Author: keynshamdaa

Well it has been a very busy year so far. The usual twice monthly Music for the Mind sessions have been taking place and the upcoming one on 27^th April will be the 8^th one this year. Lindy has led all of them brilliantly and the sound created by everyone seems to be improving all the time. We are getting more new faces every week and the hall is really buzzing.

March this year was the first month with 5 Thursdays in it so as usual we held a boccia session on the 5^th Thursday, the 30^th March. This is the 3^rd or 4^th time we have done this and numbers attending and taking part are increasing each time. The photo shows the 2 teams from one of the matches.

As well as the music sessions, there has also been some trips out. In February and March members of our group went on day trips by train from Keynsham Station to firstly Bradford on Avon and then Bath. They were organised by Faye, who works for the Severnside Community Rail Partnership, who also funded the trips. It was for parties of up to ten. The aim was to show how local stations can make travel on trains accessible to everyone. We had a walk along the river at Bradford and then had a light lunch in a riverside restaurant. In Bath we walked up the abbey and saw a visiting exhibition of wonderful tapestries before having lunch in the Cosy Club. Everything went well and everyone enjoyed the day. Thanks to Faye and GWR who funded it and the rail service as all the trains were bang on time. The photos show our friends at Bradford-on-Avon and Bath railway stations waiting for the train.

Our latest trip out was on Wednesday 12^th April when we had a trip on the Avon Valley Railway. The weather forecast was lousy but we got away with it without getting wet. There were 32 of us altogether and we caught the 10.45 steam train and after our trip up and down the line we retired to the beautiful Rose carriage for tea, coffee and cake. We finished off with a sing song that included the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and Morningtown Ride. Everyone seemed the to enjoy the trip and we were well looked after by all the railway staff. 

The St Monica Trust put on a concert in the Chocolate Quarter on Saturday 8^th April for some of their elderly residents in the care home. They hired a brass band to play some good old fashioned music and refreshments and cake and biscuits were supplied. There was also a raffle and the proceeds went to our group, the Keynsham and Saltford Dementia Action Alliance. 

We had our final Music for the Mind session of 2022 on 22nd  December and there was an excellent turnout of about 40 people including carers and volunteers.

We had our normal sing song including carols and several people did a solo performance. This included Mike who read The Night Before Christmas and also sang a rugby song, Mervyn read a poem he had written, Peter sang Mary’s Boy Child, Rick played a couple of tunes on his clarinet accompanied by June, and both Bryan and Margaret read poems.

It was a happy end to the year and overall its been a great year for the DAA, thanks to all those that have joined and supported us in 2022.

St Dunstan’s Church Hall – 10.30am to 12.15

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday.

Sessions coming up are as follows:

January 12th

January 26th

February 9th

February 23rd

March 9th

March 23rd

March 30th (fifth Thursday so will be slightly different)

A well attended pre-Christmas event was held today.

We also welcomed the Good Afternoon Choir ahead of their performance at St John’s Church on the 14th December at 1pm.

Lyndy combined some of the usual warm up exercises with a number of Christmas themed songs. Pictures below.

Thanks to everyone that joined us and we look forward to seeing as many as possible on the final session before Christmas on the 22nd December. If you are unable to attend we hope you have a wonderful festive period and we look forward to catching up in the New Year.

Our Music for the Mind sessions are going well at the moment with increasing numbers attending. On the 5th Thursday of October we held a boccia session instead of singing. Boccia is similar to bowls but it’s played indoors and you play sitting down. The picture shows one of the games in progress. The session was well attended with over 15 players taking part and they all enjoyed the competition. A few more pictures at the end after news of our next few events.

For the rest of 2022 Music for the Mind sessions will be on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 10.30 until 12.15 in St Dunstan’s Church Hall. You don’t have to book just turn up and the sessions are free although donations are welcome.

A date for the diary. On Wednesday 14th December from 1pm until 2.30 the Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir along with Chandag Junior School are putting on a Christmas concert in St John’s Church. The concert is free but there will a collection and all the proceeds will go to our charity, the Keynsham & Saltford Dementia Action Alliance.