The main purpose of the interview was not so much to broadcast my ignorance of the subject matter as to encourage as many people as possible in south Norfolk to turn up on Bawburgh village green at midday, either to jump into the icy waters of the fast flowing river Yare or to cheer on others who were foolhardy enough to do so.
To that extent, my brief sortie into radio broadcasting was worth the effort. It started when a friend in Bawburgh died suddenly, and too young, from Leukaemia, and we decided as a village to raise some money for a Leukaemia charity. With the usual organisers away on holiday, Betty who edits the Bawburgh News stepped into the breach and asked which charity might benefit this year. Our daughter Holly, aged 19, was diagnosed with F.
No pressure of course, but, long story short, Betty agreed. You must understand that the Bawburgh Charity Dip is not a big deal. This year I estimate there were about a hundred of them assembled on the green, of which 16 took the plunge. Not bad for a village whose population at the last census was less than I like to think it was just an outpouring of festive good will and charitable intention. A word about the ambulance though.
A paramedic called Tracy, had kindly agreed to attend and keep a watchful eye on those of a certain age who might turn blue as they emerged from the water. Tracy went one better. Tracy and colleague were not alone in ensuring that everything went smoothly. Someone brought a pile of warm towels; my son, bless him, brought a large plastic box full of hot water this was intended to warm the soles of the feet and the cockles of the heart, but not, as someone suggested, to raise the temperature of the river Yare by a few degrees to render the water bearable ; and finally Terry Molloy aka Mike Tucker of The Archers who agreed to act as Master of Ceremonies.
Then, guided by the Ataxia UK balloons which festooned the Old Post Office and lured inside by the log fire and sweet aromas, most, if not all, of the participants came to commune, to guzzle their way through 16 litres of mulled wine and to part with what was left of their small change. As important as the raising of funds was the raising of awareness, and whether it be due to or to the publicity provided by Radio Norfolk, or to the lovingly crafted bacon rolls and mince pies provided by the caterers, it is safe to say that there is at least one small part of south Norfolk where people who had never heard of ataxia, let alone understood its cause, symptoms and implications, are now better informed.
