Grammar schools

As a former free school meals kids, who grew up in a council flat with my mum, who was a single parent, I have found it difficult in the last few days to listen to the rhetoric of the naysayers in the wake of the Education Secretary’s announcement over the re-introduction of grammar schools.

I am one of the 3% from a ‘poor’ family who had the opportunity to go to grammar school and will forever be thankful for that. Whilst I have never been a high flyer, there was too much else going in my family for me to be able to achieve my full potential, what I gained, and what I feel is of the utmost importance, is an understanding of the importance and value of education, and what it can help one to do in later life.

Much has been said about social mobility and the ‘haves’ and have nots’. There is no doubt that those families who are better off have an unfair advantage when it comes to access to good education; the ability to move to an area with better schools, or to have their children coached to ensure success in the required exams, whether it be the 11+ or common entrance exam for a public school.

What is missing here though, is the importance of attitude towards education. I am still the only person in my entire family to have obtained ‘A’ levels and some form of further education, largely gained during adulthood, as at the time going on to university was not an option.

I have what borders on an obsession with learning, always taking up the offer of free classes in subjects I am interested in; I just cannot get enough.

Children all have different abilities. Some will be academically gifted, whilst others will have practical skills that may not stand up so well to formal examination. Both types of learning, as long a learning is taking place, have an equal value in modern day society. I believe that this balance between the practical and academic cannot always best be served in a comprehensive school. There is often the argument that gifted and talented children do not achieve their full potential in such an environment. This is in part borne out by the number of families I know who are in the lower social economic demographic, but who invest a disproportionate amount of their small incomes on ensuring that their children go to the best school they can afford. ‘Free school meals’ is also red herring; there are many, many families who are eligible but not claim because of the continued stigma.

It is patronising to refer to lower income families as if they are somehow a different species deliberately being excluded from the upper echelons of society. In my experience this is not necessarily the case.

What is paramount, is that we, as a society, instill in everyone, no matter what their social status, a sense of a hopeful successful future, without barriers. One in which everyone can achieve whatever it is that they want, and that when the time comes the support, and appropriate education, will be there for the asking.

One size does not fit all. The focus must always be on what is best for the individual child, which may well be access to a grammar school environment, or not. What must not happen though, is that this the opportunity to attend one is seen as any form of elitism.

Make Edfringe tour...

The Make directors took 8 cast, 2 crew, 2 kids and a bus driver up to the Efringe this year with their new musical STOP! 

The journey took 12 hours with the obligatory rest breaks at Gloucester and Tebay. Thanks to the Stewart's we had a wonderful house waiting for us right at the top of the main street, known as the Mile just off Grassmarket. Known as the Anta house we couldn't afford the trip without their hospitality.

Written by Kat Wilsher, Sophy Layzell and Nat Wilsher, STOP! Centred on conversations held at a Somerset bus stop (both real and imagined) and aimed to challenge our assumptions based on what we see and hear. 

We performed at another TheSpace venue again, this time in Niddry Street, our most exciting venue yet. Thrust staging with 79 seats, the perfect space for our pop up bus made by Dan Wilsher out of recycled seats from the last show and bits of perspex! We received many compliments from both audience members and staff from the Space about the clever set design, one Space member came along to our technical just to see the bus stop in action!

Running at approx 45 mins from 2.50pm  on Monday 15-Sat 20 August our light-hearted musical comedy was described as 'completely charming' by the husband of a wife who wept her way through  'Who Will I Dance With' as well as 

'thought provoking, performed with gusto + heart!!' By RCBC theatre. 

Oscar nominated director Tom Van Avermaet tweeted to say, '#STOP catchy tunes and a heartfelt message delivered with much enthusiasm by the young Make Theatre'.

Three of our cast aged 16-25, Abi Cousins, Sophie and Thomas Russell, were young students who have worked their way up the Make Performing Arts ranks and have been members of our schools since we launched in 2010. Only Chris Osborne and Nat Wilsher were from the original cast from our first Edfringe tour in 2012. 

Naomi Boxell wrote to say she, 'Cannot believe how quickly the past week has gone! I had the best time performing at the Edinburgh fringe! But I wouldn't have been able to do it without my lovely adopted family. Love you all'

Angus Maxwell who joined the cast at the last minute wrote, 'Missing you all already. It's going to be hard adjusting to life without the occasional screech from Imogen  (directors daughter) or going to see shows every night. I've had the most fun with this trip and will be most definitely be up for the next one, can't be missing out on the quality banter and overall love felt throughout. Love you all guys, rest up and finally just remember; just stop and look around you, you lucky thing.' That last line is a quote from the show!

Chris Osborne wrote, 'I can't thank you guys enough for a wonderful time. I may have been a bit teary when I got home and although they are sad tears they're also happy ones. I can't wait for our next adventure and I hope we can all meet again soon'

Many thanks to those who sponsored and encouraged us on the two year journey that this show has taken;

Linda Vijeh for £1000 funding from the Somerset Health and Wellbeing fund.

The Powde Trust for £600 towards costs to support the educational progression of young men in our cast.

Pauline Burr and South Somerset District Council for funding last years pilot scheme.

 Ilminster Rotary Club

Anta Scotland for accommodation.

Taunton School and Broadway Methodist Chapel for rehearsal space.

Plus our private sponsors: Elisabeth Beverley, Mark and Margot Wilsher, Diane Colethorpe and Make parents who have supported our fundraising events. 

Restoration of Donyatt Halt

Good news at last! - A small committee has been formed to undertake the restoration of the Halt. Volunteers have generously responded and we have now received the following promises:

Waiting Hut: Materials and labour to rebuild the hut. Donyatt Halt sign: Labour to refurbish and replace. Doreen (Interpretation board):  Professional reprinting, framing and erecting.
These generous offers are much appreciated. Thus there remains just one item to complete the entire restoration: The statue of Doreen. This was so extensively damaged by the fire that a complete rebuild is required. The cost for this work, including removal of the damaged sculpture and erection of its replacement is £3,000. Considering the original cost of the statue, we believe this charge is a most generous offer by the original sculptor Ian Edwards who is equally upset by the mindless damage to his work.

As a first step to raise the £3,000 we have set up a bank account entitled: Let’s rescue Doreen and installed a collection box (with the same title) in The George in Donyatt.
Other volunteers are currently engaged in seeking restoration funds from local businesses and other sources such as crowd funding.

WHAT COULD YOU DO? Doreen’s story has touched the hearts of many people who have visited this site – many from far afield – her experiences in the village during WW2 are a reminder of the good that is to be found even during the worst of times.

PLEASE make a donation to our Let’s Rescue Doreen fund – however small - and VISIT our Let’s Rescue Doreen website on Facebook

Photo - The statue of Doreen which sits waiting on the platform depicts a young evacuee from London sitting on her case awaiting collection by her carers - more details on our Chard Branch page. Copyright Mike Roach 23rd March 2015

Green travel in the countryside - impossible!

As I get older I count my blessings that I am lucky enough to be living in a small village that is quite self-sufficient; one that has the rare benefit of a pub, shop with post office, a school, two churches, a thriving village hall, a hairdresser and a regular bus service.

Perhaps more importantly, especially during the summer months when the A303 can be bumper to bumper with cars, either as a result of yet another accident, or carrying holiday makers to Devon and Cornwall for their hard earned summer break, there are five different access points. This means that no matter how jammed the traffic is I can still find a route to make my way home.

I do not enjoy driving, so on the rare occasions I am going directly from one place to another I do try to use public transport. Much of the time it is prohibitively expensive, but now that I am the proud holder of a senior railcard, it is rare for me to drive up to London to visit family these days.

Even in a town the size of Ilminster, where we have a large proportion of older not so able residents, it is no simple matter to get out and about further afield, although there is a regular affordable bus service to London. However, we only have ourselves to blame.

The way we lead our lives is significantly different to that of 20 or 30 years ago. 

Communities were more cohesive, with less need to look outside the local environment for education, work or pleasure. Technological advances have expanded our horizons considerably, and we are eager to take advantage of all that is on offer.

Whilst those who care for the future of our planet would wish us all to reduce our carbon foot print we also have a seemingly insatiable demand for all that the wider world offers – which invariably involves travel.

In parking my car at a recent event a local ‘green’ resident acting as car park attendant accosted me, shouting, ‘What ARE you doing in the car on your own?’. I pointed out, with just a hint of self-righteousness, that no-one else was travelling from the same direction, only to receive the sharp retort, ‘Well, you should have come by bicycle then.’

I found myself thinking that it was a simple matter for my protagonist, who lived barely a mile away and as a retiree has all the time in the world to get from A to B.

For most of us, time is a luxury as we juggle our commitments, lugging stuff from one place to another, travelling by any method other than one’s own car is just not a feasible option.  

Denying us this privilege, particularly by those who have already had ample opportunity to explore far horizons, seems hypocritical.   

I am travelling to India in September to visit at a women’s literacy project funded by Rotary. Whilst there I will mostly travel by train, because I will have the time to do so, travel is cheap and the country has one of the most efficient railway systems in the world.   

In the meantime, I do the best I can to support local activities and events, even if it means getting in my car to do so. As in all things, there has to be a balance and an understanding of others’ lifestyles and priorities.

Olympic gold - discipline and inspiration from others

Whilst I have never been a sports fan it seems that less than a week after the start of the Brazilian games, Olympic fever may yet take hold of me, tugging me along in the wake of the amazing achievements of our team GB athletes. At the time of writing we have already gained more medals than in the same period during the London Olympics four years ago. I can begin to feel and share in the palpable excitement capturing the rest of the nation.

In the ensuing interviews with these inspirational young champions what is apparent is that their achievements have been dependent on a number of key factors.

There are tales of the personal sacrifices they have made, denying themselves the time to indulge in the simple daily pleasures the rest of us take for granted. This requires an incredible level of dedication and focus, day in, day out, all year round, to the exclusion of all else; basically putting what the rest of us might consider to be a ‘normal’ life on hold.

This may include the regular routine of training in addition to careful consideration of diet. Throughout history foodhas always played an important part in the life of athletes; the winner of the running race at the first recorded Olympics in 776 BC was in fact a cook,

In addition to this, medal winners frequently mention the support they have received from those who believe in them, be it friends, family or financial sponsors. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. The fact that others have belief in them and what they are trying to achieve can make all the difference between success and failure. I know this from personal experience in other areas of my own life and that of those I strive to support. Positive reinforcement can motivate, whereas negative influences can eventually wear down and destroy even the most determined person’s aspirations.

I recently came across a quote by Greek philosopher Epitectus: ”So you wish to conquer in the Olympic games, my friend? First mark the conditions and the consequences, and then set to work. You will have to put yourself under discipline; to eat by rule, to avoid cakes and sweetmeats; to take exercise at the appointed hour whether you like it or no, in cold and heat; to abstain from cold drinks and from wine at your will; in a word, to give yourself over to the trainer as to a physician. Then in the conflict itself you are likely enough to dislocate your wrist or twist your ankle, to swallow a great deal of dust, or to be severely thrashed … Difficulty shows what men are. Therefore, when a difficulty falls upon you, remember that … (it is) so that you may become an Olympic conqueror; but it is not accomplished without sweat.” Such sentiments remain true in our modern day lives.
Many years before this, the physician and 'father of medicine', Hippocrates, said, “Sport is a preserver of health.” Witnessing these Olympics achievements, there can be no doubt about the benefits of leading a healthy disciplined life.

Whilst I have no right to do so, for the next few weeks I shall enjoy basking in the reflected glory of others’ achievements. Proud to be British, you bet I am. I also believe that those individuals who have the capacity to inspire others have a moral obligation to do so.

God help this country

When the result of the Brexit referendum was announced just a few weeks ago, Paddy Ashdown, the former Lib. Dem leader and Somerset MP, was quoted as saying “God help this country”. He was clearly disappointed at the vote not going his way for a cause he cares so passionately about. He and I had debated this in public along with several others and his sincere belief in that our future lay in maintaining European membership was evident to all.

The reason I mention this now is that for many of us, especially in times of trouble, there is the tendency to turn to God, whatever our beliefs, or lack of them. It is interesting that when all else fails we make our pleas to a higher being, something or someone considered to be all powerful that can solve our problems. 

As a recent convert to Christianity I find the whole concept of belief and worship an interesting one, both on an emotional and a practical level.

Whilst church attendance continues to be in decline, borne out by the low numbers at most services, the clergy are forever seeking new ways to engage with the community, particularly its younger members, by offering a range of activities to actively encourage inclusion. Many preachers, instead of lecturing their audience from the pulpit now make an effort to really engage with the congregation, often using classic training techniques and props to help make their point.  

Despite this decline in regular worship, where at the majority of services the congregation is largely made up of women over retirement age, it is interesting that when faced with key events in our lives, birth, marriage, death, many people still choose to mark the occasion with a church service.

No wonder our local vicars are tearing their hair out; Aside from key liturgical events such as Christmas or Easter most of us never darken the doors of our local church. On the other hand, we always expect it to be there, ready and waiting, for when we choose to use it.

This raises the issue of the cost of maintaining these buildings that remain empty and unused for much of the time. The fact that certainly nour small towns and villages these are largely premises that are hundreds of years old and therefore listed adds to the burden. The fact is we cannot have it both ways.

The church itself has made some attempt to diversify, looking at ways to make better use of the space by opening their doors to welcome the public at large and to generate income by holding coffee mornings, fund raising events, concerts and village fetes. 

One often forgotten consideration, and one not to be overlooked for those seeking planning permission, particularly in smaller remote locations, is that the presence of a church or place of worship is considered an amenity, and in this context it is especially useful when trying to persuade the decision makers to grant approval.

If we choose not to support our local churches we will continue to lose them, driving yet another nail into the coffin of the sustainability of our village communities.

Keeping councillors on their toes

As a Somerset County Councillor it is always interesting to attend a meeting of the full council every few months, if for no other reason than to remember to remove my nail scissors before attempting to pass security and gain admittance to Shire Hall, where the meetings are usually held.

Aside from my fellow county councillors, who are under obligation to be present, I do enjoy witnessing the passion and enthusiasm of those members of the public who choose to give up their time to pose questions on a wide range of issues, or petition us in relation to a specific cause. Very often the level of research they carry out in order to prove their point and influence decisions would put many of us to shame.

In recent months the key focus has been on highways, frequently related to the seemingly unbalanced relationship between developers and the local community, where it is felt that developers often have the upper hand. There are no easy solutions and any development will invariably cause inconvenience and disruption to some but the public do expect some relevant input from such statutory bodies in helping to assess the pros and cons of an application.  

On my way into Shire Hall I always try to engage with those bearing banners and placards. They have a point of view which I may not always agree with but I do defend their right to express it; unlike many other countries, we are after all a democracy.

On one particular occasion there were pleas to save out buses, where many small communities in recent years have seen a reduction or a complete cessation of the services they had previously enjoyed. There is the argument, particularly in these stringent financial times, that tax payers’ money should not be used to prop up unviable commercial services. 

On the other hand, many of those who choose to live in rural areas made their decision to do so at a time when they had every expectation that public transport would be available. They now find themselves isolated, even to the extent that they have no access to essential services. Some may be of the opinion that the clear option is to move into town, where access to services is not a problem. However, by forcing people to do this puts at risk the continued sustainability of the small village communities which make up much of the unique character which residents of our county find so attractive as a place to live and visit.

One solution put forward to me was that if the wherewithal was found to increase, rather than decrease, our bus services, then more people would use them, creating more income, therefore making the service more viable. This is an interesting thought but sadly on the few occasions I have travelled by bus recently I was the only fare paying passenger.

One other point raised was the issue of graffiti on public buildings. Its removal is costly and there is an argument that it is not the best use of public funds where such anti-social behaviour exists. One solution might be to consider following the example of Marseilles, and even Belfast, where graffiti has become an art form, providing a brightly coloured backdrop to our daily lives.

In the meantime I am grateful for the continued vigilance shown by members of the public which ensures that our elected representatives are kept on their toes.