Ellee Seymour

The nearby community where my sons went to school is in mourning today following the death of its bravest little lad, Liam Fairhurst aged 14. He passed away quietly at home in Soham  with his family and close friends present after battling cancer.

My son James has been reading the tearful messages left on the Liam Fairhurst fan club Facebook site, where he is described as “a true legend”. Those words couldn’t be truer. James knew Liam from school and said he was loved by everyone, he was that kind of boy with a golden smile.

For anyone who doesn’t know Liam, he started fundraising in 2006 with a sponsored one mile swim after undergoing gruelling treatment and an operation to remove a tumour in his leg. His target was £1,000, but he raised £12,000. He then appeared on ITV’s “Fortune Million Pound Giveaway” and was awarded £50,741 to fund a caravan in Yorkshire where families affected by childhood cancer can take a much deserved break. His story brought a tear to the eye of one of the panelists, Dragon’s Den millionaire Duncan Bannaytyne.

Liam continued his fund-raising, despite his illness, and ended up raising over £250,000 for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

It was no wonder that last summer he won the Britain’s Kindest Kids title in a competition run by Five News and the Charities Aid Foundation. His prize was £1,000 pocket money and £1,000 in CAF Charity Vouchers.

And do you know what this totally selfless boy did with his money? He shared his good fortune with others. It brought a lump to my throat when I read about it here:

Liam said: “I’d like the other finalists to get some of the money because they deserve it too. I’d like them to have £200 for each of their charities. I’m going to spend £200 on something I’d like. I’m going to give each family member the same amount and spend the remaining £200 on something for all the family”.

Could there be a better role model for today’s young people? Impossible. Liam was a true legend, and I hope his kindness and selflessness will continue to inspire all those whose lives he touched. 

Why do children get cancer? It’s so cruel and unfair. I send my deepest sympathies to his heartbroken family who should be so proud of their wonderful boy and his outstanding achievements.

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From horse carriage to fire engine, and limo to pushbike, these  were some of the eye catching ways in which my son James’ friends arrived for their school prom this evening.

One novel set of wheels which drew up was this dingy recycling  bin – and two grinning guys leapt out of it; I’m not surprised the lads didn’t have dates! It’s not a very romantic way of asking a girl out for a special night in her best party frock. Nevertheless. it attracted huge cheers.

James arrived in a roaring red Mustang – one of three which zoomed up in convoy and lined up neatly next to each other simultaneously to make a dramatic impact. It brought a huge lump to my throat to see James dressed up to the nines and walking down the red carpet with his lady in red.

He was a fresh faced 11-year-old when he started at his excellent secondary school and is now a confident 16-year-old facing his next journey in life at sixth form college in Cambridge. He is more than ready to move on.

James’ love of golf is still a major force in his life and he plans to leave the post-prom party early at 1am (yours truly is picking him up) as he has a golf tournament tomorrow. That’s dedication for you.

I’ve been trying to encourage him to let me record him on video giving golf tips to kids, I want us to make a series for YouTube, but I haven’t managed to convince him yet. I think it is a great idea.

*Meanwhile, my eldest son David is spending the weekend in London with a friend and has made a good recovery from his broken thumb. However, his injury has hindered his regular weight training programme which has really upset him.

There has been a huge change in David’s appearance since started uni last September. He then had a skinny chest, but since joining his uni’s gym and using the weights, he has developed terrific muscles and could easily be one of those hunky male models in the Calvin Klein adverts.

*We were all stunned by the shock news of Michael Jackson’s sudden death at such a young age; I always thought he was immortal. It has made me question my mortality and whether I should be more impulsive and live for the moment.

Which brings me back to the present – and a huge pile of ironing which needs my attention while the clock ticks away till 1am….

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Congratulations to Cambridge’s most illustrious road sweeper Allan Brigham, who is to collect an honorary master’s degree from Cambridge University for his services to the community as a tour guide.

I’m hoping to join him on one of his hidden history city tours – “town, not gown” – next Monday evening.

Allan, who has a degree in history, is a well known guide and local historian, and is renowned for his fascinating accounts of city life which he is keen to share with Cambridge residents.

His website states: “Many local people know more about villages visited on holiday in Tuscany or Yorkshire than about their home town.” That is so true.

I used to live near Mill Road in Cambridge before I married, the area where Allan will be leading his walk next week. It is described as the “new Islington” for its eclectic and vibrant variety of shops and restaurants. I wish I had known about Mill Road’s hidden history then….but it is never too late.

A friend joined one his tours last weekend which was intended for 20 people – only 50 turned up, and nobody was turned away. Allan is a bit of a Pied Piper character.

I wish I had joined that tour too, it sounds wonderful, so no wonder so many joined Allan for his walk around Coldham’s Common and the Leper Chapel, the city’s oldest building. He was joined by a wildlife expert to point out the best places to see water voles, three-spined stickleback and kingfishers.

When I spoke to Allan this week to put my name on his email list, he told me he did not know why he had been nominated for his distinguished university honour.

“The university works in mysterious ways,” he said.

Allan’s honour is well deserved. In a city like Cambridge, it is important to remind everyone that there is much more to it than just its world famous university.

*If you are visiting Cambridge this summer, then do consider joining the Darwin Tour of Cambridge to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth. It includes a visit to his rooms at Christ’s College.

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MP Richard Spring has described the publication of blacked-out expenses as a “mockery”.

He was shocked to find that his expenses were censored this way, even though he made no requests to have any items removed from publication.

The Suffolk MP has told his local paper, the East Anglian Daily Times, that it came as “a massive surprise” to see details of his expenses list smothered in black ink.

He said; “I felt it was not in the spirit of transparency to have any items covered up…. Frankly it never occurred to me that this would be the case. I am sure there are many other MPs just as amazed as me.

“It is an incredible own-goal and makes a mockery of the whole process of our relationship with the public, who must be absolutely aghast.”

He accused the House of Commons authorities of “humiliating” him by publishing the heavily-edited accounts, which would have shown he claimed £4,000 a year in food.

To view an uncensored version of Richard’s expenses, his website guides you to where they are published online.

Now that’s what I call transparency…

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I was at the 10th anniversary dinner of Cambridge Speakers’ Club a few days ago and asked our area governor Graham Frost whether the recession had seen a decline of membership.

I wondered if Toastmaster clubs were closing due to lack of support. On the contrary, he told me, the recession was making them more popular.

He told me that Toastmasters International, the world’s largest not-for-profit educational organization, has had a net gain of clubs in the U.K. and Ireland in 2008/9. Toastmasters clubs exist to help their members develop their communication and leadership skills in a mutually supportive environment. There are over 200 clubs in the U.K. and Ireland, and the growth rate has exceeded expectations for the year.

“In these uncertain times, people are recognizing that they need to be able to compete for the jobs and contracts that are available. Toastmasters International helps people to develop their public speaking skills, and this helps with self-confidence and self esteem. When you walk off stage after speaking to 50 or 60 people, you are on a high, and people are beginning to realize that you can harness that feeling to develop your feelings about yourself. This can help with the achievement of your goals,” said Graham. 

Public speaking is the biggest fear that people have – they fear it more than death, according to Graham – and I can certainly vouch for its support in helping me overcome my fear. It is a great source of inspiration to be reminded by our confident and fluent members that they have also overcome this great obstacle. When I see them speak, it is impossible to believe that one day they stuttered and stammered too.

This obviously is a great skill for people seeking new jobs, as well as learning how to improve body language too. Membership fees are extremely reasonable, so do not hesitate. In fact, we are lucky in Cambridge because, due to demand, we have two clubs; a second club called Cambridge City Communictors was set up by Mike Snoswell and Michelle Fleming to meet demand.

For further information about Toastmasters in the Eastern Region, contact contact Graham Frost on 01733 311288, 07766 916317 or at tmgrahamf@hotmail.com

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It’s incredibly difficult to succeed in a Lottery grant bid – but we managed it at Headway Cambridgeshire, thanks to our brilliant Chief Executive Andrew Gardner.

It has just been announced that we have secured £372,579 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme for five years, enabling Headway Cambridgeshire to expand its project to support brain injury survivors and their families in Cambridgeshire.

The Making Headway in the Community project will employ a second community brain injury advisor so more people can get support when they are discharged from hospital and who will work with more GPs to ensure earlier referrals. The types of support on offer include drop-in centres, carers support groups, family education workshops and support groups for the children of people with an acquired brain injury.  There will also be brain injury aware counselling services, online chatrooms and a telephone support helpline.

As brain injury survivors can have a range of problems such as short-term memory problems, lack of confidence and self-esteem, the support activities help them identify their skills and maximise their potential for independent living, preparing them to return to work or get training and education.

As I always say, an acquired brain injury could happen to any of us any day.

Well done Andrew, and a BIG thank you to everyone at the Big Lottery Fund. I promise you your money will  be well used.

*As chair of trustees for Headway Cambridgeshire, I am proud to lead a very talented and committed professional board. It is a new board – with two new trustees recruited in the last month. I have planned a cheese and wine party at my house so we can get to know each other better. I thought it would be great for us to socialise without the stress of rushing to a meeting and then rushing off.

I have a surprise planned for them too. My friend’s son is a very talented jazz musician and I have arranged for him to entertain us on his trumpet during the evening. He has been training with The Guildhall School of Music and Drama for several years and is going to study for a music degree with them. I know he will thrill us all.

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I called into the Apple Store in Cambridge today where the staff are very excited about the new iPhone which will be launched in the UK on Friday.

It has voice control and a compass and I am lusting after one – surely every Rambler like me should have one! And, at long last, it includes a video and improved camera.

Unfortunately, the contract on my iPhone runs for another year, in which time there might be another fantastic upgrade because the digital world is moving so fast. It’s moving so fast that it is scary.

Without intending to sound like a doom mongerer, I’m worried about it all going wrong one day, that we will leave ourselves exposed to unscrupulous and ruthless people who can access it to harm us. Or there might be a bug which makes it collapse, causing the most horrendous and catastrophic damage.

Gordon Brown reckons the internet is as vital as water and gas. Not every one would agree. I am amazed that my sister runs her own business, a dress shop, and never uses a computer. I know lots of people who still don’t own one. I am sure there are many vulnerable people, including those suffering from Alzheimer’s, who wished Gordon Brown showed them the same passion about access to medication to help improve the quality of their lives and to fund research into this devastating disease, never mind access to the internet.

I certainly love the digital world, but I do wonder what impact it will have on the next generation of society and their real social interaction. I wonder if it will somehow backfire spectacularly.

In a few years time when my nearest and dearest wants to buy me some jewellery for Christmas, I wonder if he will head to IBM and treat me to their futuristic designs – a ring which flashes to alert you to an incoming call. The caller’s number is displayed on the watch and you can answer the call through a tiny speaker in the earrings. There is also a necklace which holds a microphone to speak into.

I wonder what they have planned for men!!

And this futuristic plan sounds really sinister. According to my source, Online Public Relations, by David Phillips and Philip Young, IBM is also working on emotional sensing by monitoring body temperature, heartbeat and moods. This information can then be transmitted over the internet and others can gain access to it.

I find that really spooky and too much information to share. Just imagine if we could access the emotions of our politicians. Am I alone in wanting to keep my emotions to myself….

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Sir Alan Sugar’s first task as the government’s new enterprise tsar should be to help secure jobs for our newly unemployed graduates with large debts around their necks.

They are not alone as the former Bank of England policy maker David Blanchflower has warned that 1 million people under 25 will be unemployed by September.

The National Union of Students is very concerned how many of their 300,000 graduates this summer will get jobs. These are the first generation of students to pay top-up fees and will leave university with thousands of pounds of debt during an economic downturn when nearly half of all firms have admitted that they will not be offering them any jobs.

I wonder how many of them will hear those two magic words: “Your hired!”

The NUS is pushing for MPs to address the issue of student debt urgently and has come up with its own radical proposals, including ending course fees and making payments according to their future earnings.

They propose a People’s Trust for Higher Education to which graduates would make a contribution, linked to how much they earn and how many academic credits they have attained. The actual proportion of earnings donated to the trust would vary on average from 0.3 from the bottom fifth of earners to 2.5% for the top 20% of earners. Contributions would be collected for a fixed period of 20 years and graduates would not contribute anything while earning less than £15,000.

I say full marks to our students for being very responsible in proposing alternative solutions about a very worrying issue, even if it may not be perfect. At the very least, I hope their ideas are considered by government and a dialogue begins to tackle this increasingly worrying issue.

I also hope that Sir Alan can use his influence in business to sponsor/recruit our debt laden graduates.

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The European Parliament is seeking views about what you would like your newly elected MEPs to concentrate on. It has published an agenda of some of the issues it will shortly be dealing with, from working hours and food labelling, to immigration and a European advisory body for banks. But it is also inviting comments regarding other issues you feel should be dealt with.

The list below shows that they are all hugely important issues which will have an impact on our daily lives. The debate on the accession of new EU countries is hugely important. I am personally not keen on Turkey joining with its 72.6 million residents.

Your money: To avoid financial crisis in the future the MEPs will look at a proposal to establish a European supervisory body for banks and to ensure tighter scrutiny of executive pay to discourage them from risky deals.  

MEPs will also be deciding together with EU Governments the new budgetary framework for the 7 year period after 2013 and allocating money for different priorities.

Your energy: Energy-efficient houses and a new label for tyres showing fuel-efficiency, safety and noise performance are just some measures to mitigate climate change and ensure energy security. Greater fuel efficiency could also mean cheaper fuel costs for drivers across Europe.

Your mobility: Rules on compensation for delays and cancellations for passengers in bus, coach and maritime transport and assistance for disabled passengers will be up for a second reading.

The House will also have a 2nd reading for rules on the use of information and communication technologies to make transport safer and cleaner and to reduce traffic congestion. Amendments aim to take better account of cyclists and pedestrians.

Your food: The EP will look at the proposal to provide clear information on contents of salt, sugar or fat and the country of origin of food.

Your health: A proposal to facilitate medical treatment anywhere in the EU will be presented for a second reading. It aims to clarify the conditions of treatment and reimbursement of the costs. 

Your work: Since there was no agreement on the change of the working time rules in the last Parliament, the Commission might present a new proposal.

Your family: An EP committee asked for extension of the maternity leave to 20 weeks (instead of 14) and 2 weeks of compulsory paternity leave. The next term MEPs will vote on it.  

Your communication: In its last term Parliament insisted on a prior court ruling before blocking any internet access. Thus the “telecoms package” could be subject to conciliation proceedings between Parliament and Council. Among other issues: consumer rights and privacy protection.

Your neighbours: The EP will debate on the accession of new EU members and on a balanced immigration policy.

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I would like to say a big thank you to the superb medical staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge who treated David’s broken bone in his thumb.

He tripped up on some steps in Hull last week at 2.30am after a night out with his uni friends and returned to his Cambridgeshire home plastered – literally. Within days, he had miraculously mastered texting with his left hand.

Yesterday he was whizzed into day surgery where the dislocated and broken bones were wired up and he was able to come home early evening.

Fortunately for him, it happened after David had finished his exams, and fortunately for me, after the Euro election so I could spend time with him in hospital without worrying about work.

The bad news for David is that his injury means he cannot use his right hand for the next month or so and is unable to return to his summer job at Dune shoe shop in Cambridge until it heals. As a self-funding student, he really needed that money, so this accident is costing him dear.

What really surprised me about Addenbrooke’s was how it turns a blind eye to patients smoking outside their front door, despite a speaker announcement stating that it is forbidden, and advising of their designated smoking areas.

I saw patients puffing away in wheelchairs and strapped to drips and it certainly gave a very poor impression.

*Meanwhile, not only has James given up his drama lessons for golf, but also cricket, which I am disappointed about. Last summer he played for two local teams, as well as the Lords & Commons X1, and I loved seeing him dressed in his whites. Going to matches was the only time I would catch up on my reading too, ensuring I was not glued to the computer at least a couple of warm, summer evenings each week.

The other day I had a text message from him asking me to pick him up from the golf club later than planned as he had met up with “a pro” who was giving him some tips.

When I arrived, I pulled up in my usual spot marked “ladies captain”. This is next to the club captain’s parking bay. James is usually pretty prompt, but on this occasion the minutes ticked by and the club captain arrived and packed his clubs in the boot of his convertible Mercedes.

I felt a bit awkward about being caught out in the ladies captain’s parking bay, so I just smiled at him and started chatting about James’ love of golf and how it had taken over his life. He avoided eye contact for a while, maybe feeling he should be giving me a ticking off for my faux pas. I sensed that was one big black mark in my copy book.

James then sauntered along and I could see him inwardly wincing, hoping I wasn’t embarrassing him. The captain said he remembered playing with James last year; James didn’t remember, so maybe he has confused James with someone else.

James’ biggest fear is that one day I will take up golf too…

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