Ex-vicar's dry stone walling helps ease Romanian poverty (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Ex-vicar's dry stone walling helps ease Romanian poverty
1:35pm Sunday 16th September 2007 in Local news By Newsdesk
Puiu Tarcea (left) says thank you to the Rev Brian Gregory.
A RETIRED Ilkley vicar has used his spare time to help raise money for poor people in one of the European Union's newest members.
When a dry stone garden wall in Ben Rhydding began toppling over recently, Brian Gregory, and another member of the Otley and Yorkshire branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association came to the rescue.
By their actions, Mr Gregory, who retired last year as vicar of St John's Ben Rhydding, and Patrick Wallace, a retired health trust chief executive, of Riddlesden, Keighley, won from the wall's owner, a generous donation to a Romanian charity. During a short stay in Ilkley, Puiu Tarcea, charity president of Romanian The Friendship Foundation, visited the wall to see for himself this unusual way of raising funds and to say thanks.
The charity, of which Brian Gregory is vice-president, has gained much support from Ilkley and Ben Rhydding over the years.
This month, it benefited to the tune of £250 from a performance at St John's of Schumann's Dichterliebe with Roger Moseley (piano) and Andrew O'Brien (tenor).
Mr Gregory said: "Walls are sometimes thought of as dividing people, but here's one that brings people together from two nations. All welcome relief to the disadvantaged children and elderly people of the EU's newest member state."
Mr Gregory, of Strawberry Street, Silsden, said that anyone interested was welcome to undertake a training course in dry stone walling at the branch.
"All it takes is a weekend to get started and after that it's a case of practice makes perfect. Well, almost," he said.
Mr Gregory added: "I've never regretted taking it up some five years ago,' he adds. It's a satisfying hobby and a good way of making new friends."
Branch meetings are held in Otley Social Club on the first Tuesday evening of each month. The group has an internet web site (www.dswa.org.uk).
