Just experienced something which is, I think, remarkable.
I was over at Bowhayes (Sunday 11:30am) when a young man passed me on the pavement – a young man on a mission. As he came to a piece of litter lying in the road he whipped out a litter-pick fork, swiftly swiped-up the offending item and plopped it into one of two quite full Lidl bags he was carrying.
Intrigued, I thought for a moment about what I had just seen. Walking at some speed, the young man crossed the lovely gardens at Bowhayes, picking-up more litter along the path as he went – and promptly vanished in the cut-through to Hermitage Street.
My curiousity by this time got the better of me: I went after him. He was no mean walker – puffing not a little, I eventually caught-up with him just opposite Rick and Jennys’ Royal Oak. This modern-day Good Samaritan seemed a bit shocked to have me calling after him but kindly stopped mid-stride and let me have a word.
It turns out that Jason does this from time-to-time: goes out and about making the town look so much nicer by picking up stuff which would otherwise blow around and look nasty. Jason volunteers to do this. No one asked him to. No one goes with him. He says there is another ‘old fella’ who does the same, but this is totally his own enterprise. Nothing to do with any group or body, not part of any committee – just seeing a job that needs to be done – and doing it without fuss. He told me that he had got his litter-picker from the Town Council – so well done CTC for backing a guy who gets out there and ‘does’.
I shook Jason’s hand. He probably thought I was a bit odd – but it really was a privilege to meet him and I wish him all the very best both for what he is doing to better our town and for his own life.
And Jason himself might take heart from another initiative from the Crewkerne Area Business Chamber: Sunday 28th October 11am a group of us are meeting by the Town Hall to follow in Jason’s litter-picking footsteps. This is a resurrection of what used to be called ‘Trash Bash’ and sees a whole bunch of people out clearing up our town. The Town Council lend some kit, those who can will stay on for a drink / lunch at Frank’s George Hotel at 1pm – and the town get’s a very early Spring clean! Nip in to see Glynnis at The Vintage Shop for more info.
