1964

15 February – first meeting of the Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire Branch of IA Midlands Division (the second such new local branch to be established as the Midlands Division expanded)

1965

Derby Branch established

1968

Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire form separate branches

1977

Nottinghamshire becomes a Division in its own right

1978

Bow Heath elected Chair of Notts IA
Derby becomes a Division in its own right

1979

Annual meeting of the IA National Council, organised by Notts Division, held at Nottingham University

1993

New national constitution for IA approved to conform to the requirements of the Charities Act 1992 – included model constitution for local groups

1994

Notts IA (and other local divisions) registered as autonomous charity and member organisation of IA

1998

Separate group for Derby discontinued and members transferred to Notts IA

2008

Notts IA web site launched (www.nottinghamshire-ia.org.uk)

2009

The Notts IA changes its name to the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA to better reflect its membership

Member

Role

My affair with bowel disease started when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 11 and continued with frequent illness and hospitalisation for the next 16 years.

I guess the decision to have surgery and then undergoing and recuperating from it was like a divorce, physically and emotionally painful but I came out the other side stronger and wiser, having met many wonderful people and sharing a special affinity with them.

In 1972 Mr Masterman performed my ileostomy at the city hospital, ward Simpson 2. I consider myself very fortunate to have had such excellent surgery care. The stoma clinic had already been running for 5 years and sister Kelly insisted that I attend; the tips and advice I gained from our clinic fortified me and I started to gain confidence, I have been committed to our clinic ever since.

On the advice of my surgeon I joined the IA , became a committee member and in 1978 I became chair, a position I continue to hold to this day. In 1980 I served on the National Executive committee for one year. I found that a great experience. I continued a very busy life bringing up my family and worked for 21 years as Home care manager with Nottingham City Social Services. My stoma and I have travelled extensively from camping in Derbyshire, to hostelling in New Zealand. It has been a privilege to chair your division for so many years.

Note: Bow has held the position of Chair for over 30 years and this year she decided to stand down, but has remained on the committee as Visiting Co-ordinator. In recognition of her services, Bow was presented with a certificate and life time honorary membership at the AGM.

David Eades

Chairman

February 24th, 1978, is a date which I shall always remember. That was the day I had my ileostomy surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital, Guildford in Surrey. I had had ulcerative colitis for ten years, never had to have a day off work, but things were not looking good. My surgeon was the president of Surrey and Sussex IA and he put me in touch with secretary. At the next AGM, I was elected to the committee and went to my first National Council meeting at Liverpool in 1980, when I was elected to the national executive committee. But I stayed for only a year, as I started an Open University course and didn’t have time to spend at IA meetings on Saturdays, albeit only for a year.

In 1982, the then national treasurer invited me to advise on IA’s investments; IA didn’t have many so it wasn’t an onerous task. Subsequently, when he retired, I became chairman of the finance sub-committee. In 1983, I moved to Nottinghamshire, joined Nottinghamshire and the following year was elected vice-chairman, a post I've held until last year when I became chairman.

In 1987, I was appointed national secretary of IA and the national office was moved to Mansfield from Chobham in Surrey. I also became editor of the IA Journal. As national secretary, I was an ex-officio member of all the national sub-committees and continued to keep an eye on IA’s investments.

I was national secretary for eleven years and retired in 1998. I was then invited to be a trustee of the IA of GB Trust, which made me an ex-officio member of the executive committee. I continued as Journal editor until 2002. At National Council meeting in 2004, I was elected chairman of the national executive committee, a post I held for four years until 2008, when I did not seek re-election. I continue as a trustee of IA and am currently vice-chairman of the executive committee.

Vice-Chair & Pouch Rep

I joined the Notts IA in Feb 2008 following a colectomy in December 07. I’m a Civil Engineer, single and originate from Salisbury but have lived in the Newark area since 1976.
I was diagnosed with UC in 1988 but have recently thought that maybe all those desperate dashes to the loo in my twenties and thirties were the start of colitis. Following diagnosis I had regular visits to the endoscopy clinic at Newark and had been controlling the colitis with regular medication, including steroids during the twice yearly flare ups.
Then in November 07 the UC took hold and would not respond to various steroids, including Cyclosporin and after a week in Newark on a drip, I finished up having the 1st operation in Kings Mill just prior to Christmas 07.

Perhaps because I was single, it was always my intention to go for an internal pouch and in April 08 this with its loop ileostomy was formed. After a few false starts I had the reversal or “take down” on 8th Dec 08. Throughout the last two years I have had the support of my girl friend, now partner, who is a nurse. The husband of one of her colleagues who has had a pouch for 20 years also gave me a lot of information and support.

I hope that I can contribute something positive through being on the committee in return for the help and support I got and continue to get from friends, family, hospital staff and the IA.

Committee Member

In 1965 I developed what I later learnt was ulcerative colitis and after tests and drugs, with my weight down to about 5 stone, drastic action had to be taken. While the rest of the world was watching England win the World Cup in 1966 I was in hospital, feeling very sorry for myself and wondering how I was going to cope with an ileostomy. My surgeon said, “I am going to send someone to see you”. My visitor was the vice chairman of Notts IA, we became great friends and I owe him so much for his help. Of course there was a payback and, as soon as I was well enough, he persuaded me to take over as branch secretary. Now, 41 years later I am still a member of the committee. I was a member of the sub-committee which set up the Nottingham City Hospital Stoma Clinic, at the instigation of our then President, Mr Masterman, and I continue to attend.

The Nottinghamshire branch was part of the Midlands Division and I soon became involved in that as treasurer of the Midlands News Bulletin and later as treasurer of the Florence Minnie Lees Bequest Fund. In 1980, I became an elected representative on the IA National Executive Committee, eventually becoming the National Welfare Officer. I also served as a trustee of the Kingston Trust.

During this time I have lived in Sheffield, Lincoln, Chesterfield and Mansfield, working as a bank clerk and civil servant. When my husband David became national secretary of IA and Journal Editor we had the office at Mansfield and I worked with him there. When we retired I remained on the IA Executive Committee as a trustee of the IA of GB Trust, a position from which I plan to retire in 2009.

Barry Robinson

Membership Secretary

I was the secretary of Nottinghamshire IA from March 1992 until September 2008 and am now the membership secretary and IA Journal distributor. I live in Mansfield and have been married to Jean for 50 years; we have twin sons – Adam and James.

I “gave in” to the operation for an ileostomy in September 1987 after having suffered with ulcerative colitis for 19 years. You will all know the embarrassment and distress that U.C. creates, my wife swears she knows the location of every male toilet throughout the country.

I worked locally in further education for over 30 years and my professional skills were well used in the position of Honorary Secretary. However, the time has come when modern technology rapidly overtakes the elderly and I was happy to hand over the post to Martin Thorne, who is extremely talented technologically. However, there must be many talented younger members who are willing to give a few hours per month to serve on the committee, grateful that they have been given a second chance of life after the operation

Martin Thorne

Secretary

Martin spent most of his career in the field of career guidance, mostly in higher education working with students and graduates. In 1988 he was appointed Director of the Careers Advisory Service at the University of Nottingham where he remained until he retired in 2007. He played an active part in the professional association for careers advisers in higher education, AGCAS, being elected as its Vice President in 1997 and its President in 1998-2000. During his career he had many international dealings with higher education career guidance services in Europe, North America and Australia.

Martin was diagnosed with UC in the early 1990s and after several years in which medication became less and less effective, surgery finally became imperative in 1995. He elected to have a permanent ileostomy - a decision he has never regretted. He said at the time that he did not want to become a "professional ileostomist" but simply to get on with the rest of his life and his career. He declares that this is exactly what surgery did for him.

Now retired he has more time and hopes that some of his experience can be put to good use for the IA.

Pete Lord

Treasurer

I joined the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA committee in 2007 and am responsible for the website in conjunction with Martin Thorne, our Secretary. From October 2009 I also have the responsibility of being Treasurer, taking over from Pat, whom I'm sure will be a very hard act to follow.

I was born and raised in Nottinghamshire and on leaving school I joined the Army. I was a soldier for 10 years before leaving to join BT in 1988, where I continue to work as a Test & Diagnostics consultant within Openreach.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis back in 1996 and for many years managed the illness through medication. Things started to deteriorate in 2005 and in July 2007 I underwent surgery and had my ileostomy formed. In May 2009 I had a Proctectomy, making my stoma a permanent feature.

I now feel like I am back to his old self and enjoy frequent walks in Derbyshire with my wife Mandy and early morning swims before work. My other interests include computers, web designing, reading, DIY, golf and cricket, all of which keep me very busy.