Making Waves CD Album

Gavin Tyte has released his second CD album called Making Waves.  This features 14 songs including worship, meditation, instrumentals and even a trip-hop Taize track!  The style is electro pop with a definite retro vibe.  Making Waves is only £5 and is available from Rose Cottage or The Rec House.

Well, it rained – a downpour!  I was worried that people wouldn’t turn up to the second summer community BBQ at Rose Cottage, but they did!  There were about 60 of us and the rain didn’t put us off one bit.  We had a great time and the food and band were excellent.  It was so good to see people with learning difficulties and those facing real difficulties in their lives being welcomed and laughing together.  Community can be such a buzz word, and it is often used for things that are not really community at all – but what we experienced on Thursday night, and what we have here at Rose Cottage – is real community.  This bunch of people – of all shapes and sizes – are not just clients, but family.

Dave cooking in the rain!

Tribute

Dennis Parker, aged 58, had what we would call a hard life.  One of 12 siblings, his father died in a tragic accident when he was just five years old.  I don’t know what his education was like but we know he couldn’t read or write much.  He lost an eye at the age of 19 when, working in a cement factory, another lad thought it would be funny to throw lime in his face.  Dennis was married once and had two children – a boy (Edward) and a girl, both of whom were taken into care.  Sadly he had lost touch with them.  At some point in his working life he fell off a skip and badly hurt his back.  Dennis got into a lot of trouble and had been in prison a few times for minor offences.  Dennis was such a trusting person and sadly, people took advantage of him.  He smoked and drank heavily all his 58 years.  Dennis never got over the death of his beloved mum.

Dennis moved to Bath in December 2005.  He was on the protection programme after witnessing his best friend getting shot and testifying against some pretty nasty characters – an event that haunted his dreams and many of his waking moments. There were times when his memories became too much for him to bear, and he would let his defenses down.  With a tear in his eye he we would hold hands and he would ask God for peace and forgiveness.  I have no doubt that in those precious moments, Dennis connected deeply with a loving and merciful God.

It is true to say that Dennis was living to escape a past he was desperately trying to forget.  However, Bath was a happy place for him and he had a quality of life here.   At the age of 55, he had made a fresh start.  He was immensely grateful to the Twerton community for accepting him and loving him – something he had rarely experienced in his life.  It was this love and acceptance that gave him the space and encouragement to start life again.  Dennis started to blossom.  He loved his friends at the Full Moon Pub and found a real sense of love and belonging at Rose Cottage.  He helped out his neighbours and at different times volunteered at the City Farm and for Time Bank.  A few days before he died, his support worker Kirsten asked him how he was, and he replied, “Top of the world.”

During the past few years Dennis lived life to the full.   When he ate a meal, it was the best meal he ever ate.  When he described something he liked, he didn’t just like it, he absolutely bloody loved it.  When he introduced someone, it was as his best mate or top gal.  He made many of us smile and seemed always to have an encouraging word to say.  He made all of us feel good about ourselves.  Dennis’s story was of a life redeemed.  Yes, he still felt a pain he felt he needed to drown out – and he still messed up from time to time – but it was as if, on the inside, all the heaviness that he had carried all his life was being lifted from his shoulders and he was a child again.

I wonder if, when we meet Dennis again, whether we will recognize him.   There won’t be lines of worry on his brow, sunken eyes from a lifetime of booze, fags and regrets.  His joints will be strong.  A young cockney lad will bounce up to us, look us in they eye and greet us as if we are his best friend, his top bloke, his favourite gal.

We will all miss you Dennis.  You didn’t have much in this world but your presence made our lives just a bit richer.  Thanks mate.

Memories

My memory of Dennis was when he wanted to sing on karaoke.  He made me stand next to him and read the words out for him just so he could have a go as he couldn’t read.  He always wanted to join in everything that was going on and was the life and soul of the party.  He was a big part of The Full Moon and will be greatly missed.  Love Sam.

My mate Dennis could always have a joke with the lads and could take a joke.  He was always very polite to people, and never really had a bad word to say to anybody.  He will be dearly missed as a friend and an all-round good bloke.  From Paul.

I felt so sad when I heard about the passing away of Dennis.  We were just beginning to get to know him.  He was a great character, very kind and thoughtful.  He was always very pleased to see us and he would great each of the ladies with a kiss.  It’s a shame we didn’t get to hear more about his life as a younger man – that would have been good to hear.  Dennis will be great up there with Jesus.  Love Pauline.

Dennis was a great man and was always there to help anyone out.  He was a good friend to a lot of people and will be missed by everyone.  From Lee.

Sadly missed.  Good man.  “Brandy”  Love Dave and family.

In the short time he was at Pennard Court, Dennis made a big impact.  He was so friendly to everyone and everybody loved him.  We will miss him.  Love Christine.

You were such a great laugh.  I will miss your Elvis moves.  Love Shirley and the kids.

I did not know Dennis for long, but in the time I did know him, I developed a good friendship with him.  Dennis was a gentleman – he helped others and enjoyed his life. The last few months of Dennis’s life were filled with care and love.  He died knowing that he was loved.  Who can ask for more.  Rest in peace Dennis.  Love Julie.

I remember Dennis as the life and soul of every party we ever had, especially when he dressed as Elvis for a friends hen party – he loved going in the limo with all the girls.  He was always kind and polite to people and always bought things for kids at bonfire night and Christmas.  He will be sadly missed.  His friend, Glen and familiy.

It’s been a long and mixed day here at the Rose Cottage Community.  It was with great sadness that we heard about the death of Dennis.  For those of you who didn’t know Dennis, he was a fifty-year-old guy who could often be seen in the local pubs or at Rose Cottage.  He would often be shouting something cheeky across the road, with his unmistakable broad cockney accent.  Dennis had a heart of gold, and would often be pushing a neighbour in a wheelchair or trying to help out.  I recently returned from a few days away to discover that Dennis had trimmed our hedge!  Sure, it was a bit wonky and looked like a punk with a bad haircut, but hey, he wanted to do his best for someone else and we loved him for it.  Dennis found a real sense of community in Twerton, both through the pubs and at Rose Cottage.  Despite a long history of alcohol, smoking, and a multitude of health problems, I had the great privelege of praying with him on several occasions, celebrating the good times and commiserating the bad.  Dennis will surely be missed.  Then, on the positive side, we had some new people come along to Rose Cottage – fellas who, like Dennis, are going through tough times and need encouragement and support. It was a privelege to sit with them and listen and pray with them too.  This was all on top of preparing for our Wednesday community cafe, planning a family worship service for Sunday, my youngest daughter spending six hours at the RUH with a suspected twisted colon (that thankfully turned out to be a false alarm), recording the Year 6s singing Oliver at St. Michael’s Junior School, walking the dog and watching my eldest daughter at her Guides show! Somewhere in the day I also managed to respond to a dozen or so calls and emails and squeeze in a couple of meals too.  So after watching Episode 10 of Celebrity Masterchef on iPlayer, it’s off to bed so I can be ready for another day in Twerton. Goodnight Dennis.

Hitch by Gavin Tyte

Gavin has just published a book of 40 short stories. The book is an account of several months he spent hitch-hiking around Australia. It is part a travelogue and part reflection and somewhere along the way he finds God (or does God find him?). Anyway, it’s aimed at young people, but anyone may enjoy reading it. It costs £5 and is available online from lulu.com.

Summer is in full swing at Rose Cottage and there’s a great community vibe here. As I write, Gary and Coling are fixing the fence and painting the front door. Roy, Dot, Dennis and other customers are eating a cheap, healthy, totally yummy lunch in the cafe. I can hear laughter coming from Clare and Sue in the kitchen! Sophie, Heidi and Alex are using the computers and making use of the free Internet connection. Serena’s kids are playing in the garden!

We’re getting ready for our first summer BBQ tomorrow night (Thursday 25th June) and we’ve order 240 items to cook on the BBQ and the entertainment is ready to roll – it should be a great evening!

These two pieces of descriptive writing were written by students of a literacy group from Bath College that meet at Rose Cottage on Wednesdays.
St Michael’s

Warm, sunny day with a breeze that eases the heat on ancient gravestones.
“Sinner saved by grace’ what does that imply? What did she do? Was she blamed for the early demise of infant children? Or was there a death-bed conversion to Christianity?

Birds sing, unaware of what lies beneath, feathered angels fly skyward toward heaven, pointing the way to souls of the departed.

Daisies and buttercups turn toward the sun while the church looks on.

A giant redwood tree soars above, competing for dominance with the church tower.

Inside, shade and calm prevail, giving relief from the cares of the world.

Carved pews line up as soldiers, awaiting command and the ornate pulpit looks out towards the void.

A stone carved relief of the Last Supper is proud above the altar and choir stalls are silent until the next hymn.

Lush red carpet, leading from altar to font, where countless baptisms have been, proud parents standing by.

I leave refreshed, more able to face the day.

by Barbara Davidson

St. Michael’s Church, Twerton

A medium size, grey stone construction of its type. Appears to have very solid foundations. Obviously spanning many years, from the weathered look of the stone work. The church has a large tower, encompassing very ornate windows.

Set in a truly peaceful green-grass setting, surrounded by picturesque very old trees.

The entire site encompasses a feeling of thoughtfulness, to me, regarding memories of people’s lives, over the centuries, set in the messages on the surrounding gravesites.

Also a reminder of how each day is so precious to each of us, on this life time journey through many large gardens of our own life memories.

The visit to this dear little church, I found to be wonderfully thought provoking.

A further visit one day would be very much enjoyed especially to see the interior.

by De Hewitt