Tag: Cowplain

Remembrance Day display in Cowplain

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Thanks to the creativity of local school children, artwork is on display in a funeral branch’s window to recognise the importance of Remembrance Day.

More than 60 children aged nine and ten helped to draw, colour and craft artwork for the window at The Co-operative Funeralcare – Cowplain.

Funeral Co-ordinators, Jackie Duthie and Lesley Alison, contacted St Peter’s Primary School, in Waterlooville, in the hope they would be able to add some meaning to their window for this year’s Remembrance Day.

Arts Teacher Nina Pearson was more than happy to get involved and each child in Year Five received an invitation stating they had been commissioned to do a piece of artwork.

Each piece of artwork includes a red poppy and was influenced by the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

Nina said: “It’s important to talk about this commemorative event and our history, otherwise we just get caught up in the current moment. This makes you think about the sacrifices which were made.

“We might think we have a few liberties being taken away from us right now but look at the sacrifices that were made 100 years ago.”

The artwork is currently on display in London Road at the funeralcare branch which is part of Southern Co-op – the regional, independent co-operative.

Oil and chalk pastels, pens and colouring pencils were all used in the creation of the display alongside coloured cellophane.

Funeral Co-ordinator Lesley said: “Doing the Remembrance window display is very important to us and we thought it would be lovely for one of our local schools to help us.

“We would like to thank each and every child who took part. They have helped to strengthen the importance of Remembrance Day and we have been really impressed with everything they have created.”

Funeral Co-ordinator Jackie said: “We need to keep the younger generation involved as it is very important for them to remember our past, present and future military personnel and what they have sacrificed for us and what they will sacrifice for us in the future. This should never be forgotten and we should always remember them with great pride.”

Southern Co-op’s colleagues will be marking the important day with a minute’s silence including at its local retail stores.

Donation to benefit children with serious health challenges

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Two children with serious health challenges will be able to have a memorable and life-changing week of fun at a residential camp next year thanks to a donation from a regional co-operative.

The Havant-based charity, Over The Wall, originally approached The Co-operative Funeralcare in Widley for a donation of £50 to buy some cakes to help with fundraising.

When Community Fundraising Officer, Judith Meagher, phoned the funeral home to ask about the money, Funeral Co-ordinator Rianne Rose gave her the news that they weren’t donating £50 – they were instead going to donate £1,350.

Karen Willmett, Funeral Co-ordinator, said: “I’d been talking about the charity with a colleague at another one of our branches, also part of Southern Co-op, and they said they wanted to help with the donation to Over The Wall. Before I knew it, they all wanted to contribute which meant a total of £1,350.

“It’s such a special cause that everyone wants to help out. We heard how the children have such serious health challenges that many of them find it hard just to make friends.

“It’s not just funding these activity camps for free… it is everything that is involved from medical staff to refrigeration units for medication. We are so happy to hear that our donation will make a real difference.”

Nine funeral branches from Southern Co-op made up the final donation of £1,350 including The Co-operative Funeralcare in Widley, Hayling Island, Leigh Park, Emsworth, Cowplain, Cosham and Waterlooville.

Over The Wall has increased the numbers of campers attending its free residential activity camps for seriously ill children from 260 in 2010 to 867 in 2018, with plans to reach 1,500 by 2022.

Judith Meagher said: “When they first told me I screamed down the phone. I only went in to the branch on the off chance – I was actually visiting the cake store next door. I had gone away thinking ‘great’ I can buy lots of cakes for £50!

“So to get a donation of £1,350 is just the best news. It made me very emotional. That will pay for two children such as siblings to go to our family camp.

“We look after children affected by a huge number of different illnesses. At camp, we aim to build each camper’s confidence, self-esteem and coping strategies through challenges tailored for each child which could range from climbing a wall to making a new friend.”

At Health Challenge camps and Siblings camps, Over The Wall provide a team of volunteer qualified doctors, paramedics and nurses who provide all necessary care, giving medication, feeds, changing dressings, personal care, as well as monitoring their health over the duration of the camp.

Applications can be made for children aged 8 to 17 years, living in the UK, who are currently receiving treatment, or experiencing health challenges. To find out more, visit www.otw.org.uk.

Mayor welcomes new Cowplain funeral business

Posted on by ashleymarsh

The Worshipful The Mayor of Havant, Cllr Paul Buckley cut the ribbon to officially open the new Co-operative Funeralcare branch in Cowplain (26 February), praising its contribution to the local neighbourhood.

He was joined by guests representing local businesses, the residents’ association, council and funeral profession, including Roddy McGinley, National President of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management and Steve Pearce, former President of the National Association of Funeral Directors. Families who have used the services of the new branch, which opened its doors just before Christmas, were also invited to join the celebration and Chapel of Rest dedication service. This was led by celebrants Felix Muscat and Reverend Canon Dr Paul Moore from St Wilfrid’s Church in Cowplain.

Cllr Buckley said: “It is really encouraging to see The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare expanding their services by opening a new funeral home in Cowplain. This improves accessibility to services required by the local community and contributes to the economy and wellbeing of the local area. I see this as a very positive contribution to the neighbourhood and was pleased to conduct the official opening.”

Funeral Co-ordinator Zoe Marriott, who is based at the Cowplain branch together with colleague Jackie Duthie, said: “It is a pleasure to work here in Cowplain and be able to provide a personal caring service for local families who have lost a loved one. We look forward to supporting the community and local charitable events too.” The Southern Co-operative, which runs a total of 46 funeralcare branches across the south, donated £500 to the Mayor’s Charities; Stroke Association, Combat Stress and Relate as a thank you for opening the new branch, located on London Road in Cowplain. www.funeralcare.co.uk

Cowplain Co-operative Funeralcare branch opening with Mayor of Havant
Cowplain Co-operative Funeralcare branch opening with Mayor of Havant