In February 2009 Croydon Club donated to the Croydon Young Carers Support Project £1000 to purchase laptops for their Homework Club. Through a good deal with a local supplier, Jonathan Andrew, the Project Co-ordinator, was able to buy four laptops.

On 30 June, members of Croydon Club visited the Homework Club to see the laptops in use. They are proving invaluable for those students who don’t have computers at home and need to complete their course work. and with internet access via a wireless router there is greater flexibility of use in the space provided.

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At our 25 June Business Meeting we were delighted to welcome Jean Coates 
into our membership, pictured here with President Patricia and
Programme Action Officer Penny Veness.

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The RSPB, with more than a million members, is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife. Led by professional RSPB educators at more than 40 locations, the RSPB field teaching scheme, Living Classrooms, offers an exciting range of curriculum-linked education programmes. These are designed to bring learning to life through fun, safe, hands-on and thought provoking activities.

Bruce had worked with local media studies students to produce a film about the conservation and education work on local reed beds. Reed beds, once a valuable resource, are an important habitat for wildlife but until a few years ago had almost become extinct.

The RSPB South Dorset Local Group, of which Bruce is a member, received a grant for their Artwarblers project, established in May 2007. Working with a local artist and a local sculptor, children were encouraged to produce artwork using a variety of materials.

The two films shown during the presentation clearly highlighted the enthusiasm of volunteers like Bruce for their work with children in developing their awareness of nature and the importance of conservation.

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Last night members from Croydon Club joined celebrities, sponsors, educationalists, students and supporters – 1400 in all – at the Queen Elizabeth Hall to celebrate the Foundation’s 10^th Anniversary.  

Channel Four news presenter, Jon Snow, presided over the evening which included songs sung by Sharon D. Clarke, Sophie-Louise Dann and Hal Fowler, brilliantly accompanied by musical director Mike Dixon and five musicians (the Helena Kennedy Five). There were readings and video tributes from Sandi Toksvig and Ruby Wax. The show was interspersed with three films telling the story of the Foundation and its work. 

Later there were many personal tributes to Helena Kennedy from Bianca Jagger, Joan Armatrading, Kathy Lette and Baroness Shirley Williams. But not forgotten was Dr Ann Limb who had been the driving force behind the setting up of the Helena Kennedy Foundation. 

The Post-graduate musical theatre students from the Royal Academy of Music closed the evening’s entertainment.

The Helena Kennedy Foundation is Croydon Club’s chosen charity for the period November 2008 to April 2010.

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UPDATE at 12 May 2009

Messages of congratulations have been sent to ‘Electric Radio Brixton’ who won four awards – two gold and two bronze – at the 2009 Sony Radio Awards ceremony held on 11 May 2009.
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Paul McDowell, Governor of Brixton Prison, gave the 90 guests at Croydon’s Annual Inter-Club Friendship Supper a fascinating talk about his job. As a keen supporter of Luton Town Football Club and the Glastonbury Festival, he came over as a man of many parts with a humane and sophisticated approach to what many might regard as an impossible task.

He explained that Brixton Prison is so old and overcrowded that it is very difficult indeed to do anything more than focus on the basic needs of security and safety, and to provide healthcare which many inmates have previously lacked. 

The prison has no workshops and only 50 education places. It can provide activity for only a quarter of its 800 inhabitants: three quarters do nothing. There is a good chaplaincy service for all faiths.  Innovative schemes like a prison radio station or the provision of musical instruments through musician Billy Bragg’s charity Jail Guitar Doors, could fall foul of media prejudice. 

Mr McDowell felt that the current economic climate would make it even more difficult to ask the question whether the country could afford prisons not to be higher in the priority list.  He quoted Winston Churchill “Nothing can be more abhorrent to democracy than to imprison a person or keep him in prison because he is unpopular. This is really the test of civilisation.” 

Paul McDowell left us with the rather old fashioned thought that rehabilitation can of course be achieved when men grow up and find a good woman! 

The raffle raised £323 to be shared between the President’s Charity and a project of Mr McDowell’s choosing. He requested that the money be used to support the Prison Radio Association.    

Laurie Painting

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At a packed Annual Inter-Club Friendship Supper held at The Chateau on 12 March 2009, member Jean Turner was delighted to receive her long-service certificate from
Region President Jan Doyle. 

Jean joined SI Sutton in 1958. She was club president on two occasions, the second time when the Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee. In 1964 she attended her first International Convention. She was treasurer of the Southern Divisional Union (now Southern Region) for several years, becoming president in 1974. For the first time ever the SIGBI conference was held outside the UK and so Jean had to travel to Sydney to be inducted. She found it a wonderful experience.

When Sutton Club closed several years ago, Jean joined SI Croydon, since when she has served as club secretary and as treasurer for the South East Region.

Jean received messages of congratulations from Clubs in the South East Region and from members and past members currently in China, India and Singapore.

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