June 2025

My adventures in Argentina were fantastic, fabulous and phenomenal, leaving a keen desire to return. However, life in Stoke on Trent since my return has been no less eventful. I never expected to be doing so much in my 80s… but being so active at eighty is great and to be celebrated.

The role of Chair of two charities – OLGBT+ and NSDOS, is onerous enough…however, I also help with the running and contribute as an active member to many others; this means I am constantly busy with a wide range of activities that keep boredom and dementia at bay.

It has been heartening and rewarding to see the Rainbow Threads Project come to fruition with a series of creative workshops under the inspirational guidance of textile artist Jane Titley.

Similarly, the willingness of OLGBT+ members to organise outings has resulted in a series of trips including Biddulph Grange and a combined outing with Shropshire LGBT+ group to Birmingham.

In April, I joined the Lord Mayor, Cllr. Lyn Sharpe, in the Longton Carnival and Pig Walk. Lyn led the parade as a black swan, whilst I was a bird of paradise. We were blessed with sunshine and an encouraging crowd who cheered us through the crowded streets of Longton. On the downside, when I returned to my car…I found it had been damaged by someone maneuvering into the adjacent space. The driver of the other vehicle was standing by it waiting for my return. She was abject in her apologies…and repairs were done in surprisingly swift time.

On Wednesday 9 April I attended a Health Inequalities workshop organised by VAST before having a Spring Covid booster in the afternoon. The following week, the first rehearsal for a lunchtime concert at the Penkhull Festival took place. Whilst I have been actively associated with the festival under its direction by May Walley MBE, this is the first time I will have participated since its renaissance under Greg Hallam. Former members of the Bedford Singers are coming together for a lunchtime concert on the last day of the festival to commemorate 80 years since the original ladies choir was formed.

Along with members of OLGBT+ I enjoyed the New Vic Theatre production A Matter of Life and Death, based on the 1946 film Stairway to Heaven.

The ever-helpful Glenn from the Hartshill corner shop T&G Electrics fixed my broken oven.  I now have a backup with an Air-Fryer I bought, which has opened up opportunities to explore my potential to bake. Something I have generally shied away from. The results to date have been most gratifying and it is surprising how popular I have become after sharing chocolate chip cookies and muffins.

Musical activities have included attending lunchtime concerts at St Paul’s Church Newcastle, a NSDOS sponsored ‘Play the Organ Day’ at St Wulstan’s church and the Victoria Hall Organ Prom featuring the brilliant young organist, Daniel Greenway. Of course, I still have my paid job as a church organist at Holy Trinity Hartshill…as well as playing for funerals at Christ Church Fenton.

The month of May was no less eventful, starting with the opening of the Little Vintage Tearooms at Spode Museum in Stoke. Climate Café at B-Arts had a beekeeper for the first time. The following Saturday saw the launch of Canalside Arcana. The project aims to celebrate this stretch of the Caldon Canal, engaging with the community to form something lasting on this historic part of the waterway and to raise awareness that the canal is a shared local resource to be used.

On Wednesday 14 May I was invited to a Celebration Day at which I observed powerful, moving presentations on mental health themes and social issues that had impacted on the lives of the young actors. There were three pieces over the day that drew on intergenerational work with older people from the Ages & Stages Theatre Company and students from Jill Clewes Academy. Each of the pieces demonstrated understanding and passion, as well as a thorough grounding in stagecraft and theatre making. Magnificent.

My services as church organist were in demand this month with three funerals and a wedding.  

By way of a complete contrast, I spent the best part of a day at the UK Biobank in Stockport. I had MRI scans of my brain, heart and body, as well as ultrasound scans of my neck. My bone density was imaged with a DEXA scan, whilst measurements of my eyes were taken with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine. Other assessments included blood test, physical measurements and cognitive ability. I was sent home fitted with a heart monitor, which I wore for 14 days.

Participating in research with UK Biobank is something I consider important. Although participants don’t get the result of the scans…if anything shows up that might be of concern…my GP will be informed. However, we all get a print-off of the physical measurements taken. I have been involved with Biobank since it first began. It feels good to be contributing to valuable scientific research, and at the same time keeping an eye on my overall health and wellbeing.

The month ended with the two-day Etruria Canal Festival. I volunteered on the Saturday helping with the Friends of Hanley Park stall. It was rewarding to participate in this large community event and to enjoy the company of so many friendly Stokies.

June is Pride month…so I intend to do a special post to include all the Pride events with which I am involved.

This month it was my turn, along with Linda Carrington, to play the partially restored instrument at Bethesda Chapel, Hanley monthly open day. You never know the state of the organ…you just have to adapt to whatever is working. I doubt if any of the visitors noticed the challenges we face…which is reassuring.