Hull University 2006

For several years I was a member of the Hull University’s Business Club which met at the Uni 3 times per annum. Hull Uni sponsored Hull City foot ball Club in those days, and I personally thought it was a worthy idea, telling the public that the Uni was not just a place for posh or brainy people but for the community. Uni sponsorship was in difficulties, most Dons wanted to carry on; but the principal was sceptical and his decision was that the £40,000 support should be £4000 from business, and £36,000 from Uni . We were pleased to help and donated the £4000. It kept the Uni with their emblem on the shirts of City players in the public eye, and reminded the young people of Hull that we, the community were all in it together.

Hessle Road Pram Race and Carnival 2009 to 2011

The Hessle Road Pram Race and Carnival 2009 to 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the success of the Grass Roots football I accepted an invite from Kim Hepple to tour her patch as community participation officer, Kim Hepple is a very special person who introduced me to the real Hessle Road and the characters who live there. At 7 stone wet through she could  still handle any of the bruisers and yobboes who tried it on. We met first with Geoff Ogden and Frank McKenna to watch the Grassroots Boys play football. The Newington Ward is were I grew up. It was never prosperous but with the loss of the cod war has suffered from high unemployment, drug abuse and school delinquency making it one of the most deprived areas in Hull, and in fact in the UK

Kim inspired me with a wish to make a difference. We decided on a modern version of the The Hessle Road Pram Race. It wasn’t a new idea, my friend Peter Nicholson a Hessle Road shopkeeper had organised something similar in the eighties to stimulate trade.The original so called pram race, was when the wives of trawler men collected their children from school and rushed down to the Dock Offices to draw their men’s wages, who were at sea, before they closed  for the day.

The aim of the project was to raise funds to develop and sustain long term existing, and new schemes in the Hessle Road area. We added more to the day by arranging a Carnival to follow the Race.

Monies raised in 2009 enabled us to help 22 charities, these were vetted and approved by Kim. All applicants attended a relaxed interview. It was a great pleasure to help and meet so many people who give so much and have so little.

So the focus was the pram race, but the Carnival we added, was the feature which ensured interaction and enjoyment for the residents.

Two examples stand out. JJ was a lovely man who taught his young people age group 4 to 18 how to play darts on Saturday mornings, everything he did was on a shoe string. The kids paid a modest subscription which JJ used to buy potatoes and feed the boys chips at the end of a session at Edinborough St Community Centre. Complaints about smell resulted in JJ being banned doing his cookhouse treat and the books wouldn’t balance having to send out to the local chippy. However despite set backs It just shows how even a sport like darts has  positive effects, not only in building companionship and pride but the spin off in the boys becoming competent at maths to the amazement of the teachers.

Hull Youth for Christ is another example of goodness in action, with faith being the motivator by the volunteers, but not with evangelistic intent, only driven with the desire to help a poor community. On this occasion we helped with some funding for  the breakfast club, Mums brought children for breakfast before school, and it also became obvious that some Mums needed breakfast too.  Their Mission  promotes such good work in the community, and includes the breakfast club, Parent and toddler group, after-school clubs, youth groups , a community meal, and a parents group. They were also proud to tell us that they worked closely with the local schools, providing extra support in classrooms, assemblies, and being on the governing body. They also arrange an annual beach trip, days-out to local attractions and a week long residential camp, led by volunteers who all live in the Newington area.

Although I have mentioned only two, the whole 22 were all deserving cases and it was very rewarding to help. In 2010 and 2011 we still managed to help a further 30 small organisations with donations.

We ran it for three years. Success could be gauged by the letters of approval we received, however the overall cost of staging the event despite support in funds, and volunteer help particularly, Irene Todd from Local Company ARCO was difficult to justify.  In the last year our escalating costs were due mainly to Health and Safety issues in running the pram race for just two hours. In the circumstancies we had little alternative but to conclude the event in 2011.

Tony H

Zane (A National Emergency) 2004 to 2016

Zane is a charity we have been supporting since it was formed by Tim Benyon MP in 2004. Its mission is to relieve suffering in Zimbabwe held under the corrupt  control of Mugabe.

The easiest way to describe why we support Zane. Zimbabwe a National Emergency, is because these mainly British people did their bit in the Second World War.

The following story is one of many, suffering through no fault of their own. This story is reported by Zane Volunteers in 2008..

Barbara Humphreys (87) showed clear signs of malnourishment when we visited her in Harare. there was no food in the house and she had no money to buy any. She wept with gratitude when we prepared a meal for her, she is now on our regular food parcel and visiting list. she told her story to our workers.

64 years ago Ralph Humphreys left his wife after one idylic week of honeymoon to fight in Hitlers war. Then on Saturday 12th of February 1944, Ralph was drowned on the troopship “Khedive Ismail” en route to Cyprus. He was 25 years old.

Barbra never remarried. Although she had come close one or two times, she says. It never felt right as it did with Ralph. Barbara has 4 black and white photographs of her Ralph; 3 in army uniform; the last is of her beloved Ralph in shorts and casual shirt smiling shyly in the African Bush. Barbara now 87, says that every morning  she looks at the photograph of Ralph, and says “hello” to her sweetheart.

These pictures and her memories are more or less all Barbara has in the world. After a lifetime of  hard work and prudence, the raging level of 10,000% plus inflation has driven her into absolute penury. She was to proud to turn to “charity” and it took a lot of persuasion to convince her that it was a privilege to help her. Now, she accepts it, albeit reluctantly.

There are 8000 mainly British born old age pensioners who are trapped in Zimbabwe. They have nowhere to to go, their predicament worsens daily. Medicines are hard to get and so is food, because of an acute lack of foreign currency. As they watch the country they love descend into chaos, the mental state of many is desperate. Zane has discovered that many like Barbara, have no living relatives.

many of these people selflessly came to the aid of the free world in 1939/45 and are today in extreme old age. They are unable to cope with the economic maelstrom that surrounds  them. Like Barbara they are turning to Zane to help. Zane is proud to give it. but the numbers seeking help is outstripping the resources. Last year Zane gave aid to 6000 people. Zane see the position continuing to worsen as the majority of Zimbabwe citizens become more impoverished.

We support Zane in giving help to all Zimbabwean families including the black former farm workers thrown off the farms into unemployment and desperate circumstances.

We will continue to help.

Tony H

The Daisy Appeal 2002 to 2017

March 2015 Hull Daily Mail

The Daisy Appeal has  given me a future. It has told me that everything will be ok.

Standing in the school play ground Andrew Bourne faced the terror of thinking he would not survive to see his children grow up. He had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after finding a lump on his neck the day after his 42nd Birthday. Mr Bourne who has a 5 year old son and a 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with the condition after undergoing a Pet-Ct scan at the Jack Brignall Centre in Cottingham. Now a second scan only 3 months later has shown all the cancerous hot spots have disappeared, making Mr Bourne the latest patient to benefit from the work of the Daisy Appeal. “To have this facility right here at Castle Hill in this beautiful new building, with its fantastic staff is just incredible” Mr Bourne said.

Janet and I were invited to the launch of the appeal in 2002 by Clive Aber and Peter Lee founding trustees, and friends of ours. Today in 2018 we are still involved  and supporting it in its final stages of development. Clive Aber, Peter Lee and of course Nick Stafford had the vision to start what seemed an impossible journey requiring at least 16 million Pounds  to complete the programme. But Clive told the story of how when he was doing his round of the ward, said to a patient how much easier things would be if he had a particular piece of equipment, by the time he got to the end of his ward visit, a gentleman said “I will give you the funds for that”. Clive said the generosity of Hull people ensured that impossible targets can be reached. I knew the man he was talking about, A Naval veteran and war hero of the Second World War. Clive pressed me to join the board of trustees but I believed that Andrew my son would do a much better job.I have been proved right. Andrew joined the board and I am immensely proud of him, and the board of trustees for the work it has done to help raise the funds and organise the business plan to achieve such wonderful outcomes.

Of course we as a family and through our charitable trust have been able to play our part. Andrew has cycled from Lands End to John O Groats. He has also cycled  across Europe travelling through the Pyrenees. We also collectively gave a smart car for a raffle, this was an attempt to broaden awareness and include North Lincolnshire who use Castle Hills facilities, but are not aware of the Daisy appeal, or what goes on at this side of the Humber.  My Rotary Club have also done their bit with Golf days etc, all adding to the cause.

Tony H

Avenue Bicycle Project 2012 to 2017

The charity was approached in 2012 for support to pay the rental of £300 for the storage of Bicycles. The stored bikes 360-400 where intended for Ghana after having been renovated at Humber prison in the bike workshops. This means that everyone wins, the prisoners get to learn a trade and Adults and children living, studying, and working in Ghana and Sierra Leone get the use of a bike, which is life changing.

Since then we have continued our support, Chris Jarrell  has also spoken to the Howden Rotary Club who have also helped as sponsors.