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Bob's Blog: End April 2009
Perhaps some of you who read this blog were, like me, fans of the TV series 'Band of Brothers' that in the final episode saw lots being drawn to see who would go home at the end of the World War II and who would go on to Korea. The officers in that film did their best to help those who needed to get out of the horrors of war, who had done their bit, or who were suffering from what we know to be PTSD.
I personally think that any person who has seen conflict suffers from PTSD in one form or another and for some it is manageable; for others it will disable them and cause problems for some time to come. These brave and loyal souls do not deserve to come home to a country in the doldrums; they are our Heroes and deserve our support and help. Pryors Bank is a little café in a small but beautiful park in London that is a sanctuary to some and a chance of a brighter future for others.
The life support of the café comes from: your patronage; the hugely generous support, both financial and in other areas, of five former Army officers; the un-swerving input form the CEO of the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation and his staff; the staff of the café who know why it is there; All Saints Church; London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham; The Royal British Legion; The Poppy Factory; The Department of Communities and Local Government; friends and financial donors of both the Beef Kitchen Ltd and the café; and lastly me.
Largely due to the renewed support of our customers, we are again getting ready for our next new apprentices. Our hope, like yours, is that the sun shines this summer and we can bring peace and joy to any returning ex-Service person who wants to come along with their family and enjoy a few hours in the summer sun watching their children play and feel at home in the small tranquil corner of Fulham, as so many of you have so far this year and last.
I am so grateful to All Saints Church for agreeing to my plan to open on the terrace on Sunday mornings; this has seen many new faces eating a full English breakfast cooked live for them on the terrace and enjoying coffee and the Sunday papers while the kids run around in the early spring weather. At last, we are seeing the full scope of how best to use this lovely old building to bring back some of the pleasure it was designed to do, not for the lucky few but for all who come to the park.
We should also praise the Council and the custodians of the park for agreeing for the building to re-open as Pryors Bank Café last July. All local politics to one side, this café benefits the local residents and shortly we are going to prove to the council that it was the right thing to do, by asking our customers to comment with a small quick customer survey form, when you next visit.
Please also remember that your money goes to a worthy cause; we pay our staff of course but all others that support this project give their time freely with no financial reward whatsoever.
Our menu on the terrace this weekend includes our own 100% Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers, freshly made on-site; a huge proven favourite of the 1,000 or so we have sold in the past month. Come and have one to eat there, or take back for lunch. I am going to...
Thank you for reading this
Bob
PS: The sun is out all Bank Holiday weekend!