The Uplands Good Companions: Looking back on a busy year

THE year ended with an excellent Christmas tea, provided by Gill Marriott and Jackie Taylor, with musical entertainment from Mary and David Smith and Kay Finch.

The Good Companions are a group of older people who meet from 2- 4pm each Wednesday afternoon in the All Saints Centre, Upper Springfield Road, Uplands.

They have been meeting regularly since 1993.

The Companions aim to provide friendship, stimulating talks and activities and occasional visits.

Two thousand and fifteen was a busy and enjoyable year with a variety of activities and speakers.

Early in the year a three week Romanian Season was held exploring the geography and history of the country with speakers telling of working and visiting in the country, as well as a short stay in hospital over forty years ago.

Speakers included a presentation by Chris King – dressed and kitted out as a soldier of the Civil War.

Thalia Blundell spoke on publishing Christian stories for little children; Dilys Warren told of a long anticipated visit to Canada to link up with members of the extended family for the first time and Pamela Tawse spoke of Edith Cavell and later of the convalescent home run by the V.A.D. at Chestnut House, Nailsworth, during the First World War.

Elisabeth Campbell provided an interesting selection of anecdotes of the English Civil War in Gloucestershire.

Informative talks included one from Bernard Jones on the Talking Newspaper which is appreciated by members of the community no longer able to read local papers.

Sue Black spoke of Gloucestershire Rural Community Council’s project ‘Friends for You’ and a speaker from the Citizens Advice Bureau gave helpful information regarding energy efficiency.

Shared activities included group members bringing and speaking about a 'small treasured possession' and on another occasion sharing 'memories of my first day at work'.

Two local organisations are supported by the group – Allsorts Children’s Charity and the Uplands Care Service.

Regular Bring and Buy sales and donations contribute to these funds.

Sing along with Pat Sykes was popular and will be continued this year as with the regular quizzes.

Food for thought was provided by reading an account of former G.P. Jennifer Bute describing graphically her advancing dementia in the Mothers Union magazine ‘Family First’.

Outings have included lunches at Coleford Golf Club, The Nelson, the Lockkeepers Café and the new M5 Service Station as well as visits to Twigworth’s Nature in Art and Cirencester’s Garden Centre.

Two most enjoyable visits were paid to the Cotswold Playhouse to see the production of Cinderella and Aspects of Love.

The Queen’s long reign was marked by special Christmas tree decorations which featured 62 silver tags, one for each year of her reign.

On one side the dated year showed some activity or event significant to the Royal Family and on the back an event relevant to a Good Companion.

The tree was shown at the Christmas Tree Festival in St Lawrence Church.

The Good Companions is part of Stroud Older Persons’ Community Hub and is open to all.

There is no membership fee but attendees are asked to contribute £1.50 towards the rent of the Hall and light refreshments.

For further details and a current programme – to be published in February – please call 01453 758420 after 7.30 pm.