Portishead Flower Show
FREE BLOOD PRESSURES AT THE 2009 PORTISHEAD FLOWER SHOW !
The morning started well. I was feeling good. The sun was peaking through the clouds and a gentle breeze was blowing. It was a good start to the beginning of our two day annual stint taking free blood pressures at the Portishead Flower Show. Preparations had gone pretty smoothly and I had even managed to fill all the time slots for the medics taking blood pressures and the Rotarians doing their various duties. Everyone had been primed so they knew what they were doing (or should have!) Poor Charly was the only medic/Rotarian unable to turn up and we had to forgive him that as he was suffering from the dreaded Swine Flu.
As I said the morning started well. Until we were due to assemble the two gazebos. That was when the heavens opened and a minor hurricane swept over the Showground. Flipping heck, we thought, or words to that effect! Trevor and Val, Derek, David, Mollie and myself fought with the elements and finally put up both gazebos. And yes, you've guessed it, the sun immediately came out, the hurricane turned into a gentle breeze but by then, of course, we were all completely sodden but Mollie and I carried on stoically "dressing" the tent whilst Shonaugh and Norman sorted out their ABBA posters and other bits and bobs. I have to say that I did feel somewhat of a fool that afternoon to be still in my wellie boots with the sun beating down in temperatures of around 23˚. My sensible flat healed shoes were still drying out in the boot of the car!
The gentle breeze turned into high winds through the evening and I am sure I was not the only one who said a silent prayer that the two gazebos were still upright the following morning. Miraculously they were, although one had mysteriously moved sideways!
Saturday was a glorious day and the sun shone continuously until, yes, you've guessed again, at around 5.15pm (we were due to carry on until 6pm) the heavens opened once more and that same mini hurricane (on its return journey, I reckon) tried to thwart the efforts of our dismantling team. The sun came out again at 6pm!
Amazingly, 374 blood pressures were taken over those two days. 73 people were referred to their GPs with 2 as a matter of urgency so we felt that the whole exercise was well worth the effort.
I can't thank enough those Rotarians who helped put up and dismantle the gazebos; Mollie, who stayed with me throughout the entire two days helping in the tent; Shonaugh who was there nearly as long and did a magnificent job in bringing the punters in; Miles and Ian for the excellent display board which was read avidly by those waiting for their BPs to be taken; all the Rotarians who had duties and, of course, the doctors and nurses. I must give an especial thanks to Dr Richard Taylor, Dr David Irving, Dr Ali Lerant and nurse Lynne Rowe from Taylor Mohrs, Occupational Health Services at 2 Clifton Park, Bristol, who after working full time still came out to help the cause of Stroke Awareness. Jo Hawker and Audrey Savory stood in at the last minute and our own Mary O'Hara also took BPs. In total we had a team of 14 medics, too many to mention individually, but rest assured I will be calling on them again next year!
S.V.P. Jacqui Howard-Brown
