(You can see Kay right in the middle of this photo of our London flashmobbers, with a coffee in her hand, and Liz Martin – the inspiring community choir leader she talks about – just in front of her….)

It was this scenery that persuaded us to settle here in Wotton in the sixties, but very soon we realized that there was so much more to the town.  Growing up in a stable community with excellent schools our children made friends for life.  We mothers also made friends: at the Play Group in Synwell; through the Baby Sitting Circle; at meetings of the Housewives’ Register which organised annual floats for the Wotton Carnival with fun for the children and their parents in the parties that followed.

Now as grandparents we appreciate that life has just got better and better here. The opportunities for every generation to join in cultural and sporting activities have increased year by year. We can make music, dance, practise craft work at Under the Edge Arts or enjoy an amazing standard of professional performance there. The latest films from the UK and abroad are shown at the Electric Picture House, so we have no need to travel further afield to keep up to date.

So, what makes Wotton tick? The answer has to be the community. All the above activities are run by volunteers. Just look at the success of the swimming pool for the latest example.

On a personal note the community was a great support to me during a recent year of cancer treatment, in particular the group of friends who share a common interest in literature and have formed a Book Group which, appropriately, meets in winter. So there you have it, whether it’s summer sunshine or grey winter weather there’s always something to lighten your day if you live in Wotton.

The biggest thing I learnt from the whole terrifying experience was how much the community means to people in my position. I had two operations and spent months at home undergoing chemotherapy. The community rallied round in every way possible; some helped to look after the children, others brought us home-made food, they dropped round, phoned or e-mailed  to cheer me up, loads of people sent cards or flowers,  and when I did manage to get out people always stopped me in the street to ask me how I was getting on. I was really surprised by the number of other women in Wotton who had been through the same experience, and who could offer me advice and encouragement.

There was something I have wanted to do for some time. I run a technology club at my son’s school, Blue Coat, where we have lots of fun designing and building things such as balloon powered hovercraft and buggies, marble mazes, zip wires, pop rockets, bottle rockets and miniature siege weapons such as ballistae and trebuchets!  I wanted to write a little book of detailed, illustrated instructions so that lots of other children could also have a go at the projects.

When I realised I would be stuck at home for months, unable to pursue any of my normal activities, I decided that I would focus on achieving this one thing. All my spare energy (of which there was precious little) went into building prototypes and writing and illustrating the instructions. Again the Wotton community pulled out all the stops, with support and encouragement, ideas, photography, cover design, testing out the instructions and proof reading the manuscript.

After a period which seemed like forever, but was actually only six months, the book and the chemotherapy were finally finished. The book was printed and bound at our local printers, and we launched it at the school. There was an amazing response from the school community – 62 copies sold and loads of the children came to an after school design and build session. We had another session at our other local school, the British School, and a third in the library – the librarian said the place was buzzing; she had never seen it so full!

Our local bookshop in Wotton agreed to stock the book, and it is also available on line (see www.technologyforfun.co.uk for more details). It is a testimony to all the people who helped, and a cheering thought that, even if I were to lose the cancer battle, perhaps some of my ideas and enthusiasm could carry on without me!

So, why am I doing all this? Quite simply, because this community has helped and supported me through difficult times and I want to give something back. And the more I’ve talked to people here about my experiences, the more I’ve realised that many others feel the same way. We all have stories to tell about what community means to us and we all have something to share.

If you’d like to know more about my story and what inspired me to start Meet Me in Winter, please have a look at the short vlog below.