Honiton: Retired Royal Marines Officer starts weekly newsletter to help Ukrainians in East Devon
By Kate Baxter
15th May 2022 | Local News
Retired Royal Marines band conductor Jim Rider has started to write a fortnightly newsletter to help Ukrainian families and their hosts keep up to date with events in East Devon.
'Ukrainians in Devon' is sent out to subscribers every other Monday. The first edition was sent out on April 18.
Jim told Nub News: "I was very moved by what I saw on the TV when the war kicked off on February 24. I was particularly struck by the news image of a poor young lady carrying her baby as she walked away from the Ukraine through Poland.
"I offered to host a family but heard nothing for weeks, and I wanted to do something else using my skills. The idea of my newsletter is to give a variety of things that are going on, and I am trying to make it easier for people to see what is going on in East Devon, and what is relevant for them."
Jim, 75, and his wife Linda, 70, have been married since 1971 and they have lived in Honiton for 35 years. Together they have four children (including one who lives in Exmouth) and seven grandchildren.
As well as writing Ukrainians in Devon, Jim also finds the time to be a volunteer driver with TRIP. He has also written a book entitled 'Mayday in July', which is about a forced landing in 1980 near Ottery. St Mary.
Jim is a successful musician, having trained to be a conductor at the Royal Academy of Music.
After graduating, he was a conductor and Director of Music for several bands, including the Commando Band at Lympstone and later the large band in Portsmouth, which included duties on the Royal Yacht Britannia for Queen Elizabeth.
One of his most spectacular events was the Armada 400 in 1988, which look place on Plymouth Hoe before an audience of 100,000. There was a large Royal Marine Band and Sir Michael Hordern was commentator.
In 1994, Jim left the Royal Marines and set up a music tuition service business for schools in the South West. He recruited a network of teachers and was soon connected to 60 schools providing tuition to more than 800 pupils on the flute, clarinet, cornet, trombone, saxophone, guitar and keyboard.
In February 2022 Jim and his wife applied through the government scheme to host Ukrainians, but he has yet to be matched up with anyone.
"I'm one of these people that can't stand by and do nothing. Within a few days I had offered beds in my home in Honiton. We haven't had anybody come, just one email from the government saying sorry for the delays.
"My wife and I decided a mother with two children would be best, but we haven't been checked yet."
Jim spends a lot of time reading various resources and documents in order to produce his newsletter. He refers to national government and local council documents as well as information from charities and individuals.
Cllrs Anna Proszowska and Cllr Jake Bonetta have also been helping Jim with his newsletter.
27,000 people in the UK have applied to host Ukrainian people and the vast majority are still waiting. There are currently 40 Ukrainians in Exeter, some of whom are here because of the government initiative, and many are relatives of people already living in Devon.
Jim is still hoping to have a Ukrainian family come to their home, but his wife is not so sure due to their personal circumstances. In the meantime, he hopes to continue his newsletter to help as many people as possible.
"I'm just using some the skills I have acquired during my interesting life, and I'm trying to put them to good use with my newsletter."
If you would like to receive Ukrainians in Devon, please email [email protected]
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