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Burnham Group of the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
The Burnham Group of the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship has been holding monthly meetings regularly on the fourth Tuesdays in the month since the 1970's.
At the height of its success more than sixty members met in the Methodist Church Hall in College Street in Burnham on Sea.
The Group covers a large area and on the membership list are those living in Axbridge, Huntspills and Highbridge as well as Burnham on Sea.
At one time the Group was in the Bath Branch but about twenty years ago this was changed to Taunton.
The Group now meets in the Community Centre in Burnham next to the Swimming Pool in Berrow Road and regular members number less than twenty although there are nearly 200 on the mailing list who receive the Group Newsletters which are produced quarterly and delivered by able members.
An Annual General meeting was held in January 2005 and the following exectutive committee was elected -
Chairman :- Councillor Mrs Joyce Beard
Vice-Chairman :- Mr Gordon Smith
Secretary :- Mrs Pamela Hawkins
Treasurer :- Mrs Dorothy Smith
Records Secretary ;- Dr. Maurice Nicholls.
It was agreed that no longer should Minutes be recorded at each monthly coffee morning but that at least two 'business' meetings be held during the year.
The Executive met on 3rd February to plan the years programme and this has now been printed for members to receive.
Copies are also on display at the Library in Burnham and the Tourist Information Office..
Friends and visitors are very welcome to join us at any of the monthly coffee mornings. Notice is also given to the local newspapers and events are noted in the current Diary held at the Library in Princess Street, Burnham on Sea.
Hazel Hudson spoke about the 'Sinners of Wedmore' at the May meeting.
Pat Leslie will be speaking at the next meeting - July 26th - on the life of Peter Gilliard who had a school in India named after him. Peter worked at the Royal Ordinance Factory for many years..
So don't miss it......... |
Retiree has school in India named in his memory
Peter Gilliard, lived in Highbridge for about twenty years. He was employed at the Royal Ordinance Factory in Bridgwater (Ministry of Defence). His wife, who was twenty years his senior, was diagnosed with Altzeimers disease and Peter nursed her when he retired. Early in the year 2000 Peter was invited to join friends on a holiday to Rajahmundry in India where they stayed with the Pastor of the IFG Church there. The Church had been established since 1953 but there was no school for any of the local children to attend.
On his return to England Peter had to settle his wife into a Nursing Home and he was diagnosed with cancer, himself. Peter decided to sell their property and move into Burnham on Sea to live with his Gospel friends. As he grew progresively ill he discussed with his friends about the money that would be left. He had no one to leave it to - so he asked if it could be used to build a school which was so needed in Rajahmundry.
Peter died in June 2002 at the age of 66 years. The school - named the Peter Gilliard Memorial English-Medium School was dedicated and opened with just 18 pupils in June 2003.
Now the school has ended its second year in April 2005 with 62 students. The academic standard steadily rose and five entrants to the State exam passed - one with over 90 per cent. The students are sponsored by people connected with the Gospel Centre in Highbridge.
At the June meeting of the Burnham Group of the C.S.R.F. members were shown pictures of the school and the children - they were amazed that the school had been built and opened so quickly after Peter's death and thrilled that such a humble man had been able to make such a vast difference to the lives of so many children.
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