MURIEL HEMSLEY MEMORIAL SEAT

The memorial seat has now been installed at Northward Hill RSPB reserve (above) and members are urged to spend a few quiet moments there when they visit.

It was decided that the oak seat would be purchased and prepared by the Bexley Group and we negotiated provision of the legs made of oak sleepers by workers at the Reserve. A plaque was purchased and engraved as follows:

Ernie Hemsley 1922 – 2001
Muriel Hemsley 1929 - 2005
Stay a while
and enjoy the tranquillity.
Thanks to Ernie and Muriel for
giving so much to this reserve
and the Bexley Local Group.

Volunteers from the Gravesend Local Group who work on the reserve erected the seat on the Ernie Hemsley Viewpoint. We are grateful to them. The viewpoint had been re-landscaped to provide a better view over the marshes and by siting the new seat at a slightly different angle further views became possible.

Ernie and Muriel were long-time Bexley Group members and were both recipients of the RSPB Presidents award. Ernie was in charge of Bexley working parties for many years while Muriel assisted. She also collected fees at indoor meetings and collected used postage stamps for recycling.

John Turner

Before the rush. Volunteers Tony Banks, Chas Parr, Sylvia Say, John Turner and Anthea Reynolds ready for the doors to open at the Autumn Fair. Picture by permission of the Bexley Extra can be purchased by calling 0208 308 7403

The day of our annual Autumn Fair dawned fine and our dedicated band of volunteers emerged, yet again, from all points of the compass in cars loaded with a variety of items ranging from railway lamps to marmalade, tea towels to peanuts.

A representative from the local press attended to take photographs.

At the door Ken Saxby greeted visitors and collected their 30 pence admission fees.

The RSPB merchandise stall was staffed by Maureen Thompson, Anthea Reynolds, Diane Lelliot, Roy Lewis, Tricia Large and Sylvia Say, and as usual they had a good supply of Christmas cards, calendars, gift items (including stocking fillers for youngsters) nuts, seed and bird feeders.

For those with the urge to chance a few pennies, new features like a bottle tombola run by Leslie Warner and a birds tombola run by John and Jeanna Turner provided opportunities for a stream of lucky and not so lucky punters for most of the day.

A wide variety of videos and books were on offer at bargain prices, as were some fine indoor and outdoor plants and RSPB members home-produce. These were sold by Leslie Warner, Frances and Stuart Banks, and Tony Banks.

Kath and Vic White ran the White Elephant stall providing a great opportunity for collectors to browse through a wonderfully varied assemblage including china and glass and useful tools. Even towards the end of the fair some nice pieces were unearthed and snapped up by those with discerning eyes.

The refreshment room was again popular with visitors and volunteers with Jean and Alan Mayes working tirelessly to supply gallons of tea and coffee and tasty cakes.

Among all these RSPB stalls we played host to three craft stalls selling some fine home-produce and needlework, providing our customers with an expanded choice and contributing £30 to our fund raising efforts.

That brings me to the most important part – the cash! The RSPB goods stall took almost £800 pounds, only a percentage of which will be profit but none the less a superb effort. Takings from the other stalls were as follows- videos, jigsaws and donations £60.50, refreshments £54.36, bottle tombola £91.75, nuts & seeds £27, plants etc. £34, white elephant £84.17, door £66.88, birds tombola £54.70, books £37.45.

A total of £540.81 which, after costs are subtracted leaves a surplus of around £475.

Thanks to all who contributed. If you would like to be involved in our spring or autumn events we are only a phone call away.

The previous Autumn Fair showed a surplus of £400.

Tony Banks

Bright sunlight shone on early arrivals for our Feed the Birds Day effort at Hall Place, Bexley, but as the morning progressed the sky gradually clouded over.

We set up telescopes in the gardens as the feeders had not been moved to the agreed position in the nurseries and a bird table had been erected in the border.

We started the morning with Tony Banks, Sylvia Say and John and Jeanna Turner; Anthea Reynolds and Diane Leliot appeared later.

The public appeared in response to mentions in the Bexley Times and News Shopper and enjoyed watching goldfinches, blue tits, great tits, greenfinches and parakeets on the feeders.

Over 50 people completed cards to apply for the information pack "Wild life in your Garden", which were duly despatched, and also took information about the RSPB and the Bexley Local Group. My thanks to all those who volunteered and made the day a great success.

John Turner

Looking for birds on Feed The Birds Day - picture by permission of the News Shopper newspaper. Can be purchased by calling 01689 885703
Sylvia Say, Jeanne Turner and John Turner at the Feed the Birds Day event. Picture by permission of the Bexley Extra can be purchased by calling 0208 308 7403

MICHAEL OUT OF BED
Friday 26 October 2007

Michael Winship's condition appears to have improved slightly as he seems to have gained a little independence and has started a rehabilitation programme.

David James found Michael sitting in a chair alongside his hospital bed. He was being encouraged to use various pieces of equipment to get him moving and using his legs.

"Most of the swelling has gone, he is able to talk quite freely and has a lot of colour back in his face", reports David."Generally he looks a lot better even though there are various complications, which he didn't mention and I didn't either" said David. "He seems to be eating OK and is in reasonable spirits."

David left when Michael's son Dominic, who was also caught in the house fire, came to visit.

BEXLEY FUNDRAISING NUDGES TOWARDS £60,000
17 August 2007

The Bexley Group's latest fundraising efforts have been acknowledged by a certificate from RSPB headquarters.

Leader John Turner recently sent the RSPB a donation of £4,500 for bird conservation and welfare. This brought the Group’s total contribution to the RSPB to £58,000 in the 28 years since it was founded.

The cash was raised from sources such as plant and Christmas fairs, raffles, a 100 club, indoor meetings and coach trips. The Group has asked for their latest donation to be used towards establishing a new RSPB nature reserve at Cliffe Pools near Gravesend.

Mr Turner said: "We are proud of this remarkable fundraising achievement. It is a tribute to the tenacity of our volunteers who contribute time and effort at a wide variety of events and organise fundraising activities. We are looking forward to raising even more cash for birds in the future."

Chris Corrigan, RSPB South East Regional Director, said: "Congratulations to the RSPB Bexley Group for their contributions."

Eric Brown

Poor weather limited the numbers of visitors on Saturday but did not dampen the enthusiasm of our volunteers as the showers drove families into the environmental marquee.

A total of 200 name gathering cards were completed by an enthusiastic public egged on by our volunteers Eric Brown and Ken Saxby assisted by John Turner while Jeanna Turner distributed information.

Sales were in the capable hands of Tricia and Roger Large with the children’s competition and lucky dip managed by Alan Mayes in the morning and Sarah Benson in the afternoon.

On Sunday the weather improved along with the attendance and the marquee became extremely crowded when the occasional heavy shower dropped.

Name gatherers John Turner assisted by Jeanna Turner, Julia Maynard and Sylvia Say got another 160 cards completed.

Sales were again in the hands of Patricia and Roger spelled by Laura and Linda Hurt who also took turns on the children's competition and the lucky dip. A tombola was introduced in an attempt to rival the competition on other stalls and this was in the hands of Tony Banks. Brian Fagg dispensed information.

The weekend resulted in 360 name gathering cards being completed, 272 adults and 88 childrens, an increase of 60 on last year.

A total of £153 worth of goods were sold and an additional £113.30 was raised on the tombola, lucky dip and miscellaneous sales.

I should like to thank all the volunteers listed above for their time and efforts in raising such a good sum for the RSPB. Hopefully the interest generated by name gathering will result in some new members.

John Turner

Ralph chats to the BBC 's Matt Morris before the interview at Crossness Southern Marshes.Picture: Brenda Todd

Ralph Todd, who founded the Group, popped up on BBC Television London News while media officer Eric Brown was interviewed for a new website. Ralph appeared on the 6.30pm BBC London bulletin on 1 June talking about a photogenic squacco heron which arrived at Crossness Southern Marshes on the Abbey Wood/Erith border a few days earlier.

PLANT FAIR INCOME RISES
Saturday 5 May 2007

Keen gardeners helped Bexley RSPB Group increase income from the annual Spring Plant Fair at Freemantle Hall, Bexley. Total income from this year's successful fair reached £671 - up by £13 on the 2006 figure. A 10p rise in admission charge to 30p saw a £20 increase in cash collected at the door to £57.

Income from refreshments provided by Jean and Alan Mayes also increased significantly. Thirsty and hungry visitors spent £53 as against £30 the previous year.

Chas Parr and his squad of volunteers were kept busy by a steady stream of visitors at the start. Bargain hunters arrived early and spent £420 on plants, trees and shrubs, a slight fall from £444 in 2006.

Chas' tombola, books and CDs raised £62, a decrease of £10.

RSPB catalogue goods were popular with £158 spent while bird feeding supplies like peanuts and seeds raised £30.

After deducting costs, the surplus will be donated to the RSPB for bird welfare and conservation.

Group Leader John Turner and the committee are grateful to all the stallholders and volunteers who made the Fair a success.

If you would like to volunteer for the Autumn Fair on November 3, wish to run a stall or would like to donate items, please contact Tony Banks 020 8859 3518.

FORMER LEADER MARK KELLY DIES

Former Leader Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly, a former leader of the Bexley RSPB Group, died on April 1, 2007, aged 62.

Mark, from Hextable, first volunteered to help Group working parties carrying out maintenance work at Northward Hill RSPB reserve near High Halstow. He also helped enthusiastically on the RSPB stall at events.

As leader from 1997 to 1999 he will be remembered with affection by members for energetically holding the Group together during a difficult period when it teetered on the brink of closure.

He always enjoyed visiting Northward Hill to watch birds as well as contributing to the working parties and was a regular on Group coach outings to destinations in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Mark Kelly started working life as a horticultural apprentice in Greenwich Park where he met Eileen, a colleague who was later to become his wife.

After four years he joined Greenwich Council as a gardener where he stayed eight years before deciding on a complete career change.

His efforts to join the Fire Brigade were at first thwarted when he failed to meet stringent chest measurement requirements.

But Mark was so determined to be a full time fireman he trained hard at a gym and in 1973 he was finally accepted by the Brigade.

He worked for over 20 years as a fireman, originally based at Croydon then moving nearer home to Sidcup Fire Station.

Few of his birdwatching friends knew Mark was a hero. The man the Fire Brigade originally rejected was commended for helping to rescue a man trapped in a collapsed house.

RSPB Bexley were represented by Working Party Organiser Chas Parr at a service for Mark at Eltham Crematorium on April 18.

He leaves widow Eileen and daughters Paula and Rachel.

STARLING TOPS GARDEN POLL IN BEXLEY
Monday 2 April 2007

The starling, a bird said to be in serious decline, topped The Big Garden Birdwatch table for Bexley gardens in 2007. It just pipped the house sparrow for sightings in Bexley gardens over the weekend of 27 and 28 January.

The survey revealed a drop in numbers of small garden birds but an increase in larger garden "invaders" like woodpigeon, collared dove and magpie in the top 10. Another entry not recorded at all when the survey began in 1979 is the controversial ring-necked parakeet. Breeding at Foots Cray Meadows, it often visits gardens seeking food handouts and is now number 10 on the list.

Greenfinch, great tit and chaffinch, all in the list when the survey began in 1979, have now completely disappeared from the top 10 sightings.

One theory is that the exceptionally mild winter enabled small birds to remain in the country feeding instead of visiting garden bird tables. Bexley residents were well beaten by Bromley for reporting sightings despite the best efforts of the Group to promote the RSPB nationwide event.

A total of 1,306 Bexley residents submitted sightings but Bromley was best of all 33 London Boroughs with 2,301 residents taking part.

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2007 Top Ten for Bexley:

The group decided to encourage increased local participation in this annual nationwide happening to record birds seen in gardens over the weekend of 27 and 28 January.

Distribution of 800 record cards in various areas of Bexley raised hopes that last year’s total of 786 completed forms from the area would soar to 900 or 1000. It was also decided to provide a Group presence at Lamorbey Park, Sidcup, as well as Hall Place, Bexley.

On arriving at a bright, sunny Hall Place to set up two telescopes and our stall it was gratifying to see that the topped up feeders were being used by a variety of birds. Volunteers John and Jeanna Turner, John Hawkins and Sylvia Say were soon joined by Jenny Morgan. After midday, Gill Page replaced Jenny and Alan, Jean and Alison Mayes appeared for a time.

We were able to engage with about 100 people, distributing 50 Big Garden Birdwatch record cards and 27 name gathering cards and hopefully obtaining some memberships. Sales of pin- badges and bird food reached £15.

Stories in three local papers and further promotion in libraries encouraged several people to attend specifically to collect a form or use the telescopes.

Birds seen at various times on the feeders included ring-necked parakeet, house sparrow, greenfinch, and goldfinch. On the ground were chaffinch, blackbird, song thrush, robin, starling, dunnock and wood pigeon. Many other birds were seen in the vicinity. For a full list go to Recent Sightings. Thanks to all volunteers who helped on a successful and enjoyable day particularly to Tony Banks who came up with the idea and helped set it in motion.

John Turner

GARDEN BIRDWATCH EVENT AT LAMORBEY PARK
Saturday 27 January 2007

Lamorbey Park on 27 January was a pleasant place to be. During almost five hours on site we saw and heard a good selection of birds, 29 species in all. Most of us are aware how attractive water is to birds and our position by the lake was chosen with that in mind.

What the park lacked on that sunny Saturday was hordes of people, but those who did happen by were, in the main, keen to have a look at the available birds through a telescope. The reactions were predictable but still very rewarding as details of woodpecker, dove and cormorant were admired with equal enthusiasm.

Statistically we probably failed in our efforts to promote BGB but I suspect we will have rekindled some long dormant interest in some of our visitors, like the couple who stayed with us for about half an hour. But then who could fail to be inspired by a really good view of a feeding woodpecker or the sight of a flying heron being mobbed by four screeching, and very aerobatic ring necked parakeets?

For a full list of birds seen go to Recent Sightings.

Tony Banks

Maurice Ewart and Diane Lelliot with visitors to the Bexley Group telescope in Lamorbey Park
for the Big Garden Birdwatch promotion on Saturday 27 January 2007. Picture: Tony Banks

CHAS PARR WINS BADGE OF HONOUR
Friday 12 January 2007

Chas Parr

Chas Parr has been honoured for long service to the Bexley Group in a new RSPB awards scheme. The Group's popular working party organiser and "handyman", received a silver osprey badge from the RSPB recognising 20 years voluntary work.

Chas, from Lower Station Road, Crayford, has been an RSPB member since 1976 and a Bexley Group member for 26 years. When he received a letter from previous working party organiser, the late Ernie Hemsley, requesting help at Northward Hill RSPB Reserve, Chas decided to give it a try. "I thought I'd go along once and see what it was like" he said. "I never thought I'd still be there all these years later."

Chas, 58, has continued ever since apart from a two year break due to work commitments as a driving instructor. In 1998 Ernie retired and Chas took over the role of organising working parties and recruiting volunteers. Later he started driving for a printing company and also became involved in fundraising for the Group when it emerged he had done so previously on behalf of the scouts.

His tombola and lucky dip are highlights of the Group's Autumn and Spring Fairs as well as other summer fairs attended by volunteers. Chas is responsible for recruiting volunteers for the stalls at fairs and can always be relied upon to erect the RSPB awning even in a howling gale. He has also expanded into the sale of second hand books and videos on behalf of the RSPB and at indoor meetings he takes responsibility for laying out tables and chairs.

Many who work alongside Charles Parr have wondered how he acquired his nickname. He said: "All my mates used to call me Charlie but it was my first girlfriend who called me Chas. She thought it sounded better. It just stuck after that."

Thanks to Chas the physical essentials of many Group events are provided. Where would we be without him? Chas deserves the highest praise for unstinting efforts, reliability and service to myself, many other group leaders, the members and of course birds.

You richly deserve your badge from the RSPB Chas. Thank you. May you continue for many years and receive further recognition.

VOLUNTEER LONG SERVICE AWARDS
Several volunteers received awards for long service to the RSPB by giving their time to the group. They are:

Twenty Year Awards (silver osprey badge)
Richard Keene – working party member
Robert Parker – working party member
Chas Parr – working party organiser and fund raiser

Ten Year Awards (silver puffin badge)
Tony Banks – deputy leader
Wallace Gooch – working party member
Mark Kelly – former group leader
Anthea Reynolds – minutes secretary

Five Year Awards (silver swift badge)
Eric Brown – committee member
Maurice Ewart – committee member
Michael and Angela Forward – working party members
Alan Mayes – committee member and refreshment provider
Sylvia Say – working party member and seed/peanut sales
Maureen Thompson – group treasurer
Brian Fagg – ex committee member and raffle promoter

Congratulations to everyone. I hope we can look forward to many more years of volunteering. How about joining them and maybe seeing your name added to the above list in years to come? The qualification for an award is 40 hours of voluntary work per annum. I am sure we could find a job for you if you would only contact me on 020 8303 8930.
John Turner