ACCRINGTON DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB
ON Monday, October 7, Kathleen welcomed Barbara Bates as a visitor to our club and hoped she would consider joining us as a member.
Our donation to the Accrington Blind Society has been kindly acknowledged.
The Club will send congratulations to our very good friend Pat Ascroft for her award of the BEM and we look forward to the story of her next adventure.
The Christmas Lunch list, at the Dunkenhalgh on December 12, is now open.
Menus are available from Jim but payment will not be required until next month.
On this rather dreary Monday we were transported to a small selection of Malcolm Tranter’s favourite Gardens of the North West.
These ranged from the familiar National Trust garden at Bodnant, in North Wales to Edwina Miller’s less familiar but amazing solo effort at Cobble Hay, near Garstang where you may also see rare breeds on the working farm.
We were also encouraged to enjoy the changing seasons at Dunham Massey and to seek out the Himalayan Garden, just North of Ripon.
Percaval Hall, on up the river from Bolton Abbey and the well-hidden Land Farm, near Hebden Bridge were new to most of us and are now on many lists for future visits.
Malcolm, another good friend of this club, concluded his presentation with his own stunning pictures of the planting and spectacular setting of Holehird, just outside Windermere.
We also learned that Polistychum means ferns, so educational as well.
Barbara proposed the vote of thanks which was, as usual, well supported.
Kathleen closed with a list of reasons to be contented with the reducing but continuing abilities afforded by advancing years.
There are still some vacancies for new members. If you are retired or retiring soon, and would like to try a taster, please come along to the Accrington Town Hall on October 21, from 10am, in the Gallery/ Supper Room, at the top of the stairs from the main foyer.
Introduce yourself and enjoy coffee, a biscuit, and good company.
We meet every 1st and 3rd Monday, barring Bank Holidays.
BAXENDEN HISTORY GROUP
THE Baxenden History Exhibition, organised by Baxenden History Group, was held in St John’s Church, Baxenden, from September 28 to October 6.
The opening started with fanfares, flourishes and rousing music from Baxenden Concert Band.
Hyndburn Mayor June Harrison and Mayoress Joyce Plummer, were guests of honour at the opening ceremony along with MP Graham Jones and the Bishop of Burnley, the Right Reverend Phillip North.
The speakers commented on the importance of community in our modern world. They also told of the impact history has had on our lives and will have on those of future generations in shaping ethics, priorities and consideration of others.
Mr Jones spoke of his deep roots in Baxenden and his pleasure in unveiling a plaque commemorating all of the 72 members of our community who unfortunately, through no fault of their own, had to be buried in the common graves in St John’s churchyard. Also featured was the premier of a film celebrating the youth and the senior generations in our community.
This was the culmination of a project run through Hollins School in which young students, who are members of their Lets Be Volunteer Group, met older people to talk together and share their experiences.
This cross generation work is invaluable in developing community cohesion.
Young people looked at their lives, their opportunities and the belongings they had and compared these with those experienced by the senior citizens.
For students, it was hard to understand how people managed before mobile phones, computers, X Boxes and such, washing machines, family cars and fsupermarkets.
The opportunities the older generation had were limited. When you left school, it was mainly the mill, factory, office or shop work. Children often followed into the same occupation as their parents. There was conscription into the armed services for the boys too.
Our senior citizens enjoyed talking with the young people and friendships were forged.
The young people grew in confidence and understanding while gaining a sense of achievement at a project well done.
The final outcome of the project was the making of a short video which highlighted the memories of the senior citizens and the benefits to the young people.
This video will be copied and archived in several places to be available for study and for future generations to see.
Baxenden Community Forum and Hollins School jointly funded this project as a special Baxenden Community event.
The Baxenden History group wish to thank our main sponsors, Unites Utilities and Baxenden Community Forum, whose financial help enabled the exhibition and the Hollins project to go ahead. We would also like to thank all those who supported us with their time, expertise, memories, photographs and exhibits.