Part of being in a community is celebrating the lives and times of lovely people in it – both coming and going.
Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
Anaïs Nin
Local folks that are so pro-active in the community they deserve a mention for all they do or have done.
- Spencer (Nick’s old hound)
- Roger Booton (11th November 2024)
Joy Squires – more than a councillor, a pro-active community supporter
Joy Squires is a now ex-local councillor who dedicated more than a decade to the community in her role as councillor and a big part of keeping community informed and involved. Not only did (and does) she do so much for us but she protected the community from plans that may well have wrecked it.
This kindly and strong person who has been on a number of committees, using her contacts in enabling to enpower and inform the community. She is not only our (CCAG) chairperson, but has only recently stepped back from the Worcester Canal Corridor group and is still an active member of CCAG, the local Labour party and the #ArboMassive.
Clare Harker – cheerfully getting on with …everything
You talk to most any local person doing things in the community and you will hear Clare’s name. Without looking for fanfair or praise, she’s prolific in the local community and beyond. She was recently a pro-active part of the bulb planting, and the Swift Box project. She is on the committee of the ARA with Bob Whitelaw (another local legend) and helps whoever she can when she can – that includes dog walking, Worcester Cathedral group, Worcester Canal Corridor group and Worcester Arts to name but a few!
My other half and I went to see “Fascinating Aida” recently in the Malvern theatre, and when we mentioned it, it turns out that Clare had been involved with creating some of the merchendising for them when they first started!
Graham Fowler – from the allotment to the canal …
Now Graham is one of those gently spoken fountain of information and ideas.
It is thanks to Graham that we are working on the Cut-to-Canal project.
He is known for his work with the Worcester Canal Group.
Bob Whitelaw – positivity & determination in one
Walking past Pocket Park at the weekend, on the allotment, someone cycling round the Arbo or having a swift half at the Chestnut Inn – you hear a cheery Ozzy voice and it’s likley to be Bob Whitelaw.
Chair of the ARA, Bob is a gentle man – in the truest sense – who is a determined and positive force in the community. It may seem he is never happier than with dirt under his fingernails or at least doing something physical to help. If someone comes up with an idea that will enhance the comunity and Bob will do it, get involved in it or at least be a part of it.
Colin “Mad P” Robinson – a big heart under a grumpy landlord face
Mad P in his usual quiet, reserved way at The Chestnut Inn.
This lovely large-as-life has been the landlord of the Chestnut Tree Inn since around 2016 where the first thing he did was to remove all the sports TVs and used the stage for live music – which he has done ever since bringing musicians and variety acts to the locals of the Arboretum.
With dogs permitted in the Nut (left of the door and in the front) it’s a great place for all the locals and the last pub in the Arboretum.
When you hear someone discribed as “a character” …go to the Nut and meet the nutter. A big and fun heart who just enjoys life and wants others to do the same.
Lovely locals lost and found
2021
2021 has, so far, been ups and downs. With the lovely people of the Chestnut Community and the ArboNauts we have a lot to be grateful for.
2020
2020 has been a real doozy of a year so here are some of the times we have been through.
We gained a couple …who were already here!
The gorgeous Ella Hyland became Mrs. D
John and Ella
July 2021
Ella Hyland (as was) is a lovely person with a big heart and warming smile for everyone. John is one of the nicest guys you could meet and so the combination of these two has really enriched the Arbo all the more.
With a cracking ceremony in gorgeous surroundings and a celebration in a tent by a lake and hardly a dry eye in the house as they gave their vows – we wish them well. And the Woo‘s played too :)We gained a lovely couple from a couple of lovelies
Our own Caroline Savage and Fred Plews got married.
Celebrations started on Sunday October 11th at The Chestnut Inn – socially distanced from the limited number of wedding guests & regular patrons and very well looked after by Mad Pierre, Rob and the Chestnut Crew.Caroline Savage and Fred Pews
11th October 2020
After what seemed like ages of knowing these two, they announced they were getting married – that didn’t seem that long ago but with C-19 we seem to have skipped the build-up and thankfully there was a gap in lockdowns just for them.
October 11th at the Commandery saw these two spliced / hitched / wed / glued and when they got to The Chestnut Inn with a limited number of guests permitted, we all helped them celebrate (socially separated).
We lost a lovely local, Stuart Firth, on around 20th October
A regular at The Chestnut Inn and a truly gentle man everywhere, he died of a massive heart attack – a thankfully short end to a lovely life.
Stuart Firth
October 2020
Stuart was a truly gentle man with a kindly nature towards everyone.
A local shop-keeper remembered him as a daily regular who popped in and got the same things for around 9 years and was always nice with kind words.
The image could have been his view of The Chestnut Inn.
The service was by a minister from Yorkshire but Stuart didn’t mind.We gained another Meggie at the start of the year …oh, and she brought John (Iggy) with her :)
Meggie ii & Iggy
Picture: May 2020
After the sad loss of the Meggie that the locals of The Chestnut Inn grew to know and love as they threw beer mats for her entertainment (and ours), Iggy got Meggie ii.
A real cutey (so is the dog) we have seen her grow into her waggy tail and John is being well trained by her.
She’s full of life, love and vitality tho John is trying to keep up they are always good to see.We lost Brian Kimberly in April and celebrated his life at a memoriam at the The Chestnut Inn in October 2020.
Brian Kimberly
April 2020
Brian was a master carpenter, dad and step-dad. A gentle and kind man with a dry sense of humour who would help others so readily for the price of a pint (if anything).
So adept at carpentry he had that sort of skilled eye that enabled him to see just shaving a bit from the end of a shelf made it work better in the space rather than re-build.
He shared his appreciation of a “rubblery” with our own Ian and Mel as the back gardens looked the same at the time.
He helped shift a cast iron log-burner into the house despite – as learned later – him having a very bad back.Roger Booton sadly left us on 11th November 2024 after a thankfully short illness – or should we say short as far as he knew because he had a cancer for around 4/5 years.
Often seen (and heaven knows heard) at the end of the bar in The Chestnut Tree Inn,
he also treated us all to his infectious character and raucous laughter in at The Lamb and Flag.
I got to know him at the Nut where he talked of archaeology and we’d planned to record an interview with him – sadly we never got there. He talked of The Wicked Bear Tree – “it wasn’t a tree”, he said, “it was a house. I remember going in there when I was a youngster”.
Bewdley …Clidbury Coppie (coppis)
Celebrating the locals in the area and way news of their lives, coming together or leaving us, has touched the community.
If you have someone to add from the Arboretum area that you want to celebrate, let us know about them in the comments at the bottom of the page with an image and some words.
A fond farewell to Spencer (Spence)
Bless him, Spence found the rainbow bridge on Tuesday 5th November. Wasn’t very well in the morning so went to the vet who said “maybe 6 months at most” so the difficult decision was made by Nick. He had to leave by the side exit and that evening had a few (few?) drinks.
So raise a paw and a glass to Spencer – with love.
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Chestnut Community Action Group 