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Our President Pam Berry welcomed the members, guests and a new committee to the March meeting when our member Carole Seymour showed us how to make Easter cards
which everyone enjoyed making with some very pleasing results.
We had a book sale, raffle and refreshments.
April 3rd is our birthday party, a faith supper and entertainment by the Dukeries U3A Handbell Ringers.
We meet at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of the month in the Blidworth Community Centre and new members are always welcome.
 

Blidworth Play And Leisure Society (pals)
Appeals For New Members

Blidworth PALS was originally established over a decade ago by a group of local residents who felt that the provision for children and young people in the village was lacking. Since its establishment the group has been successful in raising the profile of young people with local groups including the Parish Council, youth groups in Newark and Sherwood and other voluntary agencies such as local churches. We have raised money through events such as sponsored walks, fetes and grant applications. In the last year we have raised money to replace equipment at the Marriott Lane Park, lobbied the Parish Council to keep the parks clean and tidy (and free from dog mess), run a highly successful summer fete and Christmas Fete. In partnership with the Parish Council we have provided the Christmas lights that decorate the village so brightly.
Our objectives for this year are to continue to maintain pressure on the District Council and County Council regarding the excessive speeds and weights of vehicles coming through the village and to work toward better provision of youth services for our teenagers.
However, we now face a crisis! We have dwindled to a small number of willing and able volunteers, but our aspirations to achieve more mean that we urgently need more volunteers. We meet monthly at 6pm on the first Monday in the month at the community centre (at present). We are planning our next meeting on 6th May. At that meeting we hope to decide the direction and future of the society. If you are interested in village matters and have even a little time to give we are the group for you. Young and old, everyone has something to contribute, from writing letters to erecting marquees!
Coming along to the meeting doesn't commit you to a life-time of service, so even if you only have a little to give everything helps.
We look forward to seeing you at 6pm on the 6th May in the community centre!

Aubrey Formon and Lucy Chadwick on behalf of Blidworth PALS

The New National
Bus Concession

From 1st April 2008 if you’re 60 or over, or eligible disabled and live in England, your bus pass is changing. The new pass will allow you to enjoy free off-peak travel* on local buses anywhere in England - make sure you have arranged yours so you don’t miss out.
Since 1st April 2006, eligible bus users have been guaranteed a minimum of free off-peak local bus travel within the local authority area in which they live. But from 1st April 2008, the new National Bus Concession will enable users to get off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England..
For more information about eligibility visit www.direct.gov.uk./buspass.
*Off-peak hours are 9.30am till 11.00pm Monday to Friday and all day weekends and bank holidays

New Road And Meadow Road
Pensioners Association

( The Monday club)
The club members have had another eventful month in an addition to celebrating a few members’ birthdays, a shopping trip to Derby was enjoyed by members and friends who took the opportunity of visiting the brand new shopping malls of the Westfield centre, which was very impressive.
Also on the same trip we continued onto Litchfield in the West Midlands and also enjoyed a few hours there.
More recently the members joined Marlene and Ernie Buchanan in celebrations of their Golden Wedding anniversary. Enjoying a party at the club’s HQ at Rookwood Centre
Carol Wright, Chair of Blidworth Oaks Primary School Governors who co-ordinated the petition said “we want to thank the residents of Blidworth and users of the Leisure Centre for their magnificent response to the petition. As a result, the parties involved have agreed to try to reach a solution. Local residents can still make their views known to Cllr Roberts at Newark and District Council, Kelham Hall, Newark, Notts.

St Mary’s 200 Club

Swanwick's St. Andrew's Church celebrates St. George's tide on Saturday 19th April with their fourth successive brass band and organ concert, a “Last Night of the Proms” style event with a chance to wave flags and sing as well as hear some excellent music. Well-known in Derbyshire churches, David Redfern makes a welcome return to Swanwick, his Compton organ style adapting well to the church's original Nicholson and Lord organ, 123 years old on 9th April. A warm welcome awaits the Hopkins Blidworth Welfare Band, a 1st section band which takes part in many contests and concerts throughout the year, making their first appearance in Swanwick. Tickets including refreshments are £6 available by calling 01773 607334, 541458 or at the door.

YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU

Every year 162,000 people in Great Britain and Ireland die unexpectedly from sudden cardiac arrest. These are the highest figures in Europe. In 80% of cases the electrical signals that regulate the heart become chaotic (this is known as ventricular fibrillation) and the heart stops pumping blood. The brain is deprived of oxygen and, after only a very few minutes, brain damage becomes so extensive that long term survival is no longer possible. Thus time is critical when sudden cardiac arrest strikes. Quick action can truly be the difference between life and death since the chances of survival are reduced by 10% for every minute defibrillation is delayed.
Blidworth, Rainworth and Ravenshead, which have been identified by the Ambulance Service as a heart attack “black spot”, have a small team of volunteers called COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS who are trained to deal with this sort of situation and can help to buy vital minutes until an Ambulance arrives. We are people from all walks of life and we have no specific skills. However, we have been trained to nationally recognised standards, verified by the East Midlands Ambulance Service. This training includes Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the use of oxygen and, crucially, the operation of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The electric shock given by this can often cause the heart to start beating again. It needs to be stressed that AEDs are safe and not complicated to use. If there is normal electrical activity within the heart then the AED will not allow a shock to be given.
We are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ravenshead and the Sarah Ellen Ball Trust. We work locally on a rota basis and are activated by the Ambulance Service. We are also covered by the Ambulance Service Insurance.
The problem we face is that our numbers have dwindled to such an extent that our continued existence is in jeopardy. If we are to continue to provide a reasonable level of cover, we need more members. The commitment is not onerous. Initial and refresher training takes only a few days each year and is generally tailored to suit your availability. There are monthly meetings chaired by our Co-ordinator to discuss any problems we have encountered, but attendance at these is not obligatory, A rota is compiled monthly and you are asked to provide your availability to be on-call, it can be for as little, or as much time as you can spare. What you cannot measure is the personal satisfaction derived from being involved in such a worthwhile and valuable community service.

 

 

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V.Leach www.lakehead@aol.com

Who Do We Treat?

The debate on whether or not patients who have harmed themselves by their life style should be allowed treatment under the NHS. There has been a recent debate in the media. No less a person than the Prime Minister seems to be supporting the principle.
The categories would include smokers, obese subjects and cases of alcohol and drug abuse. It would appear that these patients have to stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, reduce weight and get more exercise before being considered for treatment. It would appear that you have to get yourself fit enough to attend hospital. Sometimes you have to be very fit to be able to walk from the car park to the entrance or around the corridors.
It might be stated that if a person has abused his body then the rest of us should not have to pay for their treatment. Even though the state pays the rest of us have to pay through our taxes.
In the case of heart disease the first line of treatment is to stop smoking. There is an addition risk from the operations in smokers. The condition will recur if the patient continues to smoke. I have seen patients lose a leg because of the effects of smoking and then lose the other leg.
It is pointless performing a liver transplant if the patient continues to abuse alcohol.
Obese patients have a much greater risk when undergoing surgery. Many do require hip replacements but are often not offered surgery unless they lose weight. The chances of overweight patients benefiting from hip replacement are reduced and there is increased risk to the other hip and of the replacement breaking down. Smokers and obese patients carry a much greater risk in any surgical operation. Operations are much more difficult in smokers and the obese patient, the risk of chest infections, deep vein thrombosis, for example, are all greatly increased. To take on high-risk patients has an adverse effect on a surgeon's or hospital statistics of cure rate and reputation and worse of all affect their targets.
Smokers carry an increased risk especially of chest infections following surgery. Alcoholics and drug abusers are usually in poor general condition and naturally carry increased risks in all medical conditions. Other people such as mountaineers or reckless car drivers put themselves at risk. Are they to be denied treatment?
A recent survey suggested limiting treatment in elderly patients. I remember one case where a man in his 80's had heart by-pass surgery. He was looking after his wife who had severe arthritis. Without the surgery two people would have ended their lives in a nursing home. Age in itself must not be the criterion for limiting treatment.
If an obese person falls and breaks a hip are they to be refused surgery?
One cannot help thinking that these suggestions are based on reducing the cost of the NHS.
Never the less there is an element of personal responsibility in limiting damage to one's health.
It is an ethical principle that a doctor must act in the best interests of the patient and must not be influenced by ethic group, sexual orientation, age or life style, likes or dislikes. A criminal or illegal immigrant still should be treated with respect and confidentiality.
What do you think?

”Superb Start” to the Charity Shop Project

Blidworth residents came up trumps when they were asked to bring their unwanted but sellable goods to the Community Centre on Saturday March 1st. This was to help build up stocks for the charity shop due to be opened in April by the Cornwater Club. The club, which has a number of Blidworth members, aims to provide friendship and stimulation for older people.
The response to the “Stock the Shop” day was excellent, with a steady and welcome stream of donors throughout the morning and into the afternoon. “It gave us enough goods nearly to fill a large commercial storage unit that we'd rented in Rainworth for the purpose”, said Melissa Blythe, Cornwater Club marketing manager.
Commenting on the success in Blidworth and of a similar day in Ravenshead two weeks earlier, Ron Walker, CWC board chairman, said: “It's a superb boost to the start of our charity shop project. Our sincere thanks are due to the crowds of people who brought goods.”
More Wanted
The quantity of stock donated to date will fill the shop in Queen Street, Mansfield, and keep goods flowing into it for a month or two, at least. But allowing time for sorting, labelling, transporting and merchandising, the Cornwater Club needs to continue building back-up supplies.
If you have goods to donate, please ring our charity shop hotline on 07971 494666 and we will arrange collection. We particularly welcome clothing in good condition, as well as books, CDs, toys, ornaments, pictures, etc. Soft toys are OK with a 'CE' safety mark on the label; so is furniture if it can be handled by one person, but sorry, we can't take electrical goods. We're also trying to avoid jumble sale or car boot remnants!
Give us a Try
The Cornwater Club is offering a free “taster” day at one of their Monday, Wednesday or Friday sessions, with no charge and no commitment. For more information please ring club manager Maxine Dakin on 07703 460948.

"YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR."
"There's no such thing as a free ride."
"If you want to get a lot out of something, you have to put a lot in."
"You reap what you sow."
These are all common sayings which speak a lot of sense.
We've all learnt to be wary of people who phone us saying that we've won a free prize. I used to buy the cheapest tools, only to have them buckle and break as soon as I put any strain on them. (Nowadays I try to find good tools at bargain prices!). Successful people always seem to be willing to work extremely hard to get to the top. If you want to get the most out of a hobby, a special occasion or even a marriage, you have to be willing to give it time and work extremely hard at it - but the rewards are worth it.
However the Bible talks about a free gift. "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." In our current day and age where we're offered so many supposedly free things, people approach this offer with a degree of wariness. We know that we have to work hard for things, and now we're being told that something wonderful is free. Then again, if we could buy eternal life, how much would it cost us? Personally I think that the only way I could get eternal life would be if someone gave it me for free.
The life that Jesus encouraged people to live seems to be one where hard work does pay dividends, but where the things that are beyond our capabilities - such as being forgiven, being released from addictive behaviour, getting eternal life - are given as free gifts. (Personally I find rather a lot that is beyond my capabilities, so there's a lot of scope in my life for freebies!)
How then do you claim the free gift? I think that you have to talk to the giver about that.
And what's the catch? (Because we know that there's always a catch). If there is a catch, it is to do with the way that we find ourselves responding when we realise what a good gift we've received. This free gift does change our outlook on life.
With prayers for a hope-filled springtime,
Jeremy Erde (Sherwood Forest Community Church)
 

Citizen of the Year for 2008

On Wednesday 12th March, The Rotary Club of Ravenshead revealed its Citizen of the Year for 2008 Tom Murray of Robin Hood Terrace, Ravenshead.
Tom has been instrumental in the creation of the new War Memorial in Blidworth, and whilst Tom is keen to point out that the project would not have been possible without the help of the Memorial Committee and its many sponsors, the Rotary Club thought that Tom had put in a lot of personal time and commitment with both the design and building of the memorial, and also the considerable research into the names of those that served and died for their country. In accepting the award Tom stated that it had given him “Immense pleasure” to be involved in the project which seems the perfect win-win situation. Many thanks and congratulations to Tom.
For further information about Rotary in Ravenshead and Blidworth, please call Club Secretary Paul on 01623 467704 or visit www.rotary1220.org/rav

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