The Magdalen Memory Club came about through the great success of the St Andrews Memory Club which had been running for approximately 6 years at the time. Mel Thomas its founder member recognized the need for a similar club in the Magdalen area. Mel along with Carol as coordinator then set up the Magdalen Memory Club which has now been running for approximately 2 years.
Local people attending the Magdalen Memory club talk about their memories.
Lisa Davies Community Reporter interviewed Carol who runs the Memory club
Carol said she had a room at Saint Andrews church then there became a waiting list so Carol and Mel Thomas looked for a room so people didn’t have to wait. They found a room at the Magdalen Methodist church and its been very successful. Carol has been doing this get together for about 2 years now, every Wednesday 10am till 2pm. They never turn anyone away and the ladies and gentleman pay 3 pounds which includes a 2 coarse meal, teas and coffees at any time. They love the company, and they all play games have sing song. Carol said “most of the old songs they sing, most of them remember all the words. This is a good thing as for some of the ladies and gentleman this brings back some memories. These are hopefully lovely memories as they deserve it. Carol gets to the Methodist church around 8.30 and the cooks arrive not long after. They are all volunteers which is brilliant to give there free time to put back into the community.
Joyce was one of the lovely ladies I interviewed and she told me that she was in the war for 5 to 6 years as a wireless operator which Joyce loved to do. Joyce told me a pilot she new had a dog who used to sit in between her legs. As Joyce was telling me this she was laughing which was lovely to see. Her husband was Welsh and Joyce couldn’t have any children of her own, so Joyce and her husband adopted 2 girls. One is called Sheila who goes round Great Yarmouth to make sure people especially old people are ok. She makes sure they have everything they need as there is a lot of people who need help and are not getting it. This is because they don t no what they are entitled too. Joyce’s other daughter Karen lives in London and has 2 girls. Thank you Joyce for the pleasure was all mine.
Frank is 84 years old and he served in the war. Frank served in India for 6 years, fighting the Japanese. He told me that when they caught prisoners of war they would shoot you or hang you from a tree and left you to die slowly. Frank actually had to cut some of these people down from trees. Frank served in the Royal Air Force during the war in a bomber and he was only 18 years old. When he joined up he thought that it would all be an adventure. But as Frank put it “I soon changed my opinion”. Frank told ne that he did marry but sadly lost his wife 5 years ago and the he has one Son who is now 60 years old, married and they both visit him on a regular basis and help him out.
Thank you Frank, it was a pleasure interviewing you.
Also thank you Carol for your time and the good work you do. Thanks also to all the cooks who also volunteer for the Group.
Hope to see you all soon.
By Lisa Davies
96k Community Reporter
More information about The Magdalen Memory Club
