Chipko

Chipko was built on the site of the Home Guard hut at Parslows Hillock in the 2nd world war.

It became the home of Andrew and Ann-Noel Clark

Report in Hallmark May 2007 Monstrous Performances = A Monstrous Total

Question: what have an unseen monstrous dragon, the brutal realities of political torture, two unsavoury bag-ladies and the lighter side of industrial unrest got to do with the worldwide fight to uphold human rights? Answer: the latest successful Theatre in the Home performance by Lacey Green Productions, together with The Command Performers.

Entitled, is it a Joke, or Serious?, the production was run over three performances on the weekend 2nd-4th February at Chipko, home to Andrew and Ann Noel Clark. The performances were free of charge, as the intention was to raise money for Amnesty International, an organisation which Andrew has been involved with for some time now.

Not many folk would be brave enough to open their doors to the assorted gang of players who formed the cast for the series of plays that made up the show, let alone be prepared to have their home converted into a miniature theatre. Many thanks to the Clarks for their generous hospitality, and for supplying two of the female members of the cast, as both Ann Noel and daughter Zettie were roped-in to tread the boards. Monsters, many of them human, featured heavily in the sketches and short plays — some of them leavened by a good dose of humour and silliness, others not so to deliberately shocking effect. There were some sights for sore eyes too, not least Ann Noel's housemaid’s overall and turban, Peter Brookhouse parading in the planet's most hideous waistcoat, and the unsuccessful introduction of the tea cosy as an item of fashion head wear...

Lacey Green Productions stalwart Brian Panter put in what he claims will be his last performance (again!), but we suspect that the right role might tempt him to face the limelight again.

Those who attended the Saturday performance were given an outdoor encore, courtesy of the eclipsed moon, clearly visible above the Bucks tree line.

Each audience had the dubious post-show experience of mixing with the cast and crew, an encounter perhaps eased by the availability of wine and nibbles.

The event exceeded our expectations when a grand sum of bang-on £800 was collected for Amnesty’s important work in championing the victims of oppression across the globe.

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"Chipko" hosted Concert for Anti-Slavery reported by Andrew Clark, Chair, Anti-Slavery

Volunteered By The W5 Wind Quartet

In the series of charitable events held at "Chipko" (on the left just past the Pink & Lily) in recent years, the latest was a second concert in aid of Anti-Slavery International. The W5 Wind Quintet, named after the district in London where it rehearses, came on Sat June 6th and gave a performance of French classical music followed, after an interval serving Fairtrade wines, by arrangements of English folk songs and jazz. The house was indeed packed with an audience of 48 whose generosity netted an excellent result of £ 2,739, including gift aid tax recovery.

Anti-Slavery International is the oldest existing human rights organisation in the world, dating from 1839. Slavery worldwide is illegal and yet has mutated.

Slavery is defined by the treatment of an individual as a commodity, forcing her or him to work (often for nothing) by violence or threats and denying freedom of movement. The concert programme sheet gave two examples, one from Niger in West Africa and one from High Wycombe. In the former, Hadijatou Mani, in an historic test case (like Rosa Parks for American civil rights), successfully sued the Niger government and her ex-master for failing to protect her from domestic and sexual enslavement. Nearer to home, Vietnamese young men are trafficked to High Wycombe, allegedly as "gardeners". Indebted for their transport, passports removed by the traffickers andunable to speak English, they are immediately incriminated by being made to grow cannabis in suburban houses. |

Anti-Slavery International has a staff of 20 and a programme of £2 millions worldwide, including UK. Trafficking of young women from Eastern Europe is probably the most high profile contemporary form of slavery in the UK. However, the forms of slavery around the world are descent-based slavery, cocoa plantation forced labour and abductions during warfare in Africa including child soldiers, bonded labour in Asia. Domestic and worst forms of child labour exist in Western capitals but are widespread Ip India and Philippines. In Asia forced child begging is also widespread.

Anti-Slavery's Director is part of a £40M Cocoa Initiative funded by Cadburys in West Africa addressing labour conditions locally. The policy is to identify the slavery links in the commercial supply chains. Recently the USA fast food industry conceded the need to increase payment for tomatoes. Anti-Slavery works with local organisations as allies in each country to strengthen (and sometimes protect) them as they research the facts and campaign courageously. In Niger, Anti-Slavery together with the local organisation Timidria is assisting three new schools for the children of freed slaves. In UK it has campaigned and succeeded in making. the teaching of slavery as part of the national curriculum.

Slavery is not yet history. To be informed write to Anti- Slavery International, The Stableyard, Broomsgrove Road, London SW9 9TL or telephone 0207 501.8920, or look at the website www.antislavery.org.

Ideally, Anti-Slavery needs committed supporters who can give a small amount monthly. However one-off gifts Or money raised from events or sponsored activities are most welcome. Donors who are tax payers can increase their gift by signing the simple Gift Aid declaration - check the above website under "donate".