Throughout the pandemic Phillipa has done sterling work supporting the more vulnerable people in the community as part of the Hethersett Hearts support group. I know that she wouldn't thank me for singling her out but I just wanted to use that conversation and her actions as the catylist for writing about our wonderful community.
A number of years ago Hethersett was named Norfolk Community of the Year. I was fortunate to have the task along with village archivist Gary Wyatt of showing one of the judges around the village. It was quite a difficult thing to do as Hethersett is a very spread out parish and I don't think anyone would claim that we are a quintessential beautiful English village.
So off we went on a quick spin of the village in a car. We drove down to what was then Hethersett High School and we pointed out the school, the social club and the library. Then we passed the shops and the Methodist Church and turned into Mill Road and onto the Memorial Playing Field.
Stopped in the car park and pointed out the obvious - this is the playing field - and then did a quick run round the outside of the village passing the village sign and the parish church and back to the village hall.
That's where we left the judge. I felt quite despondent at the end. A few weeks later we heard that we had won the award. It was for community of the year and not for the most beautiful village. Hethersett won because of our army of volunteers and the support that existed and which still exists in the village.
Later at the presentation evening we had a chat with the judge who pointed out that she had pretty much made up her mind to give Hethersett the award after talking to us about the community spirit. Our ride round the village did nothing to change her mind. You see she was judging Hethersett on the grounds of its people - and that is what has always made us so strong.
We were featured in the local press and I believe I was asked to estimate how many people "worked" in the village in a volunteer capacity. I think I said something like 500. A good friend of mine always used to say "take away the volunteers who work so tirelessly in this country in every village, town and city and the whole fabric of society would break down."
That is so true. Just think of the people who volunteer to help schools, community groups, uniformed organisations, sports clubs, youth groups etc and you will find that just about every aspect of modern life depends on volunteers.
Over the years since we won that award our community spirit has in no way diminished. Indeed if anything it has become stronger. Looking back on that day, there was no bereavement support group, no dementia support group, no Heart of Hethersett group and no many other groups that have subsequently sprung up. To help the judge with that award I put together a list of all the groups that existed in the village at the time. It ran to three sheets of paper.
There is at times a misconception that people are paid to run these groups. This cannot be further from the truth. I have been involved in and with the community of Hethersett for over 40 years. Had I have been paid for my involvement I would be a very rich man.
I use myself as an example not because I wish for any plaudits or thanks but because I feel I have the experience to illustrate my points by using my own experiences. Over the years I have been involved in schools (PTA and Governors), sports clubs (cricket, football and sports associations), church (Methodist and Anglican), community groups (parish council, library friends, bereavement and dementia), publicity (Hethersett Herald) and much more. I have never taken a penny in payment from any of these groups and running them has actually cost me money. But there has always been the believe in some quarters that people who contribute to our village life are paid. Many years ago an angry parent cornered a number of us who ran a youth club at the time and told us that as we were paid well for just working on a Friday evening we should put a lot more effort into it. We had to inform this person that we worked every Friday evening for absolutely no pay.
This idea that people who volunteer are paid seems to come from a society where everyone is expected to be money grasping, a society where nobody does anything for nothing which just isn't true. Even people who are paid often get attacked.
I remember a few years ago when I was on the parish council the clerk was verbally attacked on social media and through posters distributed around the village for being paid a five figure sum for a maximum of four hours work a month (i.e attending the monthly parish council meeting). Of course this was absolute nonsense as the clerk put in a full week's work, working behind the scenes.
Anyway back to my army of volunteers. Most do not seek, do not expect and do not receive the credit they deserve for the selfless support they give to the village. They provide everything and ask for nothing. This blog is a tip of the hat and a huge thank you to everyone who has made and continues to make our village what it is - a wonderful place to live.
Yesterday's blog centred around grass cutting and the churchyard and I began to think of people buried there following a walk to take some photos. A few of my blog readers were impressed by the large structure in one corner of the churchyard. I would urge you to take a look next time you are that way. This is the monument to the Back family - one of the great Hethersett families. I have written about them a number of times in the past. They were for many years owners of Hethersett Hall and benefactors of the village. Back Lane and the Back Room at the village hall is named after them.
There were many more names that I recognised and a couple that stood out to me on this visit- Bill Nairn and Heather Williamson (both former parish councillors) and just one of the reasons that the parish council should continue to support the grass cutting of the churchyard.