Newbury Weekly News

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Thursday, May 11, 2017
Inspirational MND 30th anniversary
THE West Berkshire branch of
the Motor Neurone Disease
Association celebrated 30
years of the charity’s work at
an event on Saturday, April
29.
The evening, attended by 100
supporters and invited guests,
started with a service of music
and readings in St Mark’s
Church, Englefield, conducted
by the Reverend Derek Spears
from Aldermaston, followed by
an event at Englefield House,
home of the branch’s patron,
Newbury’s Conservative Parlia-
mentary candidate Richard
Benyon.
Speakers included BBC TV
and radio presenter Nicholas
Owen, who shared his personal
story of a close friend who died of
MND in 2015, and Newbury’s
Alec Jenkins, who is being
robbed of his voice by the disease
and agreed for his speech to be
read by his brother Paul.
Invited guests included Berk-
shire’s new High Sheriff Mrs
Sarah Scrope, Deputy Lord Lieu-
tenant Professor Suzanna Rose,
Dr Clare Galtrey, consultant
neurologist at Frimley Park
Hospital, and West Berkshire
Council chairman Quentin
Webb.
Mrs Scrope said: “I was fasci-
nated and moved again by the
speeches.”
All guests were asked to bring
a jam jar of spring flowers to
place in the church.
Jane Gilbert, of the MND Asso-
ciation, said: “It was a very
simple idea but effective.”
Prof Rose said: “It really was
an inspirational event.
“I too was heartened by opti-
mistic views around research
progress.”
Association research director
Dr Brian Dickie said: “We may
not see the light at the end of the
tunnel yet, but the train is head-
ing in the right direction and it’s
picking up speed.”
Branch chairwoman Margaret
Moss said: “To continue our
successful work we need more
volunteers for the next leg of the
journey.”
MND can leave people locked
in a failing body, unable to move,
talk and eventually breathe.
It kills six people per day in the
UK, just under 2,200 per year. At
present there is no cure.
National honour
for holiday hero
A NATIONAL water safety
charity has awarded a
Newbury firefighter its highest
accolade after he saved the life
of a two-year-old girl while on a
family holiday earlier this
year.
Oliver Parker was awarded the
Roll of Honour by the Swimming
Teachers’ Association (STA), a
charity dedicated to the teaching
of swimming and water safety.
As reported in the Newb ury
Weekly News, Mr Parker, 33, was
on holiday in Dubai with his preg-
nant wife and two young daugh-
ters when he spotted a two-year-
old girl named Erin unconscious
in the pool.
Thanks to Mr Parker’s quick
thinking and actions he began
CPR and after three minutes
Erin’s eyes opened and she took a
deep breath.
The young girl from Finland
made a full recovery and spent the
last few days of her holiday play-
ing as if nothing had happened.
Mr Parker said: “At the time, in
that split second it was like every-
one around the pool froze in time,
in shock.
“I’m not sure if it was my fire
service training or the fact of
being a dad that mademe react so
quickly, but it did bring home to
me that ‘knowing’ what to do in an
emergency and ‘actually’ doing it
are two totally different things.”
He added: “I was amazed by
how quickly a person can react to
CPR and the immediate positive
effects.
“It will be a day I will never
forget, and I was so pleased to see
Erin when she returned from
hospital playing as normal.”
Mr Parker also revealed that
his actions have inspired friends
and family to seek out first aid
training and learn CPR.
Mr Parker said: “I’ve been
really surprised with the
response to this story and I’m
very proud to be recognised by
STA with a Roll of Honour.
“If by sharing this story, which
can truly happen to anyone, and
showing the importance of CPR
training and the immediate posi-
tive effects it can have on saving
of a life, then great, there have
been two positive outcomes.”
It is only the eighth time in 17
years that the Roll of Honour has
been awarded by STA.
STA president Richard Timms
presented the award on Saturday,
and said: “Faced with a terrify-
ing, split-second situation like
this, especially with a child, panic
can set in for even the bravest.
“But thankfully Oliver didn’t
panic, and his quick thinking and
actions that day saved this young
girl’s life.”
“Oliver is fully-deserving of
this honour.”
Firefighter whosaved child’s lifeawarded RollofHonour
Alec Jenkins, whohasmotor neurone disease, centrewithbrother Paulbehind, joinotherguests attheevent
Ref:18-2017A
NicholasOwenspeaks Ref:18-2017C Council chairman Quentin Webb
Meet three real life life-savers
TWO blood donors from
Thatcham and one from
Newbury have been honoured
for their life-saving efforts
with commemorative medals.
With 301 blood donations
between them, Mike
Harmsworth, Phil Saich and
Sheila Weaving have potentially
saved more than 900 lives.
The NHS Blood and Trans-
plant awards ceremony at the
Coppid Beach Hotel, Bracknell,
honoured them and 28 other
blood donors from Berkshire and
Buckinghamshire.
Sheila Weaving, 68, from
Thatcham, who is retired, has
been giving blood for approxi-
mately 49 years after being
encouraged by her work
colleagues.
She said: “Giving blood only
takes a little of my time but helps
others and can perhaps save
their life.”
Mike Harmsworth, 67, retired,
from Thatcham, has been giving
blood for approximately 48 years
after a work colleague suggested
he give it a try.
Mr Harmsworth said; “My
wife and mother and several
other members of my family
have all needed blood transfu-
sions after major operations.
“Blood can be used in so many
ways to help save someone’s life
at no cost or danger to me.”
Phil Saich, 59, a wood yard
worker from Newbury has been
giving blood for more than 40
years.
He said ; “I started giving blood
as I was a keen motorcyclist and
wanted to make sure blood was
available if I ever needed it.
“Some of my family members
have needed blood; we just never
know when we or someone we
know may need it.”
The senior marketing coordi-
nator at NHS Blood and Trans-
plant, Karen Healy, said; “These
loyal donors are very special to
us, which is why such an event
gives us the opportunity to say a
real heartfelt thanks.
“Between them, they have
saved hundreds of lives and
improved the lives of countless
others who have required blood
transfusions.
“These donors are an inspira-
tion to us all.”
Each blood donation can
potentially save three lives, so if a
donor has given blood 100 times
they have potentially helped save
the lives of 300 people.
Out of the three per cent of the
population who give blood, only
one per cent reach 100 dona-
tions.
To book an appointment call
the Donor Line on 0300 1232323 or
visit
From left,MikeHarmsworth, SheilaWeaving andPhilSaich
Swimming Teachers’ Association president Richard Timmspresents Oliver
ParkerwithhisRollofHonour certificate
Report by CHRISORD
email chris.ord@newbur
twitter @chriso_nwn
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