Local heroes

Today, I went to the Grand Opening of our new local Scout Hut. I had to go on my own as Andy was working but he promised to hot-foot it along as soon as poss. Now you may think it strange I would go to such an event but I went because the hut was being dedicated to the memory of our friend, Ray, who died just over 2 years ago in a truly tragic accident. It is his wife, Jane, who donated the rabbit hutch that is going to save Mrs Poo's bacon and which, as I write, Andy is engaging in carpentry combat with in the garden, magicking it into first class chicken accommodation.

The sun shone and off I trotted. Around the time of Ray's death, the then landlord of the land where the old scout hut stood had given them notice to quit the site and Ray, being scout leader extraordinaire, was engaged in looking for alternative accommodation for his extensive troup. The old landlord is a very wealthy property developer who, to my mind, did very badly by the troup, (and is therefore NOT a local hero) but Ray wouldn't hear a word against him. This was indicative of the kind of person Ray was - a cheerful optimist who believed that one door closes in order to open another that would lead to better things. Ray was a true local hero (he was also an excellent ToastMaster at our wedding on account of a) his genial and organised manner and b) his raucous, attention catching laugh). After his death, the troop were offered an old shed on another piece of land in the village by some truly community-minded business men (more local heroes) and so the next year was spent fund-raising and renovating, with Ray no doubt overseeing from Heaven and making sure that all good was sent the way of those he left behind.

The whole project has been a labour of strong community teamwork. Many people gave their time, energies and materials free of charge. Everyone has pulled together to turn the shed into a magnificent and modern building and there was no doubt that it should be named in memory of Ray.

Masses of villagers turned out for the parade from the old hut to the new, led by the Salvation Army Band. A local dignitary, a happy chappie bedecked in finery, did the honours, there were a few short but succinct speeches and presentations, a little display by the Beavers and then everyone was free to roam the new hut and partake of a rather magnificent luncheon spread.

And as I stood amongst the crowd with a sandwich and a cuppa and watched everyone milling around laughing and chatting and admiring the new Hut, I thought, this is what life is about. It is about ordinary people getting on with their lives on a small scale and improving their communities. All it takes are a few local heroes, like Ray, and the people who built the new hut in their own time, and the business men who said, 'Here - have the shed, have the land for a peppercorn rent, stay as long as you like,' to make the world tick over and move on very nicely, thank you.

And whilst this was going on, my own local hero was at work, doing a Caesarean and saving a puppy's life. And now he is renovating a rabbit hutch for the good of our chickens. And here he is with one of the first strawberries from the hanging baskets in the back garden!