Local Face: Jean Wyatt
Jean Wyatt is an inspiration to us all. She has always been passionately concerned for injustice in the world and includes as many friends and neighbours as possible.
She is the force behind all the fund raising for Adopt-a-Minefield this year. It all started when she read an article in the Independent in November 2001. The article was about Heather Mills and one sentence at the end discussed the fact that companies were organising dinners on 30th November to raise money for a charity called Adopt-a- Minefield. This sounded like a good idea so she telephoned the number given for more details. Friends advised her that it was a bit near the date to organise a dinner herself but she took it to Wendover Free Church and discussed it the idea with the minister, Rev Ruth Bottoms. Ruth took it to churches Together in Wendover and on 5th February moneys from the Justice and Peace Lunch at 12.30 in Wendover Christian Centre were donated to the cause and many members of Wendover Free Church gave dinners with intriguing titles such as Pizza Party or Candlelit Supper and had the opportunity to watch a 5 minute video about the work of the charity. A start to fund raising had been made.
Adopt-a-Minefield has its roots in Canada, home of the Ottowa Convention, signed by 60 countries in 1997 and 70 more since. Mine clearance work funded through Adopt- a-Minefield is co-ordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Charity crossed the border into the USA ~ although government funding was cut when President Bush entered the White House. Heather Mills heard of the Charity on a visit to the USA and became a Patron of the UK branch, stating, “Every 20 minutes, somewhere in the world, a land mine claims another victim. The need for a continued, concerted drive to rid the world of landmines is as great now as it ever was.” More details’ are available from the website www. landmines.org.uk.
Jean’s idea spread to other members of Churches Together in Wendover and in the Spring it was the turn of parishioners from St Mary’s CofE Church to run a series of dinners raising money for this good cause. All the time momentum was gathering so that in the Summer parishioners from St ~ Anne’s RC Church opened their gardens for all day fundraising events. The final event was in October in One World Week. Jamie Adam, son of Rosanne Adam (Wendover News Local Face December 2001), came to Wendover Christian Centre to repeat a talk he had given earlier in St Mary’s. He had spent time in Bosnia clearing minefields and brought along unarmed samples as well as stories to tell.
It was this support from Jamie Adam that led to the adoption of a minefield in Cekrlije r near Bihac in North West Bosnia. This, minefield was part of the frontline during the – war but previously it had been agricultural land. It will cost £22,676 to demine this piece of land, 19,093 m2 in area. Brave people will risk life and limb using metal detectors, trowels and metal probes. Fund raising in Wendover will contribute over 3,000 towards this sum. The local people are getting their lives back and the gift of life is the most precious anyone can give. The standard for the Humanitarian Clearance of minefields is 100% and they are cleared to a 100% standard but the responsible person will only certify the area is clear to a standard of 99% (0.8m depth) allowing for moving groundwater to push up buried mines. The bench mark for the signature is, ‘Would you let YOUR children play here?”
The people of Wendover are used to Jean Wyatt discovering Good Causes to support. She was one of the leaders in the local support for the Drop the Debt Campaign attending rallies in Birmingham and London even though illness severely limited her mobility at the time. She encouraged others to attend rallies abroad, too. She was thrilled when she witnessed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown giving financial support to Jubillee 2000 even though progress for some countries is still painfully slow.
Jean and her husband John came to Wendover in 1991 on his retirement from ministry in the United Reformed Church. John organises the Fair Trade stalls at the Tuesday Drop-In and the Wednesday Lunch Club, which benefit many. Thank you both for all your hard work.