We'd like to thank everyone who visited our stall at the Wash Common Community Festival. It was good to talk about the support we can offer and we thank both the Town Mayor Andy Moore and our MP Lee Dillon for their interest in our charity.
Our mascot Maisy also enjoyed meeting everyone.....as usual.
We were once again joined by Helen and Russ from Newbury Ukulele Town Strummers for an enjoyable evening of music. Helen provided a potted history of the ukulele and Sarah Papworth, who runs our Balance and Flexibility sessions, got everyone moving as she demonstrated the benefits of her class.
Local people living with Parkinson’s and their supporters walked together and provided entertainment in Victoria Park on 13th April to mark World Parkinson’s Day. They were encouraged on their way by the glorious sound of Julie Lloyd’s handbells and a harmonious kazoo orchestra. Mayor Nigel Foot and Mayoress Sarah Slack joined in the musical mayhem and the walk on the route through the park, presenting medals to participants at the end.
Danielle & Tim from Medical Detection Dogs gave a fascinating talk on the research currently being undertaken on the early detection of Parkinson's. They are currently working with 245 dogs, some being trained in the detection of diseases and others acting as medical assistance dogs to support people with life threatening conditions.
Bruce Blaine, chairman, expressed his thanks to the committee for their work in the past year. The branch membership has grown over the year with an increased uptake of therapies
A representative of Parkinson’s UK is present at every AGM. This year we were joined by Abi White, Senior Development Manager for the region who presided over the committee elections.
Following the formalities Ros Clow from the Friends of Newtown Road Cemetery gave a talk on some of the history and ecology of the cemetery.
We had a good turnout at the New Year’s lunch at the Bowlers Arms which included a surprise visit from an old friend, Paul Mayhew-Archer. Paul joined us (together with wife Julie and a film crew!) to finalise filming of a documentary for the One Show on his recent deep brain stimulation surgery. He joined in with the Walking Football group before tucking into lunch and regaling us with his surgical experiences.
While Bruce assisted in drawing the raffle, the main attraction was , of course, Susan's lovely dog Maisie.
Members of the Branch attended the Ashmore Green Women's Institute Craft Fair on 18th November. The WI have kindly made our Branch their charity of the year and are generously giving the proceeds from their raffle to the Branch.
Wash Common held it's third annual Community Festival which celebrates local community groups and charities. Despite being one of the hottest days of the year, the event was well attended with an 80% increase in entries to the Garden and Crafts Show section.
We were very grateful to our volunteers who helped to man the stall and provide information on branch activities as well as running a raffle.
35 of our members took part in the trip to Millets Farm on 18th May. Aimed at those members with mobility issues, transport was provided and after pottering around the farm shop and plant centre the afternoon was topped off with a delicious cream tea.
The UK turned blue on 11th April as 147 buildings and monuments across the UK shone their light on Parkinson’s to raise awareness. 170 poems from the Parkinson’s community on their experiences and reflections on life with the condition were sent to Head Office and were shared on more than 2,000 billboards all over the country, on donated advertising space worth almost £1 million. At the Newbury branch members visited local monuments and took photographs.
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