Tea to mark society's 25th birthday (From Gazette Series)

Tea to mark society's 25th birthday

TEAS at Wotton-under-Edge Town Hall last weekend raised £210.65 for the local branch of the Alzheimers' Society.

As well as the refreshments, there was a bric-a-brac and plant stall.

The event marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the national Alzheimers' Society, and came at the end of Alzheimers' Awareness Week.

Founder member of the society, Prof Gordon Wilcock, who works in research and elderly care at Bristol University and lives in Kingswood, cut the celebratory silver anniversary cake.

Prof Wilcock reminisced about setting up the society with two carers who were determined to reach out to others in the same situation, and share the information they had struggled to gather while looking after their husbands.

They also wanted to raise public awareness about dementia and instigate more research.

The society is now the leading charity in dementia care and research, and has many branches throughout the UK and the world.

The local Stroud and district branch was formed in 1991, growing from a group of carers who had been meeting for five years.

The branch now runs a home based respite service and supports people who live on their own in the community under the Supporting People project.

Jo Smith, chairman of the branch, said: "Though we have government grants administered by Social Services and Housing, that is never enough - we hate having a waiting list."

The branch also organises a monthly Alzheimers' Caf where people with any form of dementia, their families and friends and professionals involved in this speciality, can share experiences, enjoy music and good food and make new friends.

The next event is a summer party at St Joseph's Hall, Stonehouse, on Wednesday, July 28 (7.30pm). All are welcome.

Contact Jo Smith on 01453 834714 for details.

*This weekend's Town Hall Teas (2.30-5pm) will be provided by the North Nibley Romania Team.

The charity supports a psychiatric hospital in Transylvania - due to a lack of funds there last winter, in temperatures of -20C, the patients were without heating for some weeks and food was often in extremely short supply.

Charity member Wendy Stevens said: "We want to help with these problems, which are after all just basic human needs."

A video running on Sunday will show life and conditions in the hospital, and there will also be a photographic exhibition, plus stalls selling bric-a-brac, plants and home-made preserves.