Memory Café

Our January meeting began with refreshments and our welcome song. Our speakers John Martin and Irene, who had just returned from Gambia the evening before, told us how the village of Bantabe had developed in so many ways since they last came to speak to us.

They showed slides of the wonderful work the locals had done with the guidance of John. The village had certainly grown; they now have a football team with their Cambridge Blue shirts provided by John and Irene. They had taught an older boy a craft and how to run a business, dividing his earnings into three - one third for himself, one third for equipment and one third as a backup.

The villagers now have good clean water and their general life has been greatly improved. John thought that their visits to Gambia would now be less frequent as they had provided the village people with what guidance they could and the villagers were now progressing well under their own steam.

At the end of their talk there were beautiful fully lined bags of all sizes and woven bracelets on sale for the village funds. The boys made all the bags on their treadle sewing machines. After more singing Janet closed the meeting by inviting everyone to our next meeting when everyone would join in with our pantomime Cinderella.

Our February pantomime meeting began with the usual refreshments and welcome to members current and new. Antony led us all in a rehearsal of the songs we would sing during the panto to ensure the audience could join in. Members were given a wordsearch and a quiz to keep them busy while the cast got into their finery, or rags in the case of poor Cinders, then we started our performance of Cinderella, scripted by John.

The members and cast all enjoyed themselves and joined in with singing and booing and “oh, no, he didn’t” in true panto tradition. All too soon it was over, with the Prince and his bride departing to the Morecambe and Wise song “Bring me Sunshine”, complete with their dance. Everyone had a sweet or two while the results of the quiz were announced, and the winners chose their prizes.

The meeting closed with a rendition of “We’ll meet again” and an invitation to the March meeting when Carol Cooper would present a history of medicine in 12 objects.

Trumpington Memory Café

A place where people with varying forms of memory loss with their carers can visit and support each other and have fun.

The Pavilion, Paget Road, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9JF.

Third Wednesday of the month, 10.15am to 12.15pm.

Please call 01223 840268 to book a place and please give your name(s).