Newsletter - 40th Edition - March 2007
Thursday 14th December
The Sherry & Mince Pie evening was a really good night with 74 members enjoying the carol singing and Norman’s accompaniment on the keyboard
We must thank the members for their generosity; we had some fantastic prizes and a vast amount of food for the hampers. In all we raised £485 which will be put to good use for the benefit of the group.
Eric Royle won 1st prize, ‘the hamper’ and generously gave it to Judy to re-raffle for the Alexandra Hospital, £28 was raised.
Thursday 8th February
What a great night at the Eagle & Sun. The weather was diabolical due to the heavy snowfall but the roads weren’t that bad and 70 members bravely turned up, which was fantastic.
The meal and service was top class. We had a free raffle, and a British Heart Foundation Valentines Appeal, which raised £50 thank you for your support.
Group meetings
For the foreseeable future our group meetings will be held on the second Wednesday, bi-monthly from February, at Community House Easemore Rd Redditch
Unfortunately this means one evening, every two months, the exercise class will be cancelled.
Wednesday 11th April @ 7.30pm
Linda Barratt will be coming along for her annual talk to the group; I think we all look forward to this meeting. Linda will be accompanied by Mark Peters, who will tell us about the benefits of Tai Chi.
Wednesday 13th June @ 7.30pm
Mr Wade Dimitri, Consultant Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon from Walsgrave Hospital is going to give a presentation. I understand there are lots of new and interesting things happening in surgery; perhaps Mr Dimitri will be able to enlighten us.
Please let’s have a fantastic turn out and give him a very warm welcome.
Dr Mike Pitt Consultant Cardiologist
Brian received a very nice letter from Dr Pitt, thanking him and all the members for the wine and for giving him a very warm welcome at the October A.G.M. group meeting.
Group Meetings
There must be some of our members who could come and talk to the group about their hobbies or interests. I remember Bill Senior giving us a very interesting talk about his lovely paintings which he bought to show us.
If anyone would like to talk to the group or send anything of interest to put into the newsletter please contact Denise on:
0121 460 1049 or mail to: Denise Winters 332 Lickey Road Rednal B45 8RY
Email: denisewinters@blueyonder.co.uk
August group meeting
T.B.A
Dr Jonathon Panting
“New assessment and treatment options in heart failure”
29th November 2006
Dr Panting told an audience that the heart function of up to 5 patients a week is now being assessed using an MRI scanner at the Heartlands which gives clearer images than traditional echocardiograms.
He then talked about cardiac resynchronisation. In heart failure patients the electric impulses that control the muscles of the heart can become disrupted or even broken, which reduces the heart’s efficiency. A new form of special pacemaker that restores these signals has been developed and is now being used. The new pacemaker is apparently more expensive and takes up to three times as long to fit – but worth it!
The Green Gym
The B.H.F. are asking if any members would be interested in forming or becoming members of a ‘Green Gym’
Green Gyms offer a unique opportunity to get some exercise in the outdoors by doing something worthwhile for the local environment. With an emphasis on team work and achievable goals, the Green Gym is a proven way to improve health and well-being and help combat stress.
Activities may include improving the wildlife value of an area of wasteland, caring for a community garden, working on a local nature reserve or establishing a community food-growing project.
Fresh air, socialising, and the improved self-esteem resulting from involvement in Green Gyms, has kept people coming back again and again – often motivated to develop the skills required to take over running the programme themselves longer-term.
Phone Julia Coffey: 020 7725 0491 or Main Switch 020 7935 0185 it you are interested.
“Wealthy people miss one of life’s great thrills – making the last car payment”
Walks
If anyone is interested in the walks you can meet at Saunders Park, Kidderminster Road, Bromsgrove, every Wednesday at 10.00am.
They have walked from Bewdley to Harley and then got on Seven Valley Railway back to Bewdley. Other walks include The Arboretum at Bodenham and Salworpe Nr Droitwich.
They decide on the day where they will be walking it all depends on the weather and peoples ability.
For more information Phone Graham on: 01527 876917
As the weather improves we would hope to have some Sunday morning walks for our Members who may find it difficult to get to Bromsgrove during the week.
The E.C.G. Department at The Alexandra Hospital
Brian has received a letter from the E.C.G. Dept: asking if Hale & Hearties can help them in purchasing a much needed Hydraulic Couch and some text books for training purposes. The committee discussed this and agreed to purchase these items. It is a way of putting something back into the system as most of us have benefited from the E.C.G. department. It was suggested when these items are presented to the E.C.G. we get the newspapers involved.
British Heart Foundation
Hale & Hearties has received three packs of Decaf Tetley Tea Bags from the B.H.F. which has been kindly donated by Tetley, one of the B.H.F.’s long standing supporters.
Tetley and the B.H.F. have been in partnership for five years, and the year 2006 Tetley raised a fantastic £1 million for the B.H.F.
For more information on Tetley’s fundraising partnership with the BHF log onto bhf.org.uk/helping or contact Claire Eliot on: 020 7725 0482
Pat & Denise thank you all for the flowers presented to them at the February meal.
