memorial curry update

...apologies for the relatively late notice, but this year's graham/bodge memorial curry lunch is now booked for sunday 11th may, at the thame tandoori.

everyone's welcome and we'd love to see you there, but we need to give the tandoori an idea of numbers.
so if you're planning to be there, please drop si a line - si[at]simonsmithillustrator[dot]co[dot]uk - and he'll count you in :-)

memorial curry 2014...

Apologies for the late notice, but for a variety of reasons [weather, being disorganised, other stuff happening in February] we've decided to not have a birthday curry on graham's birthday this year. Instead, we'll be fixing a date in May, and will let you know the details as soon as that's arranged...

memorial curry photos...

a quick reminder...

...about the buffet curry on feb 3rd to commemorate bodge's birthday - we need to have numbers for the curry house ideally by the end of next week [jan 12th], so if you'd like to come, please let us know with a comment here, and we'll make sure you're counted in :-)

birthday curry

back in the day, a select few of us helped graham celebrate his upcoming nuptials with a brick lane stag-do curry. at the time we agreed that it'd be good to meet up every year like that and share an indian, but sadly, we never quite got around to organising it...

until last year that is, when we decided to celebrate what would have been graham's 51st birthday with a meal at his favourite curry house in thame. it began as a plan to reunite the four of us that were there with him in brick lane, but in the end around twenty of us gathered at the thame tandoori for a very enjoyable and poignant meal.

and it went so well that we're doing it again this year.

the thame tandoori will again be the venue, sunday 3rd february, 12.30 lunchtime for a buffet meal. it'll be pretty informal, and it's open to anyone who knew graham and would like to be there to remember him with us.

(we need to know numbers, so if you'd like to come, please send an email to si [at] simonsmithillustrator [dot] co [dot] uk, or leave a message for us here in the comments...)

Mr Hollows the football coach

Mark Ansell writes: I have been going through the attic at my parents' to have a clear out and found a photo of Graham Hollows when he was our football coach at John Hampden. I'm in the middle in the top row. He was an excellent coach, encouraging us all the way and got the balance right between having fun and trying to win the matches. We were a decent team and I learnt a thing or two about how to defend from Graham.

Bodge, i've been thinking about you a lot again lately.

it's little things - the cherry tree we planted around the time you died is in fruit again, and the local pigeons are eyeing it up. i'll soon be getting obsessed with chasing them off, and you'd have enjoyed laughing at me for that.

other things - i just bought a shirt that looks like it's made from deckchair fabric. i gave you such a lot of grief for wearing something similar a few years back - it doesn't seem fair that you're not here to extract some revenge and to hear my admission that actually shirts like that do look ok, really.

the latest failings of the england footy team - plus some minor family football triumphs that we've had here recently - you should be around to share in these things [your dad still talks about when we went to wembley to watch graham taylor's lot struggle against holland, and i love him for that]

if you were here now i'd have bought you the latest elbow album [if you'd not already got it] and be banging on about how great it is.
it's about friendships and reminiscence and fond rememberings, so it's probably not surprising that it leaves me thinking about you.

the last track - 'dear friends' - is maybe most appropriate...
"dear friends
you are angels and drunks
you are magi

old friends

you stuck a pin in the map i was in
you are the stars
i navigate home by"

i miss you mate.

50 Peaks for 50 Years

In February this year, Graham would have been 50. I too hope to celebrate my 50th birthday during that same month. Before he died, he and I started to plan a Lake District adventure, involving 50 somethings (mountains, pints of beer ...?). I have decided to see it through, to remember Graham, as my own celebration and also raise money for Teacher Support Network, one of the charities chosen by Towe to receive memorial funds after Graham died.

If you would like to join me on any, all or just a bit of one of the walks, you would be most welcome. The first is on February 5th, Graham's 50th birthday, and is a walk up his favourite hill, Loughrigg. During the year I will include all four peaks over 3000', and finish (hopefully) in September on Helvellyn. There is a mixture of easier and more challenging walks to suit most people, but being peaks I am afraid that they all involve some uphill!

The full list of dates is:
5 & 6 February
30 April, 1 & 2 May
26 & 27 June
27, 28 & 29 August
24 & 25 September

Please email me on chris.saunders@talktalk.net for more details about where I will be walking if you would like to join me.

And if you can sponsor me, please visit my Virgin Money Giving page at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/RememberingGraham

Thanks and with all best wishes for 2011

Chris Saunders

Remembering Graham – One year on

Stoke Mandveille School remembered Graham on 12 November with an assembly for the junior children, present and past staff, and others who had been part of the traumatic events of a year ago. We were all delighted that Towe, Graham’s father and his sister Jane were able to join us to mark this special occasion. Matt Ashmead, the new Headteacher, linked the event to Remembrance Day and the poppies which are a reminder of past events. The children could identify with this as they see on a daily basis all the tangible reminders around the school of what Graham had done for them and the areas which are dedicated to his memory – the library, the mini bus, the courtyard garden and the outdoor activity area. Year 6 children compiled a book of their memories of Graham - some of which were read out - and this was given to Towe as a permanent reminder of the event. There were some very moving tributes- both happy and sad – and there were tears and laughter. David Jenkins, the Methodist minister who had taken Graham’s memorial service in Stoke Mandeville church, then led the rest of the assembly, which included one of Graham’s favourite hymns and a special song, and there was time for everyone to reflect on the Graham they knew and loved. The school is moving on – and Graham would be pleased about this as he always wanted the best for the children – but this was a very special day which gave everyone time to stop and reflect and come together to share their memories of a much loved and greatly respected man.

Pat Aylett

Not How Did He Die, but How Did He Live?

Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but how did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away?

Anon.

one year

It's a year to the day since graham died.



Sorely missed but always fondly remembered.

Remembering Graham Walk - 3rd October

Park and meet at 10:30 am at Ladymede School, HP17 0XP, which is on the west side of the A4010 between Princes Risborough and Stoke Mandeville. The entrance is opposite the War Memorial. Park on the drive (either side) or in the small staff car parks in front and to the right of the school building.

If you would like to come, please email chris.saunders@talktalk.net.

Remembering Graham Walk - 3rd October

There will be a special Remembering Graham walk near Great Kimble, Buckinghamshire on the morning of Sunday October 3rd 2010. This walk was Graham's favourite local walk, and it is a very special place for the family.

The walk will start at 10:30 am and takes approximately 2 hours. We are asking for a donation from each walker, which will be split evenly between three charities - Winston's Wish, Teacher Support Network and the Child Bereavement Charity. We suggest a donation of £5 per walker.

If you would like to join Towe and girls on the walk, please email me on chris.saunders@talktalk.net with the number of cars and walkers who intend to come and I will let you know where to park and meet, and details of how to donate.

Memorial Afternoon at Stoke Mandeville Combined School

On 9th July, Stoke Mandeville Combined School held a memorial afternoon and picnic for Graham, and to celebrate the completion of many of the projects that Graham had started. Towe and the children were there, along with Ken and Betty Hollows. Here are some of their photos and Towe's own account of the afternoon.

It was incredibly powerful and emotional. It was a celebration of everything Graham had done for the school & the projects they have finished on his behalf since he died. The children were lovely - so welcoming and talked about Graham all of the time. They clearly adored him and he is a very big part of their school life even though he is not with them.

The projects they had completed were the library, the play area (the chaps brought the bench to school the week after Graham died and gave it to the school), the courtyard, the reception area and the stage lights (after he'd got the staging blocks last year).

There was a picnic for the whole school. The parents & grandparents arrived at 2 pm and had tours by the year 6s of the completed projects. Just before 3 pm everyone went down to the bottom of the field where there was a net of blue & white balloons - one for every child in the school in the school colours. Some words were said about all the lovely things Mr. Hollows did for the school and how much he meant to everyone in the school, there was a minute or two of silence & then the balloons were released. As they flew over the school everyone clapped and cheered for him.

Thame 10k results and photos

Congratulations and well done to all 20 runners who ran for Graham on 26th June in the Thame 10k, raising over £2,000 for Winston's Wish and Teacher Support Network. It was very moving to see all the Remembering Graham T-shirts, watch the runners release balloons and above all witness the supreme effort by lots of people, some of whom have not run before and took it up specially for this event.

There are official photos on

http://www.theracephotographer.com/Thame2010_10k/index.htm

but here are some of the team during and after the event.

Six months on

Today it is six months since Graham died. Graham loved the carpet of flowering bluebells in the Spring. This picture was taken in 2006 at Gravetye, West Sussex.

Thame 10k

Preparations are going well for the 16 people who will be running the Thame 10k in memory of Graham on Sunday 27th June. We believe that there are still a few places left, so be quick to register if you are still keen to take part. Towe is very grateful and appreciative to all Graham's friends who will be running.

It would be great to see as many people as possible to cheer on and support the team on the day. They will all be wearing a commemorative Remembering Graham T-shirt. The race starts at 09:30 at Thame Leisure Centre and finishes at the same place - we recommend that you go to the start/finish or Thame High Street (fairly near the start) to cheer on the team. If you would like to wear a Remembering Graham T-shirt, please contact Rick and Becca Bolt at rebecca.bolt@tiscali.co.uk by the June 2nd. The cost is not known but is expected to be in the region of £10.

The course route is on the following link: http://foot4ward.co.uk/2010/05/10/thame-10k-course-preview/

Some of the runners are raising money in Graham's memory for Winston's Wish or Teacher Support Network - if you would like to contribute, go to one of:

http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Bolt for money to go to Winston's Wish, or
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runforgraham for money to go to Teacher Support Network.

James Milne completes half-marathon

James Milne completed the Reading half marathon on 21st March in 2 hours 15 minutes, raising a total of £1,586 in memory of Graham for Winston's Wish and a further £1,020 for North Wilts Portage. All he has said so far is "that it was much harder than I anticipated but I managed to keep going, knowing that it was all for such good causes, and with thoughts of Graham driving me on."

Well done James, and he passes thanks to everyone who supported him.

Teacher Support Network - in memory of Graham

Teacher Support Network (TSN) has recently been in touch about how they plan to use the fund set up in Graham's memory. Graham donated regularly to TSN for 10 years - we don't believe he ever had to use their services but he believed strongly in the need to support teachers in their work. The recent court case of Richard Garner has also highlighted the need to detect and support issues with wellbeing in teachers, and the increasing importance and volume of support provided by the Teacher Support Network.

Using the funds raised in Graham's memory, TSN is launching an online guide to for headteachers to help them look after their own wellbeing and actively facilitate the wellbeing of their staff. You can look at the guide - which is still under development - at the TSN website: http://teachersupport.info/ by following the links to Lead By Example.

For more information about the Richard Garner case and TSN's role in supporting teachers see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/richard-garner-how-stressed-staff-soldier-on-for-fear-of-showing-weakness-1958687.html

graham and towe's baby...

Eirin Maya Grace Hollows was born on 4th March 2010, at 10.16 am, weighing 3278 g / 7 lbs 3.5oz.

Eirin is a beautiful, much loved & welcomed baby, and Towe and Eirin are both well.