THE wemian May 2020 Lockdown1 Edition BENBOW BROS Tree Care Specialists Tel: 01939 200242 Over 70 years of quality service A local, family company • Felling • Tree Surgery • Hedge Cutting • Stump Removal • Storm Damage Trees • Care of Specimen Trees • Year Round Site Clearance Free Estimates • Full Insurance Telephone: 01939 200242 Email: [email protected] www.benbowbrothers.co.uk Benbow Brothers (Timber) Ltd, The Lodge, Lee Brockhurst, Shrewsbury,2 Shropshire, SY4 5SA The Wemian Team Editors: Sally and Andy Wood Treasurer: Bob Dibben Proofreader / Asst. Editor: Grace Wood From the Editors Churches: We find ourselves in the strangest of times. Peter Turner As we write, we are in the sixth week of na- tional lockdown. Friends and family remain Contact us: in their own homes and we gaze wistfully [email protected] outside, looking forward to the days when [email protected] we will all be together again. Website: To coin a phrase, so often used of late, we www.thewemian.co.uk are indeed ‘living through unprecedented times’. They are times in which the commu- Please visit the website to view previ- nity has pulled together to support others, ous editions, see advertising details, send us a message and upload articles. whether through shopping for others, phone calls, rainbow paintings or the weekly Thurs- Follow us on Twitter: day evening ‘Clap for Key Workers’. Each week we go out to our doorstep and clap @TheWemian along, the sounds from households across Wem carrying far and wide. Wem has truly ‘come together’ whilst we are all apart. Whilst we await further developments and changes to lockdown, we echo the govern- ment’s message to the nation. Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives. We extend our warmest and deepest thanks to our incred- ible NHS for all that is being done to care THANKS TO RICHARD FROM both for those with Covid-19, and for all oth- www.activecomp.co.uk ers, whatever their need. In the meantime, FOR HOSTING THE WEBSITE look after yourselves and support each other through these tough times. Disclaimer: The articles and images available in The Wemian This edition is online only and we will bring Magazine and associated Facebook page and Twit- ter account are for informational purposes only. you another online edition in the next few The opinions expressed at or through The Wemian Magazine and associated Facebook page and Twit- weeks. If you would like to contribute to the ter account are the opinions of the individual author next online Wemian, please get in contact and may not reflect the opinions of The Wemian or any individual Wemian Volunteer. Businesses, prod- and send your contributions to us by 8th June. ucts, services, societies, clubs, churches, organisa- tions, meetings and events advertised within The Wemian are not necessarily endorsed or recom- mended by The Wemian. Unless otherwise notified Sally and Andy The Wemian will appear on www.thewemian.co.uk as a pdf file exactly as it appears in printed form. 3 Wem Cricket Club What a time we are all having with the Covid-19 virus pandemic! On March 18th, the England Cricket Board directed that “following the Government’s latest advice around social distancing, it is with sadness and reluctance that we recommend that all forms of recreational cricket are, for now, suspended”. Working on our ground to prepare for the possibility of the game resuming sometime later in the summer was allowed, but only if strict social distancing was observed. As a community-based club, we are conscious that this period is very difficult for small businesses. Where you can, we would like to encourage our members to shop locally and support local small businesses – many of whom support us as sponsors. With no cricket to report, this article therefore is another in the series of ‘noteworthy people who have played for the club’. In 1993, Richard Shepherd, a young New Zea- lander, came over to play for us as an opening bat and left arm spinner. Richard proved to be a popular member of the club and enjoyed a successful season in our colours. In a reciprocal arrangement, one of our most promising young players, Martin Gaunt went over that winter to play for Richard’s club, Weymouth CC in South Auckland. Weymouth was a very progressive club and whilst over there, Martin helped with the coaching of their 26 junior teams on three weekday nights. Martin certainly improved as a player over there, and was to spend four winters down under over a seven year period. After a particularly good performance in a local Cup Final, he was invited to join Manurewa CC, a local club to Weymouth but one which played in a higher standard of cricket. Martin’s time at Weymouth resulted in three of his teammates, Aubrey Inson, Scott Purdie (who had been on the books of Glamorgan CCC) and a promising young pace bowler called Daryl Tuffey joining Richard at Wem in 1996 – one was to go on and be- come a New Zealand Test cricketer! Daryl Raymond Tuffey was born in Milton, Otago on 11th June 1978. He played his domestic cricket for Northern District Knights (for whom he debuted in 1997), and made his Test debut v Australia in 1999 (a mere three years after playing for Wem), unfor- tunately taking 0-127 in the match. He was to take his first test wickets in his next match v South Africa when he took 3-38. In all, he made 26 Test appearances for New Zealand, scoring 427 runs at an average of 16.42 with a top score of 80 not out. Primarily considered as a bowler, he took 77 wickets at an average of 31.75. As well as Test honours he represented his country in 94 ODIs, taking 110 wickets and 3 appearances in T20s taking three wickets. 4 There were certainly ups and downs with his bowling in international cricket. In his first full Test series he got 16 wickets against Pakistan, with a person- al best of 6-54 (match figures 7-77) in the final Test which won him the Man of the Match award. He won another MOM award with career best ODI figures of 4-24, also against Pakistan. Yet another notable per- formance was match figures of 8-53 in a home Test series v India in 2002/03. A penchant for taking wickets in his first over open- ing the bowling in a game gained him an enviable reputation, achieving the feat 14 times in 11 sep- arate matches, six times in Test matches and eight times in ODIs. Conversely in 2009, he conceded the most runs in a single over in an ODI at that time, 30, all scored by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, and suffered bowling a 14 ball over v Australia in 2005, conceding 16 runs. In 1996, captained by the leg- endary Brian Perry, Wem CC finished half way in the Shrop- shire League First Division. Daryl didn’t have much luck in the early part of the season, tending to bowl a ‘New Zea- land length’ which resulted in much playing and missing by the batsmen but not many wickets. As his knowledge of Shropshire wickets improved, he benefited from bowling a slightly fuller length which resulted in better yields. The club found him a slightly shy, personable character, a great club man, and a valuable member of the junior coaching team. Daryl finished his international cricket career in 2010. He kindly donated one of his first Test shirts to the club, and this is proudly framed and displayed in the clubhouse. Now 41 years old and a family man, he is still in regular contact with club members via social media. We are proud to call him one of our own, and hope the club played some small part in his development towards becoming an international cricketer. Graham Furber 5 News from St Peter’s CE Primary School At St Peter’s CE Primary we don’t let a school closure stop us from learning. The chil- dren who are working from home have been using the online platform Seesaw to com- municate with their teachers and to show them the wonderful activities they have been getting up to at home. Take a look … 6 Physical Health and Mobility With schools and leisure facilities closed and many of us spending more time at home, it is more important than ever that we keep moving and stay healthy and positive. The resources below can help us with exercise which in turn can make us feel happier, more energised and more optimistic. Cosmic Kids Yoga Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specifically for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world Joe Wicks – P.E. with Joe, Youtube Video: https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/pe-with-joe-1254.html Join Joe Wicks, the Body Coach, every day for a home workout aimed at kids Monday to Friday 9am on Youtube The Body Coach TV Energize – Movement, learning, active blasts and wellbeing resources: https://www.energizestw.org.uk/energize-resources Links to a wide range of free resources which can be used at home to improve our physical and mental wellbeing. AOC Sport – Resources to keep active dur- ing the coronavirus: https://www.aocsport.co.uk/news-cs/re- sources-to-keep-active-during-the-corona- virus/ Links to organisations, including some col- leges who have collated free online con- tent suitable for students and staff while at home Les Mills on Demand At Home Workouts (free resource): https://watch.lesmillsondemand.com/at- home-workouts Temporary free site with over 100 workouts to do at home to keep fit and healthy while gym and exercise facilities are closed.