North East
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The next Regional Open meeting will be on Sunday 7th June 2009
The West Park Centre, Spen Lane, West Park, Leeds LS16 5BE
The meeting will be 10.30 am until 3pm and a buffet lunch will be provided
Every group in the region MUST send at least one member to represent that group
Sheffield Open Meeting
This will be a massive event with over 20 pins / coins being presented.
The meeting is on Saturday 13th June 2009 at the Croft House Settlement, Garden Street, Sheffield, S1 4BJ
The meeting will commence at 7.30pm.
33 YEARS WITHOUT A BET
CONGRATULATIONS
January the 13th is a date quite a lot of GA members in the north east of England should remember, the reason being that 33 years ago Bill from Sheffield had his last gamble. Over the last 33 years he has had a profound effect on thousands of problem gamblers and their partners in this region and many other regions within the UK.
I do not know of another individual in GA who has travelled the distances to other meetings that Bill has. Always there to offer a word of hope and support to members or their partners who are still suffering?
Many years ago when I first joined GA he would take me and other GA members to open meetings all over the country travelling hundreds of miles each month. He had at that time a large car which he always filled with members from Sheffield, Rotherham and Chesterfield. He would get behind the wheel put on his driving gloves and away we would go. Everyone would then wait for him to say “I am lost”. He always had this saying that; once he was lost he would be able to find the meeting we were looking for.
I have often thought how true that was. You need to be lost before you can look for the right way. For without me getting lost in my life I would have never found GA when I needed to.
Each region has members who have some long standing abstention and attendance at GA. There are few that have put so much back into our fellowship than “BILL”. Many years of service to our Fellowship at Group, Region, National and a member of the General Services Board. He still attends weekly meetings in Sheffield both Fridays and Sundays.
We should all be proud to have him as a friend. The next time you see him, go up to him and shake his hand and say “thank you”
God Bless you Bill and behalf of GA and especially the North East Region. “THANK YOU”.
Peter K.
Bill, My English Gent.
I met Bill twenty two years ago when he moved in to the flat next door to me. I was eighteen and Bill was heading for retirement status! It was Christmas and I had planned a party so being a good neighbour I knocked on Bill’s door and told him of my plans, promised to keep the noise down and also invited him to the party. At ten thirty that night Bill appeared at my door laden with home brewed wine. The average age of people at the party was twenty. By midnight the music had been turned off and a group of about thirty were all sat around engrossed in conversation with Bill. I finally managed to send the last guest home around four thirty in the morning. From that day we became close friends. I could sit for hours talking to him he has the ability to help you see life from all angles, to see good in a bad situation, calm in the midst of chaos but most of all he reaches out and makes himself available when you most need someone. I can remember painting his living room about six times in one week in different but almost the same shades of green. On about the third colour change I said Bill why are we doing this? He said, green is a calming colour I want people who come in to my home to feel as calm and relaxed as possible. Bill lives life to the full he is always just on his way out or on his way back from taking someone shopping; taxing someone around, doing someone an odd job or just visiting a friend. For years he acted as caretaker to his church which is a big part of his life, opening up at eight thirty am and closing up at ten thirty pm seven days a week and never once complaining. Shortly after we met I went through a very difficult period in my life and at times gave up on myself. Bill never gave up on me he was there for me every day and for that I will be eternally grateful to him. Bill’s life has been hard at times and his rock bottom is a heartbreaking one but Bill took one day at a time and used them productively not just helping himself but helping others each and every one of those days. So for every one of Bill’s just for today’s I send him my love and thanks. Your friend Linda x!
Peter K 22 years - well done
Peter and Ann K from Rotherham. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attends Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster for their warm congratulations on the anniversary of our 22 years attending both fellowships. Ann would also like to thank the members of GA and Gam-Anon from Doncaster for presenting her with the beautiful bouquet of flowers in thanks for the help she has given in helping to start a Gam-Anon meeting in Doncaster and her continued support. Also may we take this opportunity to wish you all a Gambling free Christmas and a very Happy New Year. (Someone had to be first). Our love and best wishes to all in both fellowships. Peter and Ann K.
David G (Barnsley)
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of David G on Monday 29th Sept 2008.
David was a staunch member of GA and this was his 34th year in the Fellowship.
David was one of my first contacts within GA and I remember him taking me over to Doncaster on one of my first meetings, and from then on for over thirty years we became firm friends.
I saw David a couple of weeks ago at the Wakefield open meeting; as usual he spoke a lot of common sense as he always did.
He was well known throughout the South Yorkshire groups and was always made welcome wherever he went. I will miss him as will many other members. He was always on hand with a sound word of advice for everyone; he was unassuming and always had a smile on his face.
David and Nora went down to Sandhurst a few weeks ago, the occasion being the passing out of his Granddaughter Ashley. My partner (Sylvia) and I were regaled with all the details and it was just brilliant listening to them. Sylvia and I are going to miss their visits to our home, but what we have are our thoughts of the many happy hours we spent in their company and for that we are grateful.
Our thoughts, love and prayers go out to his wife Nora, daughter Gillian, son Ian and the pride of his life Ashley, his granddaughter.