I am delighted and proud to announce that Saracens Rugby Club were given the Freedom of the Borough of Barnet this evening at Hendon Town Hall. It was a pleasure to see Nigel Wray Chairman of Saracens with Gordon Banks and some of the Rugby players. I wish the club continued success and thank them for all they do for the community.
Tonight was the 40th Anniversary Gala of the Rotaract Club of Hampstead, Hendon & Golders Green. Dementia Club UK was the beneficiary charity. Our thanks to Craig Simons president of the Rotaract club and also to Pia and Carla the main organisers of the evening. It was a great evening enjoyed by all. Our thanks to all for making this evening a success.
We had a Valentines special session today. Tables were dressed with red tablecloths and flowers.
There was a slight disappointment as the singer lady who was supposed to attend unfortunately had a flat car tyre. The session carried on as normal and Lisa had members busy at the beginning with colouring pictures of cupcakes and then a dog picture quiz where members had to name the various breed of dogs.
Eleanor then continued with a general quiz which they all enjoyed followed by the card bingo game which is always great fun. The session then ended with some singing.
Thank you to my volunteers Eleanor and Melvyn for all their help and also to my Trustees Mark and Doctor Angela.
We had over 40 members today.
Lisa started the session with reading some Valentine poems and members took turns in a couple of poems reading out some verses. Members then did some singing and a few dance routines they normally enjoy.
Richard then came and members were ready to do their chair yoga exercises which was enjoyed as usual.
Members then had the pleasure of meeting Helen Tierney. She brought a Harp and also an accordion to play. She was absolutely amazing. She played various familiar songs from all regions of the UK. It was lovely the way she interchanged from playing the accordion and then the Harp which was so beautifully played. Everyone really enjoyed the session.
My thanks to James one of the Carers who recommended Helen to me. Thank you to our Rotarian volunteers Dick, Ian, Michael and Valerie for their help during the session. Also thanks to Jeff and Mark one of our Trustees for their help and also Risson who is so helpful looking after all the members with refreshments.
The Times Series Newspaper group published an article on the forthcoming new venue at Baden-Powell Centre in Deans Lane, Edgware. This is in the grounds of John Keble Church.
This new club will be in association with the Rotary Club of Edgeware and Stanmore.
The article can be found here: www.times-series.co.uk/news/15984002.Dementia_Club_UK_to_open_free_club/
This was a very busy session with about 50 members.
Lisa introduced a smell sensory game. Members were asked to listen carefully to 3 recordings and were asked to try and identify what was happening in each.
The first recording was someone in the kitchen making a fruit cake in the 1940s. The type of kitchen equipment used identified the era. Lisa then opened a tin which had the scent of a fruit cake. Members were very good listening and describing the actions. The second recording was a man polishing his shoes and the last recording was a baby having a bath and getting dressed. The smell of baby powder passed around made members feel comforted.
The session then followed with some singing and then Lisa did some chair exercises with everyone. For the last part of the session Lisa introduced a quiz asking members to identify various famous faces by showing some photographs.
Despite a very cold day we had 42 members at this session. Gilda welcomed everyone and then Lisa did a quiz with everyone about ‘Tea’
The session then followed with music entertainment by Clare which was really enjoyable and a few members got up to dance. The session then followed with various games.
Thank you to Stephen and Gilda our session leaders and our volunteers- Justine, Caroline, Judy, Dot and Keith for all their help.
Session Leader, Gilda added:
“We welcomed 42 guests and carers to the Cafe where we enjoyed our usual refreshments . Music was provided this week by Claire who sang a selection of songs from times past with us all joining in on occasion. Games and general conversation were enjoyed by all and we look forward to seeing everybody next month. Keep warm. Gilda x”
Lisa introduced a new game today called ‘Chair Activity Bingo’
Each table was provided with a card which has 5 exercises on it. When someone picks an exercise, everyone has to perform that exercise and the table which has that particular exercise on their card, marks it with a counter. The table which marks all the exercises on their card wins.
As this took a while, members performed quite a few exercises but they felt good and they enjoyed playing this new game. We then had a birthday to celebrate – Fred’s 97th birthday which was celebrated in the usual fashion.
Eleanor then followed providing members with song sheets to do some singing. Thank you to our volunteers Eleanor, Melvyn and Dr Angela for attending and helping out during the session.
PICTURES TO FOLLOW
For this first session we had 22 members which included 6 new members. Members were settled very quickly in this new large venue which is held at St. John’s Church (United Reformed), New Barnet.
The President of Rotary Club of Barnet Brian Coleman attended and other Rotarians – John, Malcolm, Victor, Ian and Owen. The President Elect who will be President of Rotary Club of Barnet on the 1st July also attended – Jim McCarthy.
We had some other visitors – Simon Smith and Jane Porter – from Jesus Hospital Charity based in Ravenscroft Lodge, Union St, Barnet EN5 4HY.
Our regular volunteers Eleanor and Dr Angela attended and we also had new volunteers locally – Brenda, Sue and Marjorie.
The session started as usual with a welcome to all and then we had some group photos. The session then followed with Richard providing members with chair yoga which everyone always enjoys and this was then followed with musical entertainment from Clare. Members enjoyed the music and a few members also enjoyed dancing. Members left very happy and look forward to attending the next session.
My thanks to all the Rotarians and volunteers for their help during the session.
Today’s session was led by Eleanor, who brought along some new activities.
We started with a Sing Along to songs from the early 1900s through to the 1970s and this was followed by some games of Card Bingo. It was lovely to watch everyone playing their own Card and friends helping each other (and, in some cases, their carers!).
We finished with a general knowledge quiz designed especially for people with memory loss. This was a great success and brought out everyone’s competitive instincts. Carers observed the first part of the Quiz and it was then opened up to everyone.
Thank you to everyone who came along and especially to Joan and Lynn, Sue, Helen and Kevin and our volunteers, Melvyn and Dr Angela. It would not have been possible to have run the session without your help and support.