MARIAN TEMPLE. WANSTEAD.

CHARITY FUNDRAISER SINCE 1978.

I grew up in Aldersbrook Road with Wanstead Flats as my front garden, and Wanstead Park as my back garden. The cows trundled in and ate everything in the garden, and I thought that was normal! I walked to Aldersbrook Primary School each day, crossing the road on to the turf of the Flats, and imagined I was on a horse, galloping across the prairie. It took my mind off the fact I didn't like school, which was too noisy and competitive for my liking.

Later, I went to West Hatch, which was too big for me. Our home life was strongly influenced by the fact that my elder brother was disabled, and my parents were careful to reduce sibling competition as much as possible. This dislike of competition has stayed with me throughout my life.

In general I didn't like school, and at West Hatch I wasn't made to feel that I had any talents, so it was bizarre that I trained as a teacher, and then loved the job! It took me around all ages, many subjects, and a few countries, which made me curious about other cultures. I also wanted to satisfy this travel bug while I could, as I assumed I would be my brother's carer later in life.

My first long trip was the Kibbutz experience, which coincided with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur war. My parents typically allowed me to make the decision to stay and I made many long term friends and gained confidence in life, following my negative school experiences.

Later, while teaching in Greece, I was aware of their pre-democratic regime where torture was the norm. I was so privileged to have been born at the right time in a safe culture, and this awareness greatly influenced my future life. On my return to the UK in 1978, I joined Amnesty International, the Human Rights organisation formed in the 1960's from a Quaker background. Amnesty works in the murkiest corners of injustice around the globe.

I was a speaker for them, and visited schools and other organisations. I really wanted people to know what we were dealing with and would begin my talk with, "The first thing Sharmil's parents knew of their daughter's plight, was when the police called them, and ordered them to come and collect her body." This was a student on a demonstration, arrested, tortured and killed by the police in captivity. The police denied responsibility.

Such injustice galvanised me and other Amnesty members locally to organise events to raise funds to battle such regimes. Our local groups have probably raised some £50,000 over the years. Big events, and small donations for sales of homemade cards, jams and plants mount up over time.

I put a self service stall in my front garden in 1982 and started selling plants from the garden. I'm constantly delighted by the honesty of people who put their money through the letterbox. With the help of friends, I've thoroughly enjoyed opening my garden to the public for 15 years. Up to 80 people will come through the gate on a fine day, see the garden full of old fashioned flowers, and buy plants, home made jams and enjoy tea and homemade cakes. This year saw a record. We took a total of over £1000, all of it go to Amnesty International. I was overwhelmed - and exhausted!

Many of my plants have made their way up to the Corner House (Age UK) garden on the High Street, opposite the Co-op. I took that on in 2003 under the auspices of the Wanstead Society as it looked very sad and I felt I could cheer it up. With other volunteers I also enjoy doing the flower beds in the High Street, which I think makes a difference for the community.

Fundraising is something I do every day and I can't imagine giving it up as it's very satisfying. There might be the endless making of jams and chutneys for sale as part of my Amnesty Jamnesty campaign, but it keeps me warm in the kitchen in winter, and saves my heating bills! I don't sit down much and am very happy that way.

In fact, I'm just generally very happy!