Harmston Matters
Your regular HMH update……
Issue 45: September 2017
SPECIAL EDITION
The Ring of Peace 2017
The Local Harmston Ringlet
While the main International Ring of Peace took place on the UN International Day of Peace on 21st September 2017, Harmston had its own local ringlet with a peace message in the days before.
It started on Sunday 10th September at Siren Radio at the University in a 35 minute conversation between Ed Wellman and Alan Humphries, with founder Robin Dunseath contributing on the phone. Here the peace message was broadcast live. From there Robin sent the message back to Harmston to Bryan Eaton and Richard Wells.
The next day Richard sent the message to Harmston resident Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham, who was at Oxford attending a Bishop's Conference. On 12th September in a carefully timed call Bishop Nicholas sent the message to Coleby School at the morning assembly, where all the pupils heard the call when it was received by Year 6 pupil Grace Mitchell. It was forwarded from the School to Julie Hardman at the Thorold Arms by Year 6 pupil Felix Stockbridge-Sime.
For the next few days the message remained in Harmston, being moved along the circle between Lilian Edgar, Carol Damen-Willems, Frances Mannsaker, Chair of the Parish Council and on to Rob Wheeler, our resident local historian.
On the 14th of September the message again left Harmston to Subash Chellaiah, MultiFaith Chaplaincy Co-ordinator at the University of Lincoln. Returning the next day to Gail Dixon, Clerk to Harmston Parish Council. Gail passed it on to Stephen Lonsdale, a student at Lincoln University. It arrived back in Harmston the next day when it returned to Jo Horn, Secretary of the Harmston Memorial Hall Committee.
Saturday the16th September was a busy day for the message moving from Jo to David Walster, who judged our photography class at the Annual Show, It went of to Dorothy Guyver and Brian Wray and on to Bette Reid at Waddington.
On Sunday the 17th September Bette Reid rang Jennifer Fawcett, one of our Holding Trustees. Who passed it on to Jennifer Playford at Navenby. The Playfords lived at Harmston for many years before moving on. Going further afield, the message was sent to Karen and David Swan at Sleaford. They lived at Farriers Cottage in Blacksmith Lane for several years and were married at All Saints Church, Harmston.
Karen returned the message to Christine Wright in the High Street, then on to Julie Steele, Marion Pepperdine and Keith and Vanessa Elms.
On the 18th September Keith spoke to Sidney McFarlane in Lincoln. He is a trustee of the International Bomber Command Memorial Trust and the Chairman of the Lincoln Orpheus Choir, having performed at All Saints Harmston and the Memorial Hall on several occasions. He spoke to out local Councillor Marianne Overton, who returned the message to Harmston and Barbara Kamal.
The next stage saw a departure from the trusted telephone line, when Barbara passed the message to Karen Smith an then to Barry Smith, head of the Harmston Wheelers, who cycled the message to Woodhall Spa, where it was received by hand by Gill MacadamSmith.
The message was then on the final stage of its journey. Gill sent it back to Harmston, by phone, to Rosemary King, on to Paul Hill, on to Cat Mills, our local councillor, and to its penultimate messenger Ken Bavin.
At 13.30 on 21st September, I had another 45 minute radio session with Ed Wellman, this time at Lincoln City Radio, where we spoke about the Ringlet and the event in the Hall that would take place that evening. During the conversation we phoned Ken Bavin live on air and he passed the message back to me.
And what was the message? With Love, Respect and Understanding, we go forward together for Peace.
Alan Humphries - 23rd September 2017
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