Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Patchwork of Poems
    A Patchwork of Poems
    A Patchwork of Poems
    Ebook100 pages54 minutes

    A Patchwork of Poems

    By Catherine M Wheeler

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    This short book is essentially a reflection, through poetry and prose, of the experience of life through the eyes and words of a talented poet and tireless worker for the benefit of others.
    It culminates with a consideration of when it is time to say goodbye to friends and loved ones following a final stay in hospital after surgery, clinical treatment and convalescence have all run their course. It is essentially a message of hope and encouragement, especially for the benefit of loved ones, friends and colleagues.
    Some of the opinions expressed, or information and ideas contained within this book may not match your own, especially any experience of a stay in hospital, surgery or clinical care, however they are all born out of the highs and lows of experience of daily life in a variety of settings, including facing an operation, time spent during chemotherapy care and beyond.
    The short diary of a trip to Cernavoda, Romania with Children in Distress, is a reflection of how things felt at the time and the love and care that was delivered to the children there by a great many people.
    All profits generated from sales of this book will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKeith Buckley
    Release dateOct 28, 2014
    ISBN9781898650584
    A Patchwork of Poems
    Author

    Catherine M Wheeler

    Catherine, always her husband Roy's name for her, though many of us called her Cath, was born in Suffolk in 1939. She began early working life in Woolworth's, followed by W.H. Smith and it was not long before, having learned some of the tricks of the trade, her innate management skills began to surface. She ran the bookshop in no time at all.She was organised and once she had caught a vision became passionate, determined and resilient. She was a leader, and at the same time, a great team player. She attracted commitment wherever she went because she valued others.She worked in the later part of her busy life with Children in Distress and because she loved the kids who it helped she also loved the UK shops that helped to support the children.Together with Roy she has been to Romania 38 times at considerable personal sacrifice. The measure of the blessing they both were to countless children and young people cannot be estimated. She would be thrilled to know they have named a building in the Cernovoda Young People's Centre after her. She would have also been humble and proud!She was a Magistrate over many years, no doubt displaying trade-mark wisdom. She was highly appreciated in the local judicial system and further afield.She gave herself unsparingly to others behind the scenes, visiting Bassenfell Manor Christian Centre in Cumbria with church groups and schools groups on over 50 occasions.She was a collector of antiques, a master of craft whether it was embroidery or building and furnishing dolls houses, or quilting or cake decorating, or cross stitch. Sometimes it seems though that she derived her greatest satisfaction from quietly observing life and reflecting it, not only in her poetry & prose, but also in her award winning, beautiful patchworks. She could pick up whatever she put her hand to and do it with distinction.She was a strong feisty, impassioned lady. It was said in her family that she was 'never wrong, just sometimes not right!' She would tell you what she thought but rarely fell out with anyone because she was reasonable, generous, loving and supportive. She was loyal, dedicated, there for the long term, ready to pay the price. She knew how to stand up and be counted, to exhibit positive hope when things were dark. For Cath the cup was always half full, rarely half empty.She had a wicked sense of humour often reflected in her Pam Ayres' style poems. Her quiet faith was strong, her hope secure. She loved the image of life as a tapestry or patchwork - sharing about how God pulled together the threads of her life over many years. Her fortitude and faith was remarkable and inspirational.One of our abiding memories of Cath perhaps sums up what we know of her. Along with Roy, she chose to attend a church weekend at Scargill House, Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales. It must have taken more to do that than some of us realised at the time. She was poorly, clearly, but involved and interested in all that was going on. The beautiful, Scandinavian style Chapel of the Centre was up a hill, far too demanding to get there, but she found she could be driven to the back door and so in she came with Roy.On a glorious sunny morning, in an idyllic setting within the Dales she loved so much, it seemed to some of us that God had planned the service just for her. We sang one of her favourite hymns and she chose to stand along with Roy and sing with heart and hands uplifted 'Great is Thy Faithfulness.' She took communion. She expressed and confirmed her faith, strong to the last. She thanked God and she knew Jesus. That's how she lived. Catherine May Wheeler was a special lady. She has gone to her reward. We are left with blessed and cherished memories, she to the Joy set before her.Catherine May Wheeler 1939-2014 (based upon the address given by Sir John Rowling at the celebration of her life 24th April).

    Related to A Patchwork of Poems

    Related ebooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The King’s Christmas Broadcast 2022

      Jan 3, 2023

      I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father. I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of yo

      2 min read

    • Article

      Nurturing Growth

      Jul 7, 2020

      I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, which was both challenging and rewarding. Mountain people live off of the land, and while that offers harvest, hope, and bounty, it also brings hardship and struggles. Due to rugged terrain an

      4 min read

    • Article

      Walking Back To Happiness

      Jul 4, 2019

      Walking Back To Happiness
      6 min read

    • Article

      My Country Childhood

      May 21, 2020

      AS THE MIDDLE CHILD of five siblings growing up in Rockhampton, journalist, broadcaster and author Anna Daniels has plenty of comic fodder to draw from. “There was always just so much laughter reverberating through the house,” the 39-year-old recalls

      5 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      Dec 7, 2023

      After a period of ill health, your November issue was just what I needed. I was thrilled to find the feature A Vision of Calm and discover what Frances van Hasselt has done in her art-filled cottage in the Karoo. This took me back to my life in Afric

      5 min read

    • Article

      Legacies of Grace

      Mar 21, 2023

      Love is the source of inspiration, energy, creativity, and motivation for living graciously. Theearliest experiences most prominent in my memory were with my grandmother, who, being Ukrainian, was instinctively inclined to generous hospitality with s

      6 min read

    • Article

      We LOVE our NEIGHBOURS

      Apr 2, 2020

      We LOVE our NEIGHBOURS
      5 min read

    • Article

      “Our Local Festive Lunch Means No One Has To Spend Christmas Alone”

      Oct 31, 2019

      I have always loved Christmas, but I realise for some people it can be a lonely time. It was late in 2016 that my good friend Hayley Ash and I were chatting about how much we enjoy the festive period, with family, good food and presents all round. Th

      2 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      Jun 22, 2022

      In this world of uncertainty and unrest with wars, floods, a pandemic and other personal things that impact on families and futures, I can always find peace and solace in each edition of Country Style. As I turn each page in anticipation of where it

      4 min read

    • Article

      Open Line

      Apr 22, 2020

      Open Line
      2 min read

    • Article

      Chat’s Local Heroes

      Dec 10, 2020

      With the doom and gloom that we’ve lived through this year, it’s easy to overlook all the good that’s being done, too. Up and down the nation, decent folk have been doing what they can to help out those in need and to put a smile on their friends’ an

      3 min read

    • Article

      Remembering Phyllis

      Sep 26, 2023

      Remembering Phyllis
      5 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      May 24, 2023

      Our dear mother passed away recently at nearly 93. She bought Country Style for as long as I can remember, and when Mum developed dementia, my sister gave her a subscription every year. Even as she slowly declined, your lovely magazine still brought

      5 min read

    • Article

      Your Tributes To The Queen

      Sep 19, 2022

      With a broken heart, I share in the loss of a remarkable Queen who showed such strength, compassion and love for her country. We will miss her dearly.Randy Benson, Canada As a child, I watched the coronation of the Queen and was sufficiently impresse

      4 min read

    • Article

      Open Line

      Jun 14, 2023

      Open Line
      2 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      Jul 19, 2023

      I look forward to receiving my copy of Country Style each month. Seeing the glossy cover of each new publication prompts me, without fail, to grab a cuppa, sit back and put my feet up. Firstly, I leaf through the magazine with anticipation, eager to

      5 min read

    • Article

      Join The Weekly CONVERSATION

      Oct 23, 2022

      Kevin Milne, your reflections this week (NZWW, Oct 24) made me smile, ruefully. “Return to lender”, indeed. Why do we book lovers loan our beloved books to family and friends, knowing that the chances of them being returned – promptly or at all – are

      3 min read

    • Article

      Tea And A Laugh

      Jun 30, 2021

      Allie Carr, 53, Hobart, Tas Flicking on the kettle, I made my bestie, Valerie Widdowson, and me a delicious cuppa. ‘Cheers, love. Now let’s catch up on MAFS,’ Valerie said, grinning. Valerie and I get on like a house on fire – but we’re not even re

      2 min read

    • Article

      Loyal Toasts

      May 11, 2022

      Loyal Toasts
      8 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      Sep 14, 2022

      My family was among many who went through the recent floods. Our home, a converted old Salvation Army hall in a northern NSW country town, is still yet to be repaired. When a friend (hi, Nadine) put us up for a bushy weekend, I read all her copies of

      4 min read

    • Article

      Treasured Companions

      Jul 9, 2019

      She reached across my sheet music to direct my attention to our next soprano line. A bit surprised at this bold new girl I had not met, I nodded a reluctant thank you. What began during church youth-choir rehearsal in 1960 between two strong-willed t

      6 min read

    • Article

      Intrepid Spirit

      Dec 4, 2019

      Intrepid Spirit
      6 min read

    • Article

      Join The Weekly CONVERSATION

      Dec 4, 2022

      ● Winning letter OUR WEEKLY LIFELINE Colin, you hogged it for the best overall comments in the Weekly’s Celebrating 90 Glorious Years issue, speaking of what so many of us believe in also – a positive spirit, longevity, enthusiasm and guidance. In sh

      4 min read

    • Article

      Supporting our VETERANS

      Nov 24, 2021

      Supporting our VETERANS
      2 min read

    • Article

      We Will Remember Them

      Feb 8, 2023

      We Will Remember Them
      3 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      Oct 15, 2020

      As I sit here in my home in Melbourne in lockdown, I have a pile of my Country Style magazines beside me. I am going back over so many wonderful stories, recipes and beautiful photography in each of the past copies. At one stage I find myself hugging

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for A Patchwork of Poems

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      A Patchwork of Poems - Catherine M Wheeler

      About the Author

      Catherine, always her husband Roy’s name for her, though many of us called her Cath, was born in Suffolk in 1939. Other bigger broader events happened that year but for some nothing much more life changing than knowing Catherine.

      She was 15 years old when she first met Roy, himself not much older, and the rest they say is history. They married in 1959 and celebrated 55 years together this year (2014). She was proud of her girls Sally and Sarah, never pushy, just proud and had that same pride in all four of her grandchildren.

      She began early working life in Woolworth’s, followed by W.H. Smith and it was not long before, having learned some of the tricks of the trade, her innate management skills began to surface. She ran the bookshop in no time at all.

      She was organised and once she had caught a vision became passionate, determined and resilient. She was a leader, and at the same time, a great team player. She attracted commitment wherever she went because she valued others.

      She worked in the later part of her busy life with Children in Distress and because she loved the kids who it helped she also loved the UK shops that helped to support the children.

      She was so supportive when Roy went on his first visit to Cernovoda, Romania, long ago, pioneering in days when it was scary and challenging. She stayed back in the UK, supportive and engaged with what Roy began. Since then they have been to Romania 38 times at considerable personal sacrifice. The measure of the blessing they were to countless children and young people cannot be estimated. She would be thrilled to know they intend to call a room in the Cernovoda Young People’s Centre after her. She would have also been humble and proud!

      Amongst the happiest times in her life was what she regarded as ‘the precious period’ at Whitby Language School where she was far more than the Catering Manager. Brilliant at that, of course, indeed anything to do with catering was right up her street - she was legendary. Whether feeding a family or a multitude she was truly brilliant. If the way to people’s hearts is through the stomach she reached many a heart.

      She established deep personal relationships with a lot of people during her time there, especially a wide variety of overseas students, people like Nelu and Nela from Romania and the Korean families who took time and trouble to keep in touch and even come back to visit her regularly. She was kind to them, understanding, supportive and wise. Her influence extended far beyond the kitchen, deep into people’s lives.

      She was a Magistrate over many years, no doubt displaying trade-mark wisdom. She was highly appreciated in the local judicial system and further afield.

      She gave herself unsparingly to others behind the scenes, visiting Bassenfell Manor Christian Centre in Cumbria with church groups and schools groups on over 50 occasions. There was always a Wheeler in the kitchen, Roy from first light of day and Cath every other minute. He supervised the fried bread and all the rest at breakfast, she everything else. She ordered the food, prepared the menus, supervised the washing up. It was an exemplification of her servant spirit over 30 years.

      She was a collector of antiques, a master of craft whether it was embroidery or building and furnishing dolls houses, or quilting or cake decorating, or cross stitch. Sometimes it seems though that she derived her greatest satisfaction from quietly observing life and reflecting it, not only in her poetry & prose, but also in her award winning, beautiful patchworks. She could pick up whatever she put her hand to and do it with distinction.

      She was dedicated to hospitality with an open home, warm welcome, and countless times had a house and garden smothered in people benefitting from the kindness she and Roy demonstrated. We were truly grateful and many people will have memories they will never forget.

      She was a strong feisty, impassioned lady. It was said in her family that she was ‘never wrong, just sometimes not right!’ She would tell you what she thought but rarely fell out with anyone because she was reasonable, generous, loving and supportive. She was loyal, dedicated, there for the long term, ready to pay the price. She knew how to stand up and be counted, to exhibit positive hope when things were dark. For Cath the cup was always half full, rarely half empty.

      She had

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1