Founder member, Joyce, shares some memories of the early days of the Branch:
“Before we became a branch we were a group attached to West Kent. After a few years we had a number of people all affected by having had a close family member with MND and who felt were strong enough to become a Branch. We had the approval of National Office (NO) and we and NW Kent became branches. West Kent shared the equipment they had accumulated and gave us a share of their funds. West Kent had previously given £5000 towards the building of the Heart of Kent Hospice on the understanding that they would support people living with MND (and they still do).
We have always published a magazine to raise awareness, publicise events and fund raise. In those days, the reports were written by hand and then typed and photocopied by a member’s secretary. The Quiz sheets were begun in 2000 to cover the cost of printing the magazine and still test the skills of so many people.
Our first Christmas Bazaar was held in a garage as was the Plant Sale –and it rained! The bazaar was held in Eagle Court when Princes Hall was being refurbished and on one occasion we couldn’t lock up and found a policeman in the High Street to help.
We began our Wine and Wisdom in Rochester Girls Grammar School and then went on to Bradfields School in Walderslade, which we will never forget because of the time the caretaker forgot our booking and went out leaving the school locked! No mobile phones then, so we were unable to stop people coming, and sold the food bought for everyone in the interval – bread rolls, apples, crisps and cheese – from the boots of our cars!
How things have changed – and not changed. We still put patients first, and raise money and awareness. We no longer have to book an electric wheel chair in Bluewater – those who need one have their own. Riser recliner chairs loaned by NO if the OT agreed are now widely available in shops. One patient called his affectionately his “granny ejector- seat”. Thirty years ago the warm water wash and dry was a Magic Loo and now known to us all as a Bio-Bidet
We were one of the first branches to have meetings for plwMND and their carers. They were only once a month but now there are fortnightly meetings in the Wisdom Hospice and the Heart of Kent.”
