Piquant Charitable Thoughts

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

British institutions: livery companies

I was a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists till recently. Had to resign unfortunately as I simply couldn't manage to attend their sessions, they are usually held in the city of London, start at around 5 and I cannot get back into the city from Canary Wharf by that time..So had to regretfully resign, but still, given their halls, we end up having quite a lot of dinners at the various Livery Companies. My last sojourn there was to the Ironmonger’s…I have been there before. See here. Also to the Butchers. And pottered around the garden of the Barbers. And then the Makers of Playing cards. Anyway, they do a shedload of charity things, so was involved with them to raise funds for schools, was a mentor for few of their journeymen, gave lectures at the hall and then helped other charities. Anyhow…Here’s the wiki entry on these livery companies.

Here’s a lovely overview of the Livery Companies from the FT. Good place to be in, very long history, very good work being done and something that the professions could do a bit more of..

Sunday, 28 October 2012

The Mayhew wins the Wetnose Animal Aid prize

very good news

The Mayhew has been awarded the Lester Middlehurst Award by Wetnose Animal Rescue Awards for 2013. We were nominated by Wendy Turner Webster.
http://www.wetnoseanimalaid.com/2012.html
There will be an Award Ceremony in March next year in London.

I just love the name of the award, wetnose Smile so sweet and cute…

Friday, 12 October 2012

June 12: When the buttercups walked for charity

It was a strange day, weather wise, that day in June when I popped over to RNOH for their annual charity Buttercup day.

An old old old broken down clock on its own clock tower…

The grounds are full of lovely majestic old trees. This one obviously lost its head

Somebody taking it easy before the race starts

Old gnarled trees

I reached the top and saw this banner stretching out across the road. The walk is from one end of the hospital to the other and back. About 1 mile in total.

A member of the radio Brockley team

People started collecting around in the start finish line

Even teddies got into the act.

Some of the very brave adults and children and their carers all who came up to support this very worthwhile charity

Smiling at something

You can almost see the determination on the face

I don't care if I need walking sticks, but walk a mile I will.

The little girl in the middle, she is from St. John’s Ambulance. there was a celebrity there to help wave off the walk and these two girls were going nuts about him.

With face painted.

Loads of people clicking away.

Its very very near starting time…

This is the celebrity. To my eternal shame, I have no clue who he is

And we are off, this girl was skipping to the end

While I was on my wheelchair, and face painted!

And with my walking sticks.

Now for some faces in the crowd.

But the weather turned and the rain started to come down.

The brollies and jackets started to come on as the rain started to come down.

But Mamma, I dont want to get out of the rain, I want to go for the walk…

But I wont let a little rain stop me, I will wear my jacket, I will hold hands. But I was again humbled by the sheer courage of the various patients who, despite their infirmities and disabilities and illnesses and challenges and the disgusting weather, had shining eager motivated faces. What an amazing display of courage. Hats off to you.