Dunfield House

as part of the 100 year celebration of guiding 18 Trefoil members and friends from the Kington area had a sleep over at Dunfield on the 27th October.

Following their monthly meeting when 22 christmas boxes for children were handed over to local organiser the group headed up to Dunfield.

The evening was taken up with making beds, playing games, a camp stew for supper and apple pie and ice cream, trampolining, a night hike and a campfire around an open fire with smores at the end.

The majority slept really well and after an early rise and shine we shared breakfast together before everyone returned home.

You can never take the guide out of the girl

Thought you would like to know we have a new corner sofa in the lounge, this has proved really popular and we shall try to get photo’s of them being used, which is always more fun…………..I think 6 people has been the most on the two seater sofa, but I am sure that can be beaten.

We are also trying out 4 bean bags in the lounge.  they are proving really popular so hopefully we shall see those multiplying for next year

You don’t say no when someone offers their time freely to fund raise for Dunfield House.  Tickets were sold [including virtual ones for folk who couldn't attend but wanted to support Dunfield] and on Saturday night we were treated to an amazing evening of entertainment by The Gallery Singers from Newport, Shropshire. Some of whom had never been to Dunfield prior to the concert yet were willing to give of their time - from the first note of Cantata dominio, to Rachmaninov [Bogoroditsye dyvevo] to The Bluebird, Drunken Sailor, Shenandoah, Down to the River to pray through to Over the Rainbow and Lets do it along with many more arrangements the audience were entranced.

We are indebted to the Gallery Singers not only for their support of Dunfield, we raised £408.49 [after expenses] but for a brilliant nights entertainment.  The monies raised will go towards furnishing the new lounge in the Stables. [work commences Jan 2011]

Thanks also go to those who supported the concert via virtual tickets, via St Leonards Rambling Club from Marston Green, Kington House Church and people from the local community. 

We found it was a small world during refreshments where people were able to share their connection and stories of Dunfield House, along with people from the Gallery Singers and Marston Green knowing mutual friends.   We look foward to the next event

Check the gallery singers out on their website: www.thegallerysingers.co.uk

Autumn Retreat is a time for folk to enjoy the company of others in a relaxed, informal environment.  Dunfield is home to so many people regardless of whether it is their first or one of many visits.

Along with meals served with love and a good nights sleep the programme has been varied and stimulating. 

The theme of Sense the Spirit through taste, hearing, seeing, smell and touch has provided a varied programme that has included devotions, a daily prayer for peace, parable drama’s [including the 'dunfield house choir' performing opera], video discussions, worship, preaching, and testimony campfire where it was almost impossible to sing because we were laughing so much to name just some of the activities – and its only wednesday…………………….

The retreat runs twice yearly – in the Spring and Autumn

from Peter Roberts……………first visit to Dunfield at a family camp:

fantastic place: the group had lots of very young children and the absolutely loved the whole of the week. The house and grounds were a huge playground for them and the parents felt relaxed that their children were in fairly safe environment for them to explore.

from Sarah James…………….lots of visits to Dunfield as a camper and as a staff member

Thank you for being so friendly and accommodating, its been a good atmosphere and Dunfield has helped make these last few days memorable.

from James Rathbone…………lots of visits to Dunfield as a camper and as a staff member

Great few days, very good food and helpful friendly staff. We’ve had a fun and energetic holiday. Dunfield is a lovely place to be come rain or shine:)

from James, a guest at Dunfield………..his first visit

Ed and James are very good at football, love to come back one day

From Georgia, a guest at Dunfield……..her first visit

all the staff were very helpful and kind. I would love to come back next year

It has been a busy summer and we haven’t stopped to catch our breath yet. We are however delighted with our visit britain grading visit for 2010 which includes the following statement………………

this very well managed and most attractive hostel is well presented and clearly meets the demands and expectations of its guests. It is most encouraging to hear of the steadily increasing level of occupation in “The Stables” block and the continuing high occupancy rates in the main house.

Since the end of July we have enjoyed the company of a school activity week, a cello choir, a 40th birthday celebration weekend, a church family camp/reunion [details on last blog] a local community led group working with young people from several different countries and now Stream of Sound are practicing this week for a concert in Derbyshire on Friday. We are preparing for a family camp to arrive tomorrow in the main house.

Fitted into this busy programme was a wonderful celebration meal yesterday for a lady who is 90 today. Surrounded by family and friends the sun shone, the sweet pea theme ensured that the dining room looked bright, fresh and delicate for such a special ocassion, it was a beautiful day.

Finally, a group of young adults from South Wales gave up a weekend of their time to come and work at Dunfield creating a quiet garden area where a tree has had to be felled. A bench and bird table compliment this area and will provide many happy hours of quiet contemplation for all of our guests who want some space or time out. Please take a moment to enjoy the view and the wildlife from this very special area when you are next at Dunfield and give thanks for the good work of young people across the country that seldom hits the headlines

Over 120 people of all ages met together last week for a church reunion, the house, Stables and the camping field were full to overflowing. The Dunfield staff worked really hard to ensure that all special diets were catered for along with being resourceful and creative with the kitchen working to full capacity. Our housekeeping staff kept the house beautifully clean throughout the week.

Outreach International was the chosen charity this year and the work of this organisation can be seen on www.outreach-international.org.

Outreach International believes the answer to poverty is a future of self sufficiency involving indigenous staff who find results together with their own community in being empowered to share ideas, organise, identify problems and create solutions. Outreach Internationals work benefits over 16,000 school children each year and works with 74 schools in some of the poorest places of the world.

If there is light in the soul,
There will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
There will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.

I was so excited to find this Chinese proverb on a banner – you will find it in the main house when you visit.

Dunfield is a special place, some people call it the Dunfield magic that finds the beautiful person in all our guests, whether it is there for all to see already, skin deep or hidden behind many layers of hurt, anger, disadvantage, physical, spiritual or emotional need.

Just last week we had a young person staying whose circumstances suggested they would not be able to cope with their visit. That this person would not cope with the programme on offer and that this person would gain little from the experience.

Add very dedicated school staff, parents who want the best for their child and the Dunfield magic. This young person was able to stay for the whole course, was able to take part in activities that would have been nigh on impossible in the school environment and had a very good time and experience In doing so this young person learnt more about themself, others around them, their own world and the world they live in.

We saw fairness in action, we saw this young persons peer group being accepting, being supportive and being friends. We saw fairness in the teaching staff who gave this young person the opportunity to succeed against all the odds and we saw fairness in Dunfield offering a unique experience at a very competitive tariff. Once again as managers we saw how special Dunfield is to so many people, being even more aware, after last week, of the lasting memories that our guests take away with them from Dunfield.

A recent email from the St Joseph’s church group who visited recently sums it up for us:

What a wonderful place! I personally had withdrawal symptoms and wish I could live there always. More especially, all the kids had a fantastic time. They haven’t stopped talking about it since. The adults too!

We all like to recieve thanks and we are no exception – an email today from a parent has been passed onto our staff………………..

my son has just returned home after his school’s visit to Dunfield House. He has had a super time, I understand the food was outstanding. Thank you for running such a wonderful place

The school arrived on Friday evening after visiting the Wyre Forest on their way down, they had a campfire in the grounds, played in the woods and stream, swam, ate heartily, went for a long long walk and took part in activities around the grounds developing their understanding of how our world works and where they fit into that world.

We currently have 40 infants playing outside in the sunshine, they are here on a music course – they have eaten a cooked breakfast with the home made porridge being enjoyed by many.

Paul and I had last weekend off [thanks to Barbara and Stuart for looking after Dunfield our staff and guests so well] ……………..we stayed in somewhere called ‘the stables’ – not too far from here [hehe] and visited places in Herefordshire that we had not been to before, Hampton Court & Gardens near Leominster was fabulous, the sunshine making it even more spectacular, we can certainly recommend the food in the Orangery. Shopping in Leominster is always quirky, unusual and fun. Sitting by the river at Bredwardine was a time for a summer time snooze, reading and watching the kingfisher go about his business – fleeting glimpses but rewarding to see.

The Stables was fab, everything we needed – when talking to guests we chat about the main house being on the same site and that offers a fully catered service primarily for children and young people – what we didn’t realise was how much we appreciated hearing the children playing in the grounds, not loud enough to disturb us eating breakfast outside reading the papers in the glorious sunshine but that summer time sound of children playing in woods, streams, playing football better than England and scoring more goals

We found that we need to put something up in the showers to hold toiletries so we don’t have to put them on the floor, bedside lights for reading would be helpful and comfy sofas to relax in at night – we can make the small changes now and work towards the bigger ones over a slightly longer period of time.

We can recommend the Stables to family groups, friends getting together, church and youth groups – the setting is healing, set apart from our everyday life, envigorating and life changing whatever your needs. The walks in the area are fab and we are still finding different routes after being here for nearly 6 years. Please contact Paul and I to discuss ways we can personalise your programme to make sure you get the most out of your visit – each and every group is unique.