Members

We presently are a group of 14 people, 2 dogs and 7 chickens. Our human ages range from 8 years old to 84.

Who are we?

Have you thought about what it would be like to live in a community of like minded people? Are you interested in reducing your footprint? Do you want to be of service? Do you like collaborating in a group? How about gardening do you like growing your own food? Our community might be a great place for you. We are looking for young and old . . . those with gardening experience, carpentry, cooking, administration. . . How could you best contribute to community? What are your unique skills?

A bit more about the current members of Maningham Friendship Community below.

Mike

Mike was born in Mount Hawke which is about 6 miles from Maningham. He was brought up a Quaker and went to Friends School, Saffron Walden. He has spent most of his life teaching workshop and technology subjects: woodwork, metalwork, technical drawing and some electronics, and became head of the Design Department at Stowe public school. As well as teaching, for four years he was a carriage builder making show horse-drawn vehicles and for ten years he manufactured polo mallets, having learnt to do it in Argentina. When he worked in Zambia, first as a teacher and then a chief technician at the University School of Engineering, Mike farmed vegetables and chickens in addition to his full-time job. Later in life, he competed in carriage driving. With his very talented horse, he came third in a class at the National Championships one year. He was put in charge of polo at Stowe School and found playing polo very exhilarating. Mike is extremely concerned with climate change and the reluctance of governments to bring C0₂ emissions under control. Now 80, he hopes to spend the rest of his days living peaceably at Maningham, helping people and making things.

Sowenna

Felicity (Sowenna) was born in Derby but has lived in the West Country most of her life – in Bristol and in North Devon mostly in Appledore. She is a trained town planner, adult education tutor and ex fishwife and has been selling fish and educating all ages about local fish and fish cookery for the past 40 years. After college she worked as the Bristol Adventure Playground organiser and was the National Playing Fields Association Regional Officer for the West Country and then the North Devon Community Health Council Administrator before marrying and becoming a partner in Sylvester Seafoods: trawler owners and fish sales. From 2000 she worked in Cornwall and Devon as a community town planner. Felicity is now retired but still runs a Sustainable Fish Education project in North Devon, Plymouth and Cornwall. She has been involved with community projects and local seasonal food promotion all her life. Felicity is a Quaker. She likes all types of live music, arts and crafts, animals and plants and all things marine: being on a boat and swimming. She is interested in cooking for the community but also wishes to help establish the forest garden, and with preserving all the food we forage, grow, keep and catch.

John

John began life in the English Midlands before moving to Yorkshire, and later to Scotland. Now retired, he has previously worked in the electronics field, and in hospitals for the NHS, but has always had a fascination for the ways of nature and enjoys natural gardening and growing edible and herbal plants. John was an early member of the WWOOF organisation and has enjoyed many experiences of working with small communities, and living amongst a few over the years, and more recently helping at a bio-dynamic garden. He also enjoys working with wood and has helped with making yurts. He believes that living in a co-housing community which is a blend of living amongst other like-minded people, whilst having one’s own private space, is a rewarding life-style.

Sonam

Sonam is a 71-year-old Buddhist monk who has followed Buddhism for 53 years and has been ordained for over 20 years. He started his working life down the coal mines; and then became a cabinet maker. He has lived in communities for over 30 years from eco villages to Buddhist. He loves trees and woodland and is at one with nature, into loving and respecting the earth. He has worked in care, and with people who have special needs, and has done a lot of work with the homeless and rough sleepers.