Enstone Village News
Lung transplant woman’s appeal
Thursday, 05 November 2009 15:09
A BRAVE woman living in a village near Chipping Norton has urged people to donate organs to the National Health Service after double-lung-transplant surgery saved her life.
Penny Hart, aged 64, of Swerford, received two new lungs during surgery at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, in March 2008.
She began suffering from emphysema, a condition affecting the lungs, about 25 years previously because she smoked and had inherited her parents’ lung problems.
Although it made her breathless, Penny lived with the condition for about 18 years.
She consulted her doctor when her condition deteriorated so badly that she could no longer breathe. Her doctor sent her to hospital in Banbury, from where she was transferred to Papworth.
Penny said she would have died without the transplant.
She does not know who donated the lungs or how the donor died.
Penny said: “I know she was a woman but I know nothing else about her because all her details are kept really confidential.
“What I do know is that she had made it clear to her family before she died that if anything happened to her she wanted her organs used for other people.
“I feel unbelievably grateful to her and incredibly grateful to her family because when they were at their worst they allowed it to go ahead.”
Penny is married to Colin Hart and they have a daughter, Lucinda.
She and Lucinda run The Balloon Lady business that supplies balloons, decorations and flowers for parties.
Penny said the transplant had enabled her to do things she was previously incapable of.
She said: “It’s like magic.
“We went for a walk around Blenheim Palace park the other day and that’s about four and a half miles.
“For somebody who could not walk four yards beforehand, that’s a miracle.”
Penny urged people to put their names on the NHS Organ Donor Register and to inform their families so their loved ones know they want their organs donated after they have died.
She said: “Three people a day die while on the transplant waiting list.
“Would you want a transplant yourself if it were the only hope of living?”
To register, visit organdona tion.nhs.uk or call 0300 1232323.
By: Cotswold Journal
Chipping Norton post office saved
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 23:09
THE future of a West Oxfordshire post office has been secured.
Chipping Norton post office customers faced uncertainty over the future of the service when a sub-postmistress announced her retirement.
A new sub-postmistress for the High Street branch could not be found, but Midcounties Co-operative — which has a food store just doors away — has stepped in to safeguard the branch.
It has kept on the two remaining members of staff, and plans to recruit two more people.
The post office was closed on Thursday morning for the changeover.
New manager, Linda Allinson, said: “We are still trading from the same office. The staff have stayed with us, so it has all stayed the same.
“All the services, such as foreign currency and all that sort of thing, are still here.
“It has been very positive.
“People have been very friendly, and I think they have looked forward to it. We are up and running with no big bangs.”
Sue Berry, district manager of Midcounties Co-operative Post Office Group, said: “As a co-operative business, we are committed to serving local communities. This will ensure an important service is retained in the same location which people are used to.
“We will not only offer the same services as before, we will also look in future at how we can develop them.
“We have long experience of running post offices. We operate 85 post offices across our trading area, ranging from large city centre sites to small rural outlets.
“We believe in supporting our local communities and meeting the needs of our members and customers. When Post Office Ltd approached us to ask if we would like to take on Chipping Norton post office, we were happy to do so, and the move has been welcomed by local people.”
Sue Dakin, Post Office spokesman, added: “We are delighted Midcounties Co-operative has taken over the running of this branch.
“The transfer supports the long-term future of Post Office services in the area after a period of uncertainty, while a suitable successor to the last sub-postmistress couldn’t be found.
“Chipping Norton branch will remain at its current location.”
Linda Allinson
Charity donations doubled through Hook Norton beer
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 23:07
Hook Norton’s Flagship brew will still be sold throughout November and charity donations from each pint will be doubled.
“We will double our commitment to Help for Heroes and pay 10p per pint to the charity for every pint sold,” pledged md James Clarke.
The hoppy beer, which is thought to go well with a strong Cheddar cheese, was originally brewed in 2005 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.