Lois Achieves Her Life Long Skydive Dream
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Inside Couple celebrate: 3 Climate concern: 5 L In the pink: 7 GOOD NEWS Global role: 9 FOR NORWICH & NORFOLK Autumn 2019: FREE Novel approach: 12 Lois achieves her life Norfolk plea over unjust long skydive dream prisons terms A group of prominent Norfolk Brave Norwich Christians with a keen interest grandmother Lois in criminal justice have been inspired by a Norwich judge to Wiltshire has jumped urge MPs and the Government out of a plane at 1,300 to intervene on behalf of 2,400 feet to fulfil her life-long prisoners, imprisoned unjustly dream and raise funds under the now abolished for Age UK Norwich. Imprisonment for Public Jenny Seal reports. Protection sentencing. I The Bishop of Lynn and others from ois’ husband Mike, a former Norfolk’s Ecumenical Criminal Justice Forum Financial Times journalist have launched a campaign demanding L and President of Norwich action for prisoners held under the now Full Gospel Businessmen (FGB), defunct Imprisonment for Public Protection gave his blessing for the skydive sentences. shortly before he died last At a meeting in June, the Ecumenical November. Criminal Lois, who is in her 60s, lives in Justice Bowthorpe and is on the Church Forum Council of Bowthorpe Church heard where she leads The Oaks Friday from Friendship Group for those with Norwich dementia and their carers. Judge His Skydiving has long been a dream Honour for Lois. However, she was the Stephen main carer for her husband Mike, a Holt journalist who wrote for the Good about his News for Norfolk newspaper and concerns other Christian publications as well for those as the FT for over 20 years. He was prisoners also a key figure in the develop - held ment of Operation Mobilisation. under Mike struggled with heart Imprison - problems for many years and was ment for reticent for Lois to do a skydive Public while he was ill and she was caring Protection for him. (IPP) The Bishop of Lynn. “When Mike was in hospital for sentences. the final time last November,” Lois Rev Canon Chris Copsey, who co-ordi - said, “he told me to do all the nates the Ecumenical Forum, which meets things I wanted to do but hadn’t quarterly at Bishop’s House, said: “He gave done because of caring for him.” a powerful account of the effect on prisoners Lois Wiltshire before and after Early this year, Lois found out under such sentences and the, as he sees it, her charity skydive at Beccles that Age UK Norwich were recruit - obvious injustice that some prisoners are ing volunteers to do a sponsored Skydive Centre. currently subjected to. Such was the strength skydive for the charity. Already an of feeling among those present at the meet - Age UK Norwich Volunteer for ing that we have resolved as a group to try Neighbourhoods and Communi - in the plane straight away, so had after that it was ‘plane sailing’. she said. “Any donations would to do something about the present situation.” ties, Lois said: “I saw this as my the opportunity to watch the other “I loved every second as we be gratefully received for this good IPP sentencing was intended to protect opportunity to fulfil my wish – and skydivers land. gradually floated down to the cause.” the public by indeterminately holding prison - Mike’s for me.” “The scariest part was tumbling ground - I didn’t want the skydive To date Lois has raised over £330 ers who were deemed too dangerous to be On Saturday, June 15, at the headfirst out of the plane at 120 to end and can’t wait for the next for Age UK by taking her first sky - released when their original sentence had Beccles Skydive Centre, Lois finally miles an hour at an altitude of one!” dive. You can still sponsor her at: took the plunge. “I was very about 1,300 ft. When the parachute “Age UK are such an inspira - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ I Story continues on page four excited,” she said. “I did not go up was inflated there was a jolt but tional and hard-working charity,” lois-wiltshire 2 Good News for Norwich & Norfolk, Autumn 2019 www.networknorfolk.co.uk NEWS GOOD NEWS FOR NORWICH & NORFOLK Share a meal and you share life I Good News for Norwich & Norfolk is published by Network Norwich & Norfolk, I Have you ever had a meal that’s been so Rev Edward tion of how they were to collect this gift of part of Christian Community Trust for amazing, you’ve never forgotten it? Carter, Vicar food makes it very clear that there shouldn’t be Norwich and Norfolk Ltd. Registered charity I can think of a few, but the funny thing is – any unfairness. Each person and family was to no 1105340. it wasn’t really the food I ate that made it so at St Peter have just what they needed. I Website: www.networknorfolk.co.uk memorable, it was the people I shared the Mancroft And when Jesus spoke about this manna I Editorial: 07712 788762 or e-mail stories table with. I’m thinking of a crazy, joyous from heaven he went on to say, ‘I am the bread to [email protected] or lunch in my back garden with some visiting Church of life’. He placed himself – and he placed a send copy to Pear Tree Farmhouse, Christians from India. meal – right at the heart of the relationship Wymondham Road, Wreningham, Norwich And the last time my wife and I had supper between God and human beings. NR16 1AT. at home with our two sons, now all grown up Harvest thanksgiving makes me think about I Advertising: Helen Baldry (01603) 926120 and moved away. And the time I sipped a cup the food I eat day by day, and about taking a I Distribution: Val Dodsworth (01603) of tea and nibbled a biscuit with someone I bag of tins and other tasty provisions to 946294 loved, knowing it was the last time I’d see church, ready to send on to the Foodbank. I Editor and designer: Keith Morris them. others, as well as a sense of fairness, and of But Harvest thanksgiving also makes me I Regular writers: Sandie Shirley, Helen Sharing food and drink with others isn’t just the amazing blessings that God’s creation stop and think about the ‘bread of life’, and Baldry, Kevin Gotts, Jenny Seal, Tony Rothe about getting in the calories, nor is it com - includes. about the way Jesus sustains me. You see, Jesus I Printed by Archant Print. pletely about the flavours of the meal and the When Moses and the Israelites escaped from doesn’t really feed individuals as separate peo - ple – he feeds people who’ve gathered at a I Churches, Christian organisations and skill of the cook – although they are important Egypt and began their journey through the individuals from within Norwich and Norfolk are as well. wilderness, almost the first thing that hap - table, to share life together, and to share life invited to send news, events and pictures which Sharing a table and eating together is about pened was God’s gift of the manna from with God. relate to the demonstration of the Gospel in sharing life. And that idea of ‘sharing’ makes heaven. It was that food which bound the peo - Now that’s a meal which is so amazing I social action, community care and evangelism. me think about the solidarity I have with ple together and sustained them. The descrip - hope I never forget it! I The deadline for material for the Winter edition is Friday November 8. Distribution is from Thursday November 28 . I Reproduction of any part of this publication without permission is strictly forbidden. But please ask as we are usually happy to oblige A story of love and war for a credit line in non-commercial situations. I We endeavour to adhere to the IMPRESS standards code. If you have a complaint you In August the team be - should, in the first instance, contact the editor hind the Good News for Daphne Dennis in her [email protected] with Norwich garden with details. If you are still not satisfied you should Norfolk newspaper the Life Story book and contact IMPRESS, details below. completed their first Life dog Ruby. Story commission, an engaging and entertain - ing memoir ‘Love, War and Tortoises’ that cap - tures the highs and lows of 88-year old Daphne Dennis from Norwich. arlier this year, the team behind the long-standing E newspaper and the Net - work Norfolk website launched Life Stories, a new initiative help - ing people turn their memories into a well written, professionally printed paperback booklet. The first Life Story, ‘Love, War and Tortoises: A Short Biography of Daphne Ruth Dennis,’ came back from the printers in August. In around 10,000 words, it tells the life story of Daphne Dennis from Thorpe St Andrew, captur - ing her humour, her love of people and animals, and signifi - cant episodes that have shaped her life. Talking about the booklet, Daphne, who attends St Francis Church in Heartsease, said: “I’m ever so pleased with what you did. It’s ideal for me – just what I wanted.” Growing up amidst a tight-knit anguishes of motherhood and a captivating life story. your story through a series of one- family in Norwich’s Sussex Street, lifelong love of animals that led to Jenny said: “Working with to-one interviews, resulting in Daphne’s story tells of the devasta - a sanctuary for neglected tortoises.