Rosemary Leaf has the kind of energy and enthusiasm for the promotion of harmonious community living that the rest of us can only sit and wonder at. A well known figure in the village she is an elegant lady who has lived in Curry Rivel since 1977, and in Parsonage Place since 1982, a year later she was widowed since when she has been involved in numerous projects, societies and committees.

Her husband, Charles, was a barrister who acted as junior to Mervyn Griffith-Jones in the 1960 obscenity trial which followed the publication of D.H.Lawrence’s ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’. This sensational case gave rise to one of the most famous opening statements made in a British court when Griffith-Jones questioned whether the novel was something "you would even wish your wife or servants to read"! Not only did Rosemary read the novel but she also sat through most of the court proceedings which resulted in the acquittal of Penguin Books the publishers.

At this time she was secretary to the Chairman of Conde Nast publications which included glossy magazine titles such as Vogue and House & Garden; her shorthand ability was something which proved to be important when she and her husband took up an overseas civil service posting in the New Hebrides (now known as Vanuatu). Rosemary spent five years on this group of islands located between Australia and Fiji and ‘ loved every moment’. The New Hebrides were a unique form of colonial territory in which sovereignty was shared by Britain and France. The French and British governments were called residencies, each headed by a resident appointed by the metropolitan government. The residency structure emphasised dualism to the point of near absurdity – both consisted of an equal number of French and British representatives, bureaucrats and administrators. Every member of one residency always had an exact mirror opposite number on the other side he could consult with. Rosemary remembered a near diplomatic incident when it was realised that the French flagpole was an inch shorter than the British flagpole! She was employed by the British judge when it was discovered that she was the only person who could do shorthand. Cases were heard in French, English and the local pidgin by which time Rosemary said she had just about got the gist of the matter which often involved convoluted land issues!

Another of Rosemary’s qualifications, City and Guilds Floristry, was to be put to good use when in 1986 she and three friends set up West Country Wedding Flowers, providing a complete flower service for weddings in the locality. The business continues to be a success but Rosemary’s involvement ended in 2008. However she is still very much involved in the St Andrew’s Flower Guild in her role as Chairman. It was twenty four years ago that she expressed her interest to one of the members who looked a little sceptical and said ‘ well, I suppose you could carry the buckets’! The Guild currently has twenty members and Rosemary is determined that their floral displays should be shared by the community, an aim which is achieved very successfully at the Fete in July when the Guild’s marvellous floral interpretations are on view in the church and admired by the villagers.

Much of Rosemary’s time is spent developing and improving the relationship and communication between the tenants and landlord of what was once South Somerset’s social housing. The Area North Tenants’ Panel, on which Rosemary served, was born in 1996 in an attempt to ‘give the tenants a say’, and was not very effective until after the creation of South Somerset Homes when the ethos of involvement changed. South Somerset Homes decided on a board structure which included four tenants and Rosemary became a board member in 2001.The tenants’ panels became area partnerships and under the management of Yarlington Housing Group have now evolved into focus groups. Although no longer a board member Rosemary is lead tenant of the Older Person’s focus group and is passionate about the role it and the other focus groups have to play, helping people with repair and maintenance issues, neighbourhood management, money matters, welfare and benefits advice, green issues, home design and support for young people.

The Yeovil and District Osteoporosis Support Group, of which Rosemary is secretary, formed in 2007; she is ‘proud of the way we are working to help and support suffferers, particularly the newly diagnosed’ and is keen to raise awareness of the disease which affects not just the over 50s but younger people too. Diet and exercise are key to improving bones and ‘Boogie for your Bones’ is an initiative with which Craig Revel Horwood of Strictly Come Dancing team has become involved.

Alongside the usual family portraits (Rosemary has one son and six grandchildren) there are a number of photographs of horses which are evidence of Rosemary’s other passion in life. An ex rider herself she now enjoys membership of a racing club which takes her on stable and stud visits. Race meetings are enjoyed, without  a bet, on her television. It is difficult to see how she finds the time to indulge this enthusiasm when her days are so busy, but she is determined to carry on ‘as long as I can while I can make a difference’. By her own admission she is one of those people who finds it difficult to say ‘no’, for which many villagers in Curry Rivel have cause to be grateful!

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