Jeanne’s photo gallery

Here are some random photos that I have scanned and want to display – otherwise what is the point of them!

Nile trip dressing up night                                                 View from Vauxhall Station                                               Brian CBE Barnes and me

Chelsea Flower Show visit

We got tickets for our first  visit to the Chelsea Flower Show on Tuesday 22nd May on what seemed to be the first day of summer. I wore a frock. Blooming colourful. It was a jolly but tiring day out.

I met this charming talented glass artist called Bianca Divito. Her work is gorgeous. Some of her most popular designs are her signature flower and tear drop pendants which incorporate full lead crystals. She is also a a stained glass conservationist having worked on Canterbury Cathedral.  She was inspired by Evie Hone who was one of Ireland’s great stained glass artists who belonged to Tur Gloine.   Bianca Divito Contemporary Art Glass Ireland: The Artist     Here she is with her dad who was at the stand helping her as well as her fiance Damien who is a landscape gardener. He is hailed as the next Diarmuid Gavin. Damien Keane Garden Design

They were awarded a certificate of merit for the presentation of their stand.

Che statue for Galway from where his granny Ana Lynch hailed

This is from the The Galway City Tribune. Will they allow it? We’ll have to wait and see as they decide whether it will be good for trade/tourism in these hard times or will they let the Irish American lobby over-rule.

‘Che’ statue on Salthill Prom sparks outcry

March 2, 2012 – 8:15am

Project is slammed for having potential to damage Galway around the world

By Dermot Keys

Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara has become a 20th century icon but plans for his Galway heritage to be celebrated with a five-metre high monument on the Salthill Promenade is already sparking an outcry.

The project is still in the planning stage but the decision to honour Guevara’s Galway connections with a monument has previously received the unanimous approval of Galway City Council. The Argentine revolutionary’s Irish ancestry can be traced back to Galway through his maternal grandmother, Ana Isabel Lynch.

This week, however, businessman Declan Ganley described the plan as having the potential to “damage the reputation of Galway around the world”. And US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Chairperson, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, also called for the proposed monument to be rejected.

The commemorative sculpture will be entirely funded by the Cuban and Argentine Embassies and a design by Simon McGuiness will now go before the Galway City Council’s Working Group for approval.

Simon McGuinness told the Galway City Tribune that the image is a “total homage” to Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick’s iconic 1968 Che poster, which was based upon a photograph by Alberto Korda.

Humanist Hospital Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy

Here is a letter I sent to various Hospital Pastoral Care/Chaplaincies. Most of the responses missed the point. They did NOT  understand the meaning of the word appropriate or No dog collar please or ‘someone with a similar outlook’.

In the UK, those who describe themselves as non-religious have risen from 31% to 50% between 1983 and 2009 according to the British Social Attitudes Survey’s 28th report issued in 2011. Among people aged between 18-24, the incidence of religious affiliation is only 36%. ABOUT HALF OF THE POPULATION DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS NON-RELIGIOUS.

The National Secular Society is also challenging the expenditure on religious chaplaincy in hospitals.

Anne Marie Waters of the NSS wrote in Newsline 4th may 2012. www.secularism.org.uk

As previously reported (pdf) by the NSS, the NHS spent around £29M on hospital chaplains in 2009/2010. The National Secular Society argues that churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples should fund these chaplains off their own backs and I couldn’t agree more, especially in times of austerity because as we keep hearing – we are all in this together. Aren’t we?

I am a Humanist chaplain and ceremonies celebrant.

I am writing to NHS Hospitals who do NOT acknowledge their many non-religious patients in their Pastoral Care Services. It would seem from your chaplaincy section of your website that there is no provision for appropriate pastoral care for your many non-religious patients and their families. Glibly stating:  We are here to support people of any faith or none does NOT make it an inclusive service. When I am contacted by the head of Chaplaincy at King’s College Hospital he says. Another ‘no dog collar’ request.

This is what the British Humanist Associations states: The BHA receives two types of requests for support and advice in relation to chaplaincy. The first type of enquiry is from those who have been inappropriately approached by religious chaplains in environments such as hospitals or colleges. The second is from those who are seeking a humanist equivalent to chaplaincy, often in hospitals and at the end of life, in prisons, universities, or closed professional settings such as the armed services.

Mental health and wellbeing is an important part of general health and wellbeing and the BHA supports the provision of inclusive and secular counselling services where appropriate as a part of the public health system, including in prisons, hospitals and closed settings such as the armed services. The BHA does not support the provision at public expense of religious chaplaincy and believes that where such chaplaincy is available in public contexts it should be requested before it is provided.

The BHA has an informal network of humanists who are working to provide humanist pastoral and moral support and advice in hospitals. Some hospitals/hospices have been more responsive in recognising that non-religious people may need emotional, psychological existential care or moral support from those with a similar non religious/humanist outlook. Whatever it is called, pastoral care specifically for the non-religious, needs to give advice and reassurance on an existential level, helping with questions relating to belief and ethics and to a person’s lifestance with someone with a similar outlook.

At a time when the NHS is under threat the needs of all patients have to be addressed.
I look forward to your response and I hope that this will begin the process of responding appropriately to all your patients and their families.

These happy chaplain chaps are from Worcestershire NHS Trust.

These are from Bolton Hospital

The response from Addenbrookes Hospital came via the UK board of Healthcare Chaplaincy. They use the phrase Religious and Spiritual Care.

Here is their definition of spiritual
Spiritual needs are assessed and addressed and may include the following:
exploring the individual‟s sense of meaning and purpose in life;
exploring attitudes, beliefs, ideas, values and concerns around life and death;
affirming life and worth by encouraging reminiscing of the past;
exploring the individual‟s hopes and fears regarding the present and future;
exploring the individuals concerns about how their illness will affect others;
exploring the „WHY?‟ questions in relation to life, death, illness and suffering.

Liaise with local or national resources for spiritual support and with the patient‟s permission contact relevant groups/individuals. where spiritual seems to be shorthand for non-religious.

Religious

Religious needs are assessed and addressed and may include the following:
ceremonies;
meditation;
prayer;
rites;
sacraments;
worship.

With the patient‟s permission facilitate referrals to local faith groups and religious leaders.

Protect patients and their carers from unwanted visits from spiritual or religious groups and representatives

Religious Care is given in the context of the shared beliefs, values, liturgies and lifestyle of a faith community.
Spiritual Care is usually given in a one to one relationship and is completely person centred and makes no assumptions about personal conviction or life orientation. Spiritual Care is not necessarily religious. Religious Care, at its best, should always be spiritual. (NHS HDL (2002) 76)

Chaplaincy often has its roots in religion however, for the generic chaplain their personal faith provides a base from where they can journey with people of different religious transitions and those who hold another life stance.

·         Exploring the individual’s sense of meaning and purpose in life

·         Exploring attitudes, beliefs, ideas, values and concerns about life and death.

·         Exploring the individuals hopes and fears regarding the present and future

Here is their definition of  Belief group

Any group which has a cohesive system of values or beliefs but which does not self classify as a faith community.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The difficulty with this document is that it is trying to add on BELIEF to incorporate the non-religious/atheist/humanist perspectives. But it doesn’t fit.  Most non-religious people DO NOT belong to a BELIEF GROUP.  There are no atheist groups nor heretics societies or skeptic clubs, infidel associations etc.  providing spiritual leaders. So, who do they get to provide appropriate spiritual and pastoral care for the many people who do NOT believe in the supernatural, miracles, voodoo or superstitions. It would seem that BHA is the default belief group that can supply a representative  yet they are not mentioned by name in the document. This is the problem with this NHS Chaplaincy document.  The Rev. David Mithchell does mention humanism but does not mention the BHA by name  or, of course, any other appropriate providers of pastoral care for the non-religious.

The Rev. David Mitchell, Treasurer UKBHC   in his email to me states: The UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy is working with the Department of Health in England to develop NHS chaplaincy services that are inclusive of all faiths and beliefs including humanism.

I wrote to Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust which does not mention the non-religious on their chaplaincy page. The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital – Chaplaincy Service

A FOI request from Brighton and Hove Humanists about the chaplaincy costs elicited this information:  Total funding for Chaplaincy by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust for the financial year 2009/10 was £198,320.

here is the response I received from Revd Canon Peter Wells,Lead Chaplain,Bereavement Offices Manager,Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

1.    We recognise that whilst a number of patients may not feel they belong to a religion a number declare themselves to be ‘spiritual’.

2.    This would include people who feel that there is something greater than themselves, that transcends their lives which often includes a notion of a ‘god’, or a ‘greater power’  of some form ‘out there’.  Providing support for this group of people is normally initially supplied by the chaplaincy team who would hope to assess patient need in finding the most appropriate person for the patient to talk to should they desire on-going support,

3.    and as we experience, although some patients do not particularly think about such matters whilst being well an episode requiring hospitalisation leads them to consider ‘spiritual’ issues in a way that they have not done so prior to coming into hospital.

4.    For those patients who declare themselves to be humanist we do have a contact with our local BHA group.  These details are on our Chaplaincy Contact list.   I do understand that being on such a list is not fully acceptable by the local group but they do appreciate that being on the list declares to staff that such people are contactable.

5.     Our chaplaincy team includes a wide variety of both staff and volunteers who all, in one way or another, represent different faiths and belief systems.  This enables us to normally find someone who can support patients in most situations.

I hope that the above addresses some of the questions that you raise.

I thought the reply about the group known as the There most be something believers was interesting.

The reply I received from the NHS Grampian Chaplain gave me the proverbial slap-on-the-wrist rebuke. In my defence I reiterate that I saw no mention of how they did respond appropriately to the requests from non-religious/atheist patients or who they called upon to provide it. 

It is unfortunate that you did not speak to Dr Stuart Hannabuss before drawing your conclusions from the web-site . We work in close partnership with him, he is the Scottish Humanist Society’s Representative on our Spiritual Care Committee and a Chaplaincy Volunteer Ward Visitor . I am sure Stuart would vouch for the inclusiveness of our approach should you wish to contact him .  

 I shall be reporting back on any further defensive replies that I get from the many reverends who are being paid by the state to work in hospitals,   hospices, prisons etc. in pursuance of bringing their religious beliefs to their flocks. It is what happens in Christian countries and is endorsed by the state and Prime Minister Cameron.

Children’s cheerful, humorous death song!

I couldn’t resist posting this as well. Charles said he is happy for me to do so. There is this video of children singing Where will I go when I’m dead and gone?   Charles asks  Is it creepy, cute or educational?   This is an existential question and Alsop’s answer is, inevitably, incomplete. He could have easily have told them that whether they are buried or burnt they will be transformed into the ultimate elements of the universe but he didn’t.    Peter Alsop – Where Will I Go When I‘m Dead & Gone? 

Irish funeral parlour.

The GOOD FUNERAL GUIDE blog is such a great source of information and entertainment. This is a photo of an Irish funeral home which Charles posted The Good Funeral Guide

Coffins were provided by the bar/grocer/general merchant in rural Ireland in recent times and the wake was held at home, the funeral in the church. The  Funeral Home /Parlour is all rather new.  My friend Kathryn, who was a florist, approved of the advent of the funeral home as having the wake at home was quite onerous as crowds and gawpers came and expected food, drink and entertainment.

Dan Mercer -funeral and obituary.

The funeral for Dan was held on Thursday 26th April 2012 at Lambeth Crematorium. Dan was born and brought up in Battersea having gone to Latchmere Primary and Sir Walter St. John’s Grammar School in Battersea High Street. He was musical and artistic having taken a foundation course in Art and Design and playing traditional British Folk music palying guitar. he was with a band called the PAINTSTRIPPERS  for ten years and they had a regular slot at the Prince of Denmark West Norwood for several years. I certainly remember him from sessions at The Napier, St John’s Hill in the eighties.

He was a great festival goer- Womad and Glastonbury being favourites. He also worked for 10 years in the Box Office of Jongleurs Comedy Club where he made some good friends. I met Dan with Aengus and his friend Alex in The Mess last October. It happened to be the night that I had appeared on 4thought TV and the connection was made with Dan about Humanism and him being a fan of Dawkins. I had been told by Aengus that Dan had cancer. About a week before Dan died he had asked Aengus to get in touch with me and I went to see Dan the following day in Trinity Hospice as he wanted me to take his funeral service. It is always a very emotional time being with someone who is dying.

The tributes from his friends were very touching. It was evident that he was loved and appreciated as gentle and loyal friend. He had a a black and white border collie called Mollie for 17 years who was buried in his garden. My ‘Oh bit from his obit’ is that his cats were called Shroedinger, Benjamin Von Heisenberg and Kylie Lavoisier- all named after scientists.

Ballet photos of me as a wee girl.

I am 66 today May 6th. I share a birthday with Sigmund Freud and Tony Blair. I decided to this little compilation of photos of me as a young ballet dancer just to remind myself and my tired bones and muscles of what I could do once.

I loved ballet but recognise that dancing en pointe is unnatural and not good for women’s feet. It is another form of foot fetishism, along with Chinese foot binding and the wearing of 6 inch heels. Suffering for beauty is a concept familiar to most women, who have dyed, plucked or shaved their hair, squeezed their feet into uncomfortable high heels or even surgically enhanced parts of their anatomy. Millions of Chinese women went even further — binding their feet to turn them into the prized “three-inch golden lotuses.” These “golden lotuses” were proof of a foot fetish on a national scale, with hobbled feet acting as another erogenous zone, the most forbidden of them all.

Different women’s body parts have been fetishised over the centuries according to cultural tastes, not surprisingly, emanating from patriarchy and religions.  Neck elongation, corsets, chastity belts, tanning, face lifts, breast enhancement, clitorodectomy,  vagazzling etc.  Ballet en pointe, without wires supporting, was introduced by Marie Taglioni  dancing La Sylphide in 1832 and she had been trained by her father Filippo.

This photo is of me and Regina Langan in our Bluebirds costume which was taken in 1960 for the publicity photos of the pantomime in Castlebar Co Mayo which was CINDERELLA that year. This was a pas de deux that we danced. Regina’s mother Marie Langan was a ballet teacher in Galway and Regina, now Regina Rogers runs her own ballet school in Galway.Regina Rogers School of Ballet, Galway

This is from her website.

Regina Rogers
B.A. H.Dip in Ed
Director

Regina Rogers has been dancing since the age of 4 and teaching since 1986. Her mother, Marie Langan was a well known Ballet teacher who taught in Galway and  Mayo. Marie trained in London and Paris and was a cousin of Patricia Ryan who was Artistic Director of the Irish National Ballet Company during the late 50′s and early 60′s. Regina also worked with the prestigious Bertha Carr School of Dance whilst living in th U.S. (Rhode Island) and also took Master classes at Boston Ballet. In 1995 Regina first brought the renowned Russian Ballet to Ireland with the intention of exposing students and audiences to the best of ballet.  Since 1996 the Perm State Ballet of Russia have come to Galway on a regular basis and their performance is a gem in Galway’s theatrical calendar. This has greatly enhanced the appreciation of Ballet as an accessible artform in Ireland. Two years ago, Regina Rogers was honoured by the Perm State Ballet of Russia when she was invited to sit on a panel of jurors at the prestigious Arabesque Ballet Competition in Russia. The Director and founder of this competition is the renowned Vladimir Vasiliev, former Director and Dancer of the famous Bolshoi Ballet.

Regina with Vladimir Vasiliev, then director of the Bolshoi Ballet

This is me in my SPRING costume taken in a cold studio – my legs are purple with the cold.

This is me, Regina, Stella Brennan and Leonie Donegan in our Castanet Dance costumes. We actually danced to the tune Dance a Cachucha from the G&S THE GONDOLIERS.

Here is another photo of Regina the ballet teacher now. She looks very fit!

This is me in costume for a dance called The Coquette. I was about 13/14 a bit inappropriate!

Me posing for THE BAT DANCE.

I am posing en pointe in costume as Sheela -na-Gig preparing to dance THE DYING OLD BAT. It is not recommended for eleven and a half stone women to dance en pointe so don’t try this at home or anywhere else.

Bruce Kemble Education Journalist 1938-2012.

I took the funeral service on 23rd April 2012  for Bruce Kemble who was an educational journalist. He got a scholarship to Dulwich College. At Dulwich, the scholars were told they were the cream of south London by their English master.  ’But’ said the master, ‘the cream will go sour unless you learn to speak properly!’ – which they did with strict elocution lessons.
Hence, Bruce’s beautiful speaking voice which we heard from a recording of a radio interview he gave on the Pete Murray Show.There were anecdotes about Mrs Thatcher and one about a headline he made when writing at the time the abortion bill was under discussion, after hearing that female undergraduates, even in the 60s, thought  that you couldn’t get pregnant if you had sexual intercourse standing up!

RENT A REV & MAGIC PRIEST

Check this guy out. http://www.magicofsoul.com/

This made my day. Rent a rev  will prostitute himself to anyone who will pay.  The  THERE MUST BE SOMETHING  believers who ARE SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS will probably fancy him. He looks a little bit like Jesus or a Bee Gee. He could become as big as Rev Giles Fraser – his brother in a collar. Some of these REVS don’t half fancy themselves.

His website describes him as Magician, priest and author. He does retreats, Deep Dialogue Evenings in people’s homes, interacticve days of magic mystery and faith for children, Wizard School for primary age children, levitation etc.

“A priest like no other!” Cherie Blair