A look back at August

Early August was dominated by events to mark VJ80: the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Having a father with a distinguished record of serving in Burma with the Indian Army myself and with two sons now living with Japanese wives in Japan, I used Chairman's privilege to sponsor an event to reflect on what happens after war ends.

Guest speakers at Newbury British Legion Club on 11 August - the actual day when 80 years earlier the Emperor of Japan decided to sue for peace - included local author of the novel "Nagasaki" Bernard Clark, former Japanese Vice Minister and visiting Fellow at Oxford University Yukihisa Fujita and our eldest son Edward, a Professor at Kyushu State University who is currently UNESCO Chair on Education for Peace, Justice and Global Citizenship. It was a well attended, moving occasion ahead of the formal national VJ80 ceremony on Friday 15.

After our holiday with visiting Japanese family in Devon, on the first day back in West Berkshire I attended the 25^th anniversary celebration of Tidmarsh Millennium Green, which the parish council claim is the only one of nearly 250 such Greens in Berkshire. Our villages are in great need of such places where the community can enjoy fresh air and nature. Opportunities to create them invariably depend on the generosity of local landowners to make the land available.

Engagement with Nature is especially important for those suffering mental stress or with special needs. So it was a pleasure for Martha and I to attend the open day of my Chairman's Charity: Good Hope Farm. Occupying part of the former organically farmed Elm Farm Research Land near Hamstead Marshall parish hall and just inside the North Wessex Downs National Landscape (formerly AONB), the new "Farmers" - as the client group are called - help produce fruit, vegetables and flowers for local sale. They had a successful first presence at Newbury Farmers Market earlier in August. The enthusiasm of visitors to their open day seemed undimmed by pouring rain starting just as we began our tour of the growing area!

As summer turned to autumn I attended the centenary of the Acland Hall in Cold Ash, which was very well attended by all ages from late morning into the night.

Bookending this third edition of my Diary were two indoor events. On 30 July Lady Caernarvon was senior dignitary at the formal opening of the Camellia Club at Fair Close day centre in Newbury. This is a much needed central facility for those suffering dementia, created from an under-used room there and staffed by specialists in the treatment of this condition that will affect one in three people over retirement age.

On 9 September, Martha and I visited the Stroke Club at Woolhampton village hall. We heard how easily a life-changing event, generally caused by high blood pressure, can change lives suddenly for the worse - but also how survivors of strokes can be helped on their journey back to something approaching normal life by specialist, dedicated care of a small number of paid professionals, volunteers and fellow survivors. The effects of a stroke are almost infinitely varied, and we learned from those present how vital their regular weekly meetings, shared meals and activities can help them and their families, despite the almost total lack of NHS support. Stroke Care is almost entirely dependent on our Council's grant for its existence and only serves our district, because the national Stroke Association limits its work largely to urban areas.