited patiently

outside St Andrew’s Church for a coach to take them on a day out to

Highclere Castle. However the roadworks at Milton Ernest caused a delay to

the start of a wonderful day out! Some 45mins later than expected. the

coach arrived and we were off. There was some concern that we may be

late for our 12.30pm ‘slot’ in the bus park, however we were parked and off

the bus by 12.20pm after good driving and a great trouble free journey.

The first impressions of the Castle and its park were ones of wonder, a long

sweeping drive through beautiful park land with large trees of all types. The

park had been designed by the wonderful Capability Brown.

As it was so warm, most of us made for the nearest café or shady place to

rehydrate and prepare for our day. After a quick drink and little snack, Rita

and I made first for the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellar of the house along

with several others. Highclere was the home of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon,

great friend and colleague of Howard Carter who assisted in the discovery of

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the tomb of Tutankhamen in The Valley of the

Kings in Egypt. The 5th Earl travelled to Egypt

first in 1898 and from 1906 spent most winters

in Egypt but not just as a traveler, he was given

permission to excavate over the next 16 years

near Luxor, Valley of the Queens, Valley of the

Nobles, Valley of the Kings and the Nile Delta

near Alexandria. The exhibition at Highclere

includes over 60 incredible replicas, wall

paintings of the tomb and a photographic

archive and several real artefacts and was very

impressive. A very good reason to return to

Highclere as so much to see and read about.

The present house, “castle”, was designed, remodeled and built by Charles

Barry 1842 – 1849. Barry was also responsible for the design of the present

Houses of Parliament and you can see the similarity. During the 1st World

War Highclere was converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers and run by

the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. What an impressive and opulent place to

recuperate after the dangers, dirt and noise of the trenches. I wonder what

these young men made of their surrounding of the house and parkland.

The house is spacious, has retained many of its original features and has

some wonderful furniture well used by the family. The present Earl and his

family live in the house during the winter months and stay in a cottage

during the visitor periods. With no lifts and long steep stone steps to

negotiate, the servants and present visitors had to be fit! Unfortunately

photography is not permitted in the house itself, however much of it is

recognisable as Downton especially the Library. It was very funny to realise

the several of the visitors believed that it really was Downton and wanted to

know things like “is this where Lord Grantham slept?” “Where did Lady Mary

sleep?” “Where did Mr Carson work?” They appeared to be serious and

were answered by some very polite and patient volunteer guides.

After another very welcome cuppa and a shared cake in the beautifully cool

dining room, we ventured into the lovely gardens and parkland for a walk

and reflection on another great day out before we enjoyed a very quiet drive

home.

The Downton Abbey Movie is in cinemas from 13th September. We will be

there. Will you?

Pauline Panter

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AGM 26TH JUNE 2019

In attendance 55 members + 2 guests

Pauline Panter Chairperson

Pauline welcomed all those present and explained the format for the meeting.

Minutes of the AGM June 2018 were approved and seconded.

In her report, as Chairperson, Pauline complimented the North Bedfordshire group on how well they are doing, particularly with membership numbers, attendance at meetings and general support when compared with some other groups.

She went on to explain some changes in the roles of the Committee members. Rosemary Albon is retiring after this meeting as Welfare Secretary and Janet Wilkins will take on this role.

The meeting thanked Rosemary for her work and support for many years as both Committee member and Welfare Officer.

Pat Gibson has taken over as Programme Secretary from Janet and she went around during tea to talk to members about their views on speakers, good and bad, also to hear any suggestions / ideas those present may have for future speakers.

Members were asked to remember cost implications! - so not Michael Portillo!!!!

Sue Cobley follows Marjorie Stephenson as Membership Secretary and Val Hemmings continues to plan and organise the outings and events schedule.

Mike Tuffnell Treasurer

Mike confirmed that the branch is financially secure and the books are balanced. The meeting confirmed and supported his thanks to John Burgess for his role as external auditor.

At last year’s AGM the membership supported a “phased in” approach to reach a viable subscription level, but the Committee supported Mike’s idea to keep subscriptions at last year’s level, of £20, If necessary, any unexpected extra/ unexpected costs could be met from reserves.

Financial Report Proposed and Seconded.

Val Hemmings Social Secretary

Val thanked the members for their continued support of the past year’s outings and she would be happy to investigate any new ideas from members about future trips.

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Plans are already underway to visit Peacocks Auction Site and Kew Gardens next year. A trip to Highclere Castle is booked for July and a visit to London in October to see Agatha Christie’s, A Witness for the Prosecution.

Christmas lunch is 4th December at Vesuvius Restaurant Sharnbrook, cost £22.Val will take bookings and money from September.

Sue Cobley Membership Secretary.

Sue reported that Membership numbers are slightly down on last year, currently at 121 members + 2 Honorary members.

Linda Hiscott & Jill Stephen Newsletter Co-Editors

The two editors of the Newsletter asked members to send any articles, jokes, book reviews, recipes, gardens visited etc. that could be included in the Newsletter. They also requested members to volunteer for writing up about the speakers attending the monthly meetings.

These articles hold particular interest for those members unable to attend the meeting and help them to stay in touch.

Election of Officers as above.

Proposed and seconded.

Pauline reiterated that any members wishing to join the committee would be very welcome.

Formal reports had been emailed to all members with an email address prior to the AGM and paper copies were available at the meeting for those members unable to receive electronic copies.

The formal part of the meeting was followed by tea and cakes.

Many thanks to the Committee for the nibbles, chocolate biscuits, and handmade cakes: lemon cake, coffee and walnut sponge, madeira cake, fruit cake, parkin etc. etc. etc……

Date Change. September’s meeting will be on 18th September instead of 25th September.

Please could all members pass this on to friends and colleagues.

Teresa Treacy

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KENYA TRIP 2019

On 24th January this year, I was

fortunate enough to return to Kenya. I

went to a small village called Utange,

about an hour’s drive from Mombasa

on the east coast of Africa.

A friend, Debbie Scott-Robinson,

opened an orphanage there 10 years

ago and has been busy fundraising

with her husband Paul to build a high

school in the village. They have been

successful in raising enough money to

build the shell of the school to allow

their first intake of 70 children – all

orphans or children from

disadvantaged homes. My trip this

time was to be at the opening of

Celebration High School and also to celebrate the orphanage, Casuarina

House, being such a blessing to the many orphaned children for 10 years.

Although the orphanage only houses 29 children, they also run a feeding

programme for between 500-600 children. These children are selected by a

village elder who determines which children are the most in need. They are

given a hot meal of bean stew every Saturday and return to their ‘foster’

families with a bag of maize that will feed the family during the week.

Although I had been before, many in our party had not. There were 34 of us

– some from Bedford and some from Northampton. We were fortunate

enough to have hotel accommodation for the majority of our stay. Severin

Sea Lodge, Banburi is beautifully situated on the edge of the Indian ocean,

surrounded by palm trees and white sandy beaches.

This was in complete contrast to the village of Utange where we first met up

with the Casuarina children at the feeding programme. This is such a

humbling experience. The children come with bowls, hubcaps, and

margarine pots, all to collect their ladle full of nutritious hot beans. We watch

them eagerly eating it with their fingers sitting in the shade of a tree, many of

the children carrying a group of siblings on their back. The church set up a

play time for them an hour before they start serving, and there are often

more than 600 children – no adults to be seen. When the feeding is finished,

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they all go back to their foster families

– all bare footed and their clothes in

tatters. They are beautiful children and

very happy. Most of them can hold a

conversation in English, even though

their native tongue is Swahili.

I was lucky enough to meet up with an

English girl named Kate who had been

out there for three months as a

volunteer. She knew the ropes and so

we were able to use the local transport

(which was an experience in itself!)

and visit places off the tourist track.

One place I found very sad was the

Baby Life rescue centre at Bombolulu.

There were 16 babies here, all waiting

to be adopted. They were loved by the

volunteers who had donated money to care for these children. The babies

had rags which were washed out instead of nappies, these were all drying in

the hot sunshine on the bushes. Most of them had runny noses, ear or eye

infections, but could not have medical attention as money didn’t stretch that

far. Again, such a humbling experience.

The children are so eager to be educated and many have dreams of being

teachers, pilots, doctors, and nurses. Many walk bare footed for 4 hours

each way to get to school. Debbie is now looking for sponsors for the next

intake at the high school. It costs about £28 a month to sponsor a child and

their education could change their lives for good. Her charity is Utange

Orphans Charity and can be found on Facebook.

We left the poverty of Utange to complete our holiday with a beautiful safari.

We spent 3 days travelling from Tsavo East to Tsavo West, staying in 3

different lodges. We saw elephants, lions, zebra, impala, water buffalo,

giraffe, crocodiles, hippos, many beautiful birds including eagles, ostrich,

and vultures.

I realise it’s a world that is unfair, but all I can do is continue to sponsor

these lovely children, support Debbie and Paul, and pray that one day the

world will be a fairer place for all to enjoy.

Ronnie Atkinson

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VISIT TO MEDICAL DETECTION DOGS TRAINING CENTRE

18 July 2019

On 27th September 2017, Steve Hancox came to talk to us about Medical

Detection and Assistance Dogs, based outside Milton Keynes. He told the

group about the work the charity does. The charity has open days where it is

possible to hear more about the projects they are involved with and to see

the dogs workings.

So on 18th July 2019, Linda and I visited their recently expanded purpose-

built training and research centre, located in the heart of the Buckingham-

shire countryside. The new buildings house a dedicated Medical Alert Assis-

tance Dog facility, including scent training and specialist client areas, and

enable the charity to complete more bio detection studies by expanding their

research facilities.

25

We had a talk that outlined what they do with the dogs and the projects that

they work on.

Bio Detection Dogs use the amazing power of the dog’s nose to detect

human diseases. Because dogs are able to detect tiny odour concentrations,

around one part per trillion (the equivalent of one teaspoon of sugar in two

Olympic sized swimming pools), they are potentially able to detect diseases,

such as cancer, malaria and neurological conditions e.g. Parkinson’s dis-

ease much earlier than is currently possible. This pioneering work could help

to speed up the diagnosis process and impact on thousands of lives.

Medical Alert Assistance Dogs. Using their amazing sense of smell, dogs

can be trained to identify minute odour changes emitted prior to an emer-

gency and alert the person to take preventative action. Their dogs are cur-

rently working for people with:

• Type 1 diabetes

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS)

• Addison’s Disease

• Severe allergies

• Other endocrine disorders

• Episodes of sudden health deterioration

By assisting individuals with their condition, the dogs help reduce 999 calls

26

CLEVER DOG

Pip has won grade 1 agility and grade 1 jumping and has now moved up to

grade 2.

Val Hemmings

and hospital admissions, giving people and their families/carers greater con-

fidence and independence, enabling them to lead a full and happy life.

We were able to see a dog in action detecting the odour of disease and

heard from a lady with diabetes whose life has been changed by the amaz-

ing scenting ability of her medical alert assistance dog. He has reduced her

hospital visits from 3 times a week to twice in the last 11 years and given her

back her independence.They aim to increase the number of medical alert

assistance dogs they place each year in order to reduce the waiting time,

while continuing to research the dogs’ potential to alert to new life threaten-

ing conditions.

The charity receives no government funding for the work they do and rely

entirely on the generosity of donations from trusts and the public and so

there is a suggested donation of £5 for each person attending an open day

and as a bonus, had delicious cake!!

Medical Detection Dogs, 3 Millfield, Greenway Business Park, Winslow

Road, Great Horwood, Milton Keynes MK17 0NP

Jill Stephen

27

PROGRAMME JUNE 2019 TO MAY 2020

Date Time Activity Speaker

31st July 2019 14.30 Carers in Bedfordshire Heather Didier and

Carol Solaiman

28h August

2019 14.30

Poetry Written and Read

by

Heather Buxton-

Hall

18th

September

2019

14.30 Famous Connections of

Flitton cum Silsoe Margaret Butt

30th October

2019 14.30 Christmas Stalls

27th

November

2019

14.30 Victorian Medicine Jean Fullerton

4th December

2019

12.00

for

12.30

Christmas Lunch at

Sharnbrook Hotel

29th January

2020 14.30 My Trip to China Rita Beaumont

26th February

2020 14.30

You’ve Got To Be In By

10pm! Pam Garner

25th March

2020 14.30 Mercy Ships Jill Pearce

29th April

2020 14.30 Afternoon Tea

27th May

2020 14.30

Midshires Search and

Rescue (MSAR) Elaine Murphy

28

29

Retiring

from the NHS?

Keep in touch with friends and colleagues by joining

THE NHS RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP

North Bedfordshire Branch

Registered Charity 287936

We meet at

St Andrew’s Church Hall

Kimbolton Road, Bedford

on the

last Wednesday

of each month at 2.30 pm

Just Turn Up

We look forward to seeing you -

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Cu

t h

ere

to g

ive

this

flye

r to

a f

rien

d

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30

NHS RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP

BENEFITS and ACTVITIES for MEMBERS

Full details are available from

www.nhsrf.org.uk

However the main benefits of our branch are:

Meeting and keeping contact with friends

and ex colleagues

Outings that are well organised and affordable

Listening to interesting topics and speakers

Helping with charity through our annual charity stall

The book stall

Prizes to be won at the raffle

And many more ….. so come and enjoy!!

www.nhsrfnorthbeds.btck.co.uk