FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special

FRIENDS GAZETTE
Your articles look at moral reasons for being
vegetarian or vegan which is a very
interesting mix and unique . . .
Tim Barford - founder VegFestUK

JULY 2017 (summer special) ISSN 2053-4426 UK and FRANCE - e-mail: friendsgazette@gmail.com

Cover up at
Haynes Park combines the 'good parts' of the Haynes Park site in
Special report by all religions - and members August which thousands are
volunteer their time to help expected to attend. (See
Stephen Penn with work on the Haynes comment - page 8).
site. The group are strict After the hearing, son Sukh
A SPIRITUAL group which prides itself on lacto-vegetarians and tee- Blaggan told FG he had been
totallers. unable to attend because he
high moral standards faced accusations Current leader, Gurinder had to be somewhere else
of covering up details of the death of Singh Dhillon, is based in but commented on the
one its members at an inquest this month. the Punjab, India. He is set result, saying: It is what it
to make an annual visit to is. Continued pages 4, 5 & 8
Father and husband, Amrik
Blaggan, 57, of Kidbrooke in
south London, fell from an
'unsafe' scaffolding tower,
which stood at around two Science of
metres tall, in the Science of the Soul UK
the Soul (SOS) Centre in head-
Haynes Park, Bedfordshire quarters in
Haynes Park
on Friday April 4, 2014,
Bedford-
during renovation works.
shire where
Mr Blaggan was a thousands
volunteer with the SOS for are expected
more than 20 years. to attend an
The Beds centre is the annual visit
main UK headquarters of by top man
SOS and sister group Radha Gurinder
Soami Satsang Beas, a Singh this
spiritual organisation which summer. Bergen harbour
1
 FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special

Heidi high? Warm kosher welcome

Heidi Allen
for seder and any time
FOR YEARS before she
died in April 2012, Rena
Sampson kept a virtually
open house in
Totteridge, north
London. All faiths,
colours, ages and
nationalities were
welcome. Vegetarian
dishes were a feature -
kosher of course! Here a
REBEL Tory MP Heidi Allens smiling grateful friend pays
visage could be a thing of the past tribute. SW
round the streets of her South I FIRST met Rena Son Chaim with wife Yocheved and son Shmuel who live in NYC.
Cambridgeshire constituency if Katz when we were dentists, physio- than anyone else I have
angry colleagues have their way. second-year therapists and known.
She recently hit out at weakened prime students at medical occupational therapists. Stanley's tragic
minister Theresa May giving her a six- school at Stanley Sampson early illness and death
month deadline to go and now the knives Witwatersrand (later to marry her) was brought extraordinary
are out, according to press reports. University. also in this class. bravery, commitment
But FG contact, an in-the-know The year was 1952, Like everyone else to her boys (Aryeh
constituent, believes theres no such and she was studying who met Rena, I was and Chaim) and her
thing as bad publicity and shes on her for a medical BSc while charmed by her own profession to the
way to the top! I was doing dentistry. friendliness, wit and fore.
If we're not pushing up daisies in 20 In those days the infectious smile. We miss her still, as
years time, she may be in the cabinet, second year class - very She radiated so many do, and
that's the local Tory opinion around large - comprised friendship and attracted always will.
here, they confided. would-be doctors, more people to her Myron Sandwick

2

Pope warns on
supermarket
sacraments
CATHOLIC churches have
been told in no uncertain
terms to watch where they
get the raw materials for
holy communion as some
ingredients may not be up
to standard.
The Roman Catholic church
teaches that the substances used
in holy communion the centre
piece of mass physically turn into
the body and blood of Christ in a
miracle known as transub-
stantiation.
But it seems that some clergy
have been scooping up special
deals in supermarkets and on the A priest administers holy wine at mass.
internet which may not follow the used in the celebration of the
same strict rules of preparation
and manufacture.
A recent letter to bishops,
ordered by Pope Francis himself,
reads: Until recently it was
certain religious communities who
took care of baking the bread and most sacred celebration of the
making the wine for the
celebration of the eucharist.
Today, however, these
materials are also sold in
supermarkets and other stores
and even over the internet.
And it goes on to remind
bishops of an earlier direction
which clearly states: The bread
Cathedral seeks
mosaic maestro
AN ARTIST with a flair for
mosaics is being sought by
Westminster Cathedral in
London for its chapel of St
Patrick.
The cathedral, just up the
road from Victoria station, and
slap bang in the middle of one
of Londons busiest shopping
streets, opened in 1903, a year
after its architect, Francis
Bentley died.
St Patrick (387 - 461) is said
to have brought the Christian
FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special
most holy eucharistic
(communion) sacrifice must be
unleavened, purely of wheat, and
recently made so that there is no
danger of decomposition.
The wine that is used in the
eucharistic sacrifice must be
natural, from the fruit of the
grape, pure and incorrupt, not
mixed with other substances.
According to the instructions
gluten-free flour is not allowed
but genetically modified
ingredients and partly gluten-free
flour are acceptable.
faith to Ireland, and is venerated
as their patron saint.
In the chapel green is the
dominant colour. Celtic designs
are inlaid on the floor and at the
foot of the altar (see pic above).
Submissions should be sent to
Elizabeth Arnot at the cathedral
administrators office:
elizabetharnot@rcdow.org.uk no
later than mid-day on Monday
9th October 2017.
3
No droning
on as Nigel
narrates
A drone
FRIENDS' Gazette reader and
contributor Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon
won't be droning on when he
presents his latest documentary.
For the only droning to be witnessed
will be from one of the latest gizmos
hovering overhead.
Drones are often used in travel and
other shows to give overhead views
otherwise practically unobtainable.
They are banned in some countries
where their eye-in-the-sky technology
is seen as a violation of privacy and in
the UK strict laws govern their use.
Said author and filmmaker Nigel
from his home in Bedfordshire: "To
make my shots more interesting we
are going to hire a drone to do some
of my links on the Barton Hills just
down the road from here."
The documentary, called The
Unsolved Puzzle, will be about the
relationship of time to quantum
mechanics.
So get your thinking caps on!
"No one understands how it is that the
equations which accurately describe
quantum reality actually work,"
explained a very down-to-earth Nigel.
Thinkers corner
A PHILOSOPHERS debating society is being
set up in Avignon, in the south of France,
FG has learnt.
The group is currently looking for members
who can help boost numbers as well as bring
their own experiences to bear.
Organisers hope to recruit people who have
first-hand experience of touching the void
not those who are just book read.
Said a spokesman: We want to know what
were talking about not just theorise about
it. People will be hard to find but theyre out
there. Contact: friendsgazette@gmail.com

Cover up at Haynes Park This
story continued from page 1.
Despite his father Amrik
being in a room with four
other people at the time of
the incident - none of them
witnessed the fall itself and
Mr Blaggan was next seen
on the ground with blood
coming out of his nose and
mouth, the inquest heard.
He was said to have been
wearing a helmet at the
time of the fall by eye
witness Pawal Matulewicz.
He sustained a traumatic
head injury and was lifted
from the scene by
helicopter ambulance and
then rushed to
Addenbrookes Hospital in
Cambridge by paramedics.
Mr Blaggan died in
Addenbrookes two days
later.
But Ampthill Coroners
Court heard how the tower
was not able to be
inspected in person by
investigating officers as
they had been told it had
been removed from the site
ahead of their visit -
despite this not being true.
Mr Michael Vere-Hodge,
acting for central
Bedfordshire council and
the health and safety
investigation, claimed there
FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special
was a cover-up in relation
to what happened to the
tower after the incident.
He said: "The expert who
will give evidence later in
this inquest has to rely on
photographs taken at the
time by a non-expert police
officer who came to the
scene.
"The fact of it is when
investigations started the
tower scaffold was not to
be found and there was
evidence that it was
deliberately kept out of the
way of investigators to the The Coroners Court in Ampthill, Bedfordshire where the inquest was held.
point that Mr Bhangra
(from SOS) told the at SOS, said there was no was the case two weeks prior
investigating officer, that it deliberate cover up and to the email being sent.
was a hire scaffold and had said there simply was However he denied he
gone back to the persons confusion between the deliberately tried to hide this
from whom it had been tower Mr Blaggan fell from and said there were prior
hired, which was mis- and a separate scaffolding conversations which revolved
leading at best. tower that had been around this via telephone in
Mr Vere-Hodge con- ordered and delivered that which he alluded to the fact
tinued: "There is ground to week - which was returned that it was not actually the hire
suggest there are after the fall. tower that Mr Blaggan fell from.
witnesses from SOS who He told the court during the The tower was being used on
were party to this decision three-day hearing (4-6 July) the day to check the light
to cover up the state of the that when he first contacted control modules which had
scaffold tower so it could the health and safety previously been installed in the
not be seen by those inspector, Mr Johns, it was ceiling.
responsible for investi- assumed that Mr Blaggan Harjinder Rai, a senior
gating. The integrity of fell from the hire tower. project manager and volunteer
those witnesses is called But a month later he of 20 years at the SOS, said in
into question." informed the inspector that his evidence that there was no
But Sat Bhangra, the this was not actually the intention for anyone to use it
health and safety volunteer case - despite knowing this that day. Continued page 5
4
 FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special
Cover Up cont. from page 4 hand rail was too low and the However Mr Rai was why they were removed
But during the board to stand on was loose. reiterated that he had not the following day, ahead of a
programming of the devices When questioned by the discussed the scaffolding visit from health and safety
by Prologik engineer Pawal coroner, Mr Chagga also when he returned to inspectors.
Matulewicz, a fault was said that when he returned Haynes Park after Mr However when questioned in
discovered and Mr Blaggan to the hall later that Blaggan had fallen, was not court, Bedfordshire police
volunteered to use the evening, that one of the aware it had been removed sergeant Nicola Baxter,
tower to read numbers off scaffolding towers in the and said: "We were all claimed Mrs Kuffalo had asked
the installed modules - room - of which there were more focused on the health if she could 'clear the area'
despite claims it 'looked two erected at the time of of Amrik." indicating towards the blood
unsafe' from Pritam Singh the accident - was gone. Mr Bhangara told the pool and protective equipment.
Chaggar, a fellow volunteer However due to poor court that he had spoken to Sgt Baxter told the court:
and retired electrician. eyesight he was not able to the estate manager, Mrs "Perhaps there was a
Mr Rai said: "Mr Chagga conclusively answer if the Kuffalo, who claimed she misunderstanding, I don't
said the structure did not one that was gone from the had been given permission know."
look safe but Amrik told room was the one Mr to get two of the painting The legal representative for
him that he was doing work Blaggan fell from. team to take down the the SOS, Mr Angus Withington
up there, he was only Mr Vere-Hodge criticised scaffolding towers that pressed the issue and asked
reading numbers, and it several of the witnesses for were in the room - which cont. on page 8
would be fine." failing to pre-
This was reiterated by a serve the tower
general handyman, Jagvinder after the fall and
Kanwar who was helping said it was 'com-
Mr Blaggan move the tower mon sense' the
to the various modules evidence should
throughout the day, who remain at the
told the court: "Amrik scene.
made the decision to use
the tower as he said the Part of the large
ladder was too slow. modern complex in
Beas, India, home of
I could tell that [Mr leader Gurinder Singh
Chagga] was not happy and international
with this as he went quiet." headquarters of
Mr Chagga said his Radha Soami Satsang
Beas and sister
reasons for being organisation Science
concerned were because the of the Soul.

RELAX AND UNWIND WITH ROLLING RESTORATIVE YIN YOGA

89a Cronulla Street, Cronulla Beach, NSW, Australia. +61 409 700 511

A model strikes a
Yin Yoga pose

5
 FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special

With a
little help
TASTY OPPORTUNITY
from our FANCY tucking into the latest

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 FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special

French go
bonkers for
veggie grub
HUNGRY veggies and vegans are
Generic picture flocking to straight restaurants
in the south of France to enjoy
some top class ethical delights,
NOT a lover of Stilton the FG can reveal.
herself our Rosemary INGREDIENTS Crumble most of
Les Jardins d't, in the Chartreuse
puts aside her own the Stilton (reserving a
10 oz self-raising flour in la Rue de la Rpublique,
tastes to knock out one little for topping) into the
half teaspoon mustard Villeneuve les Avignon offers a
of the most delicious flour mix, together with
powder vegan plate and across the Rhone, a
recipes of her the walnuts. Add
pinch ground black short distance away in the Vaucluse
impressive selection buttermilk and mix to a
pepper is Italian super-diner Piu de Prima
which she kindly shares soft dough. Roll or pat
3 oz butter Chez Vito which provides a selection
with FG readers. into a round about 1
3 - 4 oz Stilton cheese of Italian veggie plates including
"I'm not personally a inch thick. Cut into
2 oz chopped walnuts spinach and ricotta cannelloni and a
fan of Stilton though rounds and place on a
approx. 6 fl. oz. cpes risotto to die for.
many are, I should think lined baking sheet.
buttermilk, or enough A spokesman for Les Jardins told
a firm blue cheese Brush each scone with
to make a soft dough. FG: "Since we offered our vegan
substitute would be a little milk and top
plate we have had six orders in the
fine. I adore St Agur with reserved cheese.
METHOD first evening. These have not been
but it might be too Bake in a hot oven for
from foreign tourists but from local
melty," she said. Mix flour, mustard and approx 20 minutes
French people. Its crazy."
Quintessentially pepper in a bowl. Rub until browned. Say
Adriana at Vitos near the town of
English, Stilton is known in butter until mixture gas mark 7/425 deg
Pernes les Fontaines confirmed
as the king of English resembles breacrumbs F/220 degC - a good
their veggie offerings were popular
cheeses. It has its own (this bit I admit I do in cook knows his/her
and the restaurant is now
certification trade mark a food processor). own oven!
considering steps to offer a
and is an EU protected separate veggie and vegan menu
food name. only be produced in the Leicestershire clearly stating ingredients and
The cheese which three counties of called Frances sources.
comes in white and blue Derbyshire, Pawlett, Stilton was The restaurant has a large private
versions can be traced Nottinghamshire and referred to as the swimming pool (see pic below)
back to the early 18th Leicestershire. English Parmesan by exclusively for clients' use.
century. Reputedly created in none other than Blogging on Bonjour Paris,
Because of its official the 1743 by a cheese- internationally renowned Nathalie Lynch, a chef who runs a
certification any cheese maker from author Daniel Defoe of vegetarian and vegan chambre
calling itself Stilton can Wymondham in Robinson Crusoe fame. d'htes in the beautiful medieval
village of St Antonin Noble Val,
deep in the Aveyron Gorge, says:
"As a vegetarian living in a

BEAT BREXIT WITH VEGGIE forgotten corner of rural southwest

France, Id long resigned myself to
difficulties eating out and quizzical

COOKING TRIPS TO FRANCE looks from my French neighbours,

but change is definitely in the air.
"The quality is still uneven, but for
me, this is real progress.
One-on-one tutoring "Some restaurateurs have realised
Buy veggies fresh theres money to be made from
feeding frustrated vegetarians and
Help with language
will include a veggie option on their
Direct train London-Avignon menu.
Approved accommodation Jump in . . . the pool at Vitos

Contact us initially at
friendsgazette@gmail.com

7

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Got an opinion? Write a leader for Friends Gazette.
Email us at: friendsgazette@gmail.com
Your paper, your opinions, your views
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY a complete
shambles (see front page story).
When Amrik Blaggan, 57,
plummeted to his death, lying in a
pool of blood, bleeding from his
mouth and nose, it must have been
like something from a horror movie.
Phrases like headless chickens
and running around like to
describe fellow volunteers at
Science of the Soul centre, Haynes
Park, come swiftly to mind.
Where was the policy, where
were the health and safety
instructions?
Instead vital evidence was
moved, it was claimed in court.
Crucial facts muffled and
confused.
And, worst of all, where was the
apology to Amriks devasted family
languishing back home in Kidbrook?
Son Sukh said they were left high
and dry without closure on their
loved ones death for THREE years!
FG est Charlie et bien les autres - July 2017 summer special
Continued from page 5
whether she had specifically said to
'preserve the scene'.
Sgt Baxter responded: "I did not use
those words."
She told the court she said the health
and safety executive would be in touch but
admitted she did not specifically reference
the towers.
Safety precautions of the group were
also called into question - with Mr Blaggan
being 'supervised' by Mr Chagga who was
82 at the time and had poor eyesight - and
the lack of handrails on the structure.
The court also heard that Mr Blaggan had
no formal qualification to build the
scaffolding structure - something that was
not flagged by Mr Bhangara as an issue.
The jury gave a narrative verdict that Mr
Blaggan died as a result of head injuries.
No formal recommendations were made
by the court.
Friends Gazette is an officially
Gurinder Singh
Sect leader Gurinder Singh is registered magazine with the
due at the centre in a few weeks. British Library (ISSN 2053-4426).
He must take this opportunity to
set the record straight! We comply with the Editors
A public apology and a Code of Practice as set out by
reassurance for the future are
urgently in order. the Independent Press
So come on Gu-gu, let's hear it Standards Organisation.
for the man! SW