Did anybody watch the strangest village in Britain

[John_S4x4]

So did anybody watch this facinating program last night ? It was about the village of Botton, which has a comunity of mentaly disabled people living there.

[ywouldi]

Yeah, I saw it, seemed a really worthwhile project staffed by people that actually care. Allowed the residents to life a "normal" life whilst still being looked after by the services.

Ben

[Karen182]

Yep very interesting. I have a cousin born brain damaged with certain similar traits, it's hard to imagine how they view things with the way they react so randomly.

[bga]

I was impressed with the editing - it was pretty sympathetic & portrayed the residents in quite a balanced manner.

I have spent some time doing volunteer work with a couple of Gateway clubs & the difference in the individuals who were able to play an active part in their society was huge. IMO the program also highlighted the differences between Downs & other learning disabilities, with Downs often being represented as "worse" than some of the others when in fact it is just different.

Interesting program on the whole, though my Aunt who is a Steiner teacher said that the Steiner principles they use are somewhat changed from what tends to be used in other educational facilities

[chim girl]

I've got it on my PC if anyone missed it, I haven't watched it yet.

[planetdave]

I'm a teapot.


If you think I'm taking the piss...about 10% of the population suffers some form of mental problem in their lifetime.

[Mrs Fish]

we watched this last night, very interesting.

Although at first I did think it might have been a piss take, I'm sorry but it made me laugh to start with

[Selmer]

I used to visit Botton about once a week (for the cafe) just a few years back, it's a nice (but hilly) 40 mile round trip. I was there agan earlier this year. The real characters still exist there and they haven't changed a bit. For instance the guy who used to take the piss out of the size of my feet in cycling shoes (I mean they're not that big either), he's still there and he still takes the piss.
The philosophy at that community is almost like some communist ideal; no-one wants for anything and they all contribute toward the greater good of their community. I remember chatting to the head honcho there a few years back who told me that residents, "relish" jumping out of bed on a morning to go and do their work. Not sure how this holds up on those murky Monday mornings when cows need mucking out...
I know of one couple who have decided to send their child to the Steiner school there. They like the totally flexible approach to education, or the lack of it on some days, when children just decide that they don't want to learn anything.
If anyone wants a PH run over to the cafe etc, I'll gladly go along. Just a word of caution, you get straw in your tea sometimes