Campaigning to prevent the closure of Honiton's Royal British Legion ...

Honiton Memory Cafe

Honiton's Senior Council are campaigning to halt the closure of the Honiton branch of the Royal British Legion with Honiton Town Council and other organisations.  We have written to our MP Neil Parrish and have arranged a meeting with the Mayor.  Further updates will follow.

WHEN Honiton SCfD chairman Tony Smith and his wife Shirley, branch treasurer, attended the launching of a Memory Cafe for their town just over a year ago both felt it was something they wanted to support.  At the next committee of the branch they explained what the cafe was for - helping people with memory problems hopefully pushing back the day when they were officially suffering with dementia.

No organisation cannot start without money and members agreed to donate £100.  The cheque was used to pay for a small hall in the first once-a-month programme.

Tony took a one-day course when volunteers from Honiton and other cafes around Devon met in Exeter. It was very basic, even pointing out "Don't TALK DOWN to someone seeking help. SIT DOWN alongside them.  Talk to the wife or husband, carer or friend first and then try to bring the sufferer into the conversation".

There was no shortage of volunteers - Shirley joined the group to make tea or coffee but soon found herself talking to the carers and the number attending began to grow.  It became a joke persuading carers, sufferers and volunteers to wear a stick-on label with their Christian name.  Another success as people coming along each month began to know exactly who they were talking to, even looking out for someone in particular.

Journeys via a small coach to Sidmouth's Manor Theatre for sing-a-long shows added to the fun. A Christmas Carols afternoon was organised and later an 'old time' comedian was followed by a folk  singer.  There were soon enough regulars to attend a Bingo night at the Royal British Legion.

After the Mayor and the local beat copper popped in for cutting of the First Birthday cake in June, members were talking about meeting once-a-fortnight.  Again that needed money and the Honiton SCfD committee were set to offer more help.

Imagine the amazement when Tony and Shirley learnt OUR cash wasn't needed.  Age UK linked up with Honiton's Memory Cafe to try for Big Lottery money with a trip along Memory Lane. 

When ITV sent a local news cameraman and crew to Broadhembury, a village just outside Honiton, there were SCfD members joining in the singing as a double-decker bus rode down country lanes. Lunch in the village hall was filmed too.

The last hurdle was to spread the word about getting people to watch the TV programme and then vote - stressing 10 votes per phone were allowed.

It all needed planning plus enthusiasm but on June 29 it was revealed Age UK and Honiton Memory Cafe had topped the voting and a cheque was £43,000 was handed over.

Now, Cafe treasurer Alf Boom, another SCfD member, is asking regulars how the money should be used. The message from the competition is that local health  professionals, albeit retired, are the base for a Memory Cafe but volunteers who want to help the less fortunate are also essential.

                                                                                Tony Smith, Chairman

 

Tony Smith, Chairman of the Honiton Branch, meets Elvis ... We are always told to get "the Senior Council for Devon" mentioned in your local newspaper, Honiton member Tony Smith managed it when he attended a ' Tribute to Elvis' show at his Royal British Legion; then when the Midweek Herald carried a story it included: "Everyone enjoyed a good dance, including Anthony Smith, the chairman of Honiton Senior Council".

And there too was Tony pictured with the evening's professional entertainer Maurice Broadway.  Adds Tony: I was always an Elvis fan when we were about the same age and knew many of the songs at the Legion so I had to get up and dance."  To read the full report and see Tony, click on this link: http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/home/show_goes_on_for_elvis_1_763920

 

 

Honiton newcomer welcomed by branch's senior member with a "Congratulation" certificate --- and flowers

Having pushed its membership tally beyond 100 at the town's Agricultural Show in August, the Honiton branch enjoyed a cheerful opening to its AGM on September 13 when the 100th person to sign-up, Mrs June Mumford, received a framed "Congratulation" certificate.  It was handed over - and flowers - by the Rev. Merfyn Temple, 91, who was one of the first to join the group three years ago.

A good attendance at the Royal British Legion applauded following committee member Merfyn's words on the value of the Senior Council and the work already  achieved for the town and hoped to do even more in the future.

Reports from the secretary and treasurer spoke of good work in 2009-10.  The Memory Cafe  opened in Honiton had received £100 to help launch it and small donations passed on after table sales.

Treasurer Mrs Shirley Smith detailed income and outgoings.  A second advance from Devon County Council, £2,000, took the branch balance to £4,009 and careful spending left it to stand at £2,773 in September 2010.

Members  at the AGM were then told why the committee had voted against the Senior Council for Devon at a recent meeting when the SCfD was to seek Charity Status.  Secretary Tony Simpson and chairman Tony Smith explained why they did not want to support the charity bid and after questions and comments from the floor a unanimous vote backed the decision made by the committee.

With all officers prepared to stand again they were re-elected.  Before the committee membership voting took a call for a representative from a village in the area to join them, Mr Vic Bowsher from Luppitt stepped forward and was voted in.

With the AGM part of morning completed, Mr Colin Hadley representing the Devon Pensioners' Action Forum, spoke of the need to press for higher basic state pension and benefits in England.  He spelt out many aspects his organisation's need to improve the lives of pensioners living in a country which had the lowest pensions in Europe.  Strong applause at the end of his words made it clear that even though - as secretary Tony Simpson said: "The Senior Council is not a political organisation with a capital ‘P' but arguing the status of pensioners in this country is definitely political with a small ‘p'. That comes into our remit."

THE Honiton branch's secretary and chairman recently met Mr Neil Parrish, the recently elected MP for Tiverton and Honiton.  For 20 minutes they stressed that he was now in the Commons representing a community with a very large proportion of men and women over 60.  They felt he had to bear this in mind when dealing with planned spending cuts.

A threat to bus passes, higher hospital car parking charges, libraries and post offices threatened, changes to community hospitals involving Partnership Trusts and local surgeries were just a few of the matters Mr Parrish listened to.  He politely listened to the matters raised.

At the end of the meeting he agreed to attend a future Open meeting of the Senior Council.

Hearing Devon Council leader John Hart was to launch a tour of the county under the title ‘Tough Choices' Honiton Senior Council officers were stunned to learn he was not planning to visit their town.

Between September 30 and December 1 he will talk in 15 cities and towns.  Honiton committee members plan to attend the opening venue, Cullompton, and demand he comes to our Market Town (pop 16,000).

"The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the difficult spending decisions ahead and to encourage local debate about what issues and services are most important" says Mr Hart in his introduction. Honiton people want to hear those spending decisions first hand.

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Honiton folk who ask "What is the Senior Council?" have a better idea now following the town's Agricultural Show on August 5th.  After stopping to talk to committee members at their stand -- costing almost £200, yes nearly £200 -- over 20 people signed-up and pushed our membership past 100.

The bonus came when the local free paper, View from Honiton, appeared with secretary Tony Simpson, chairman Tony Smith and three ladies from the committee were smiling out from the front page beneath the Senior Council For Honiton banner.  The photographer from the town's other paper, Midweek Herald, arrived early and Tony Simpson and committee stalwart Don Davis had to hurry and raise the banner so they featured as a twosome.

The Rev. Merfyn Temple, 92, who joined when the Honiton branch started three years ago, took his time spreading the word.

Books and videos were on offer alongside a 'Donations For Memory Cafe' basket and £8 was collected to add to the £8 from the Senior's Honiton Charter Day table.

On September 13th during the branch's AGM at the Royal British Legion, a 'Congratulations' certificate and a small prize hall will be presented to the 100th member. The problem? People were signing on three different sheets at the Agricultural Show so the names of all the newcomers will go into a hat for a "Well Done" draw.

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Honiton's new Memory Cafe to open soon .....

Honiton is to shortly join the growing nationwide list of 'Memory Cafe' places to help men and women with problems over remembering things in their life. Honiton secretary Tony Simpson quickly became interested in the idea when he heard about it and he and chairman Tony Smith have joined the town's Cafe launching group.

The Honiton branch has donated £100 to cover the cost for the venue - the Methodist Hall - for the opening sessions. Honiton League of Friends has donated £500.

Volunteers are as important as money to get a cafe up and running so Tony Smith was among the first to attend a training session at Exeter on March 31 when Mr Steve Milton from 'Innovations in Dementia' explained how people - and their carers - come through the door when the once-a-month meetings begin.

"When I agreed to become a volunteer I thought we would be talking and befriending people on the verge of dementia" said Tony. "Knowing their memory was beginning to fail them I thought we could delay that day when they cross the line into dementia. After the session I gathered most of the men and women I will meet are already suffering with dementia. The meeting at Exeter taught me how we need to connect with them."

If you would like to know more about the Memory Cafe, please contact either Tony Smith on 01404 46358 - Email: tonysmith1938@sky.com or Tony Simpson on 01404 548228.