The Midlands Region and its branches Welcome to the feature of branches within the newly entitled Midlands region which was agreed by National Council in October 2014. It now comprises six branches in the West Midlands, three in Staffordshire, one in Shropshire and two in Worcestershire plus three from East Midlands making a total of fifteen. We are currently working with groups in Central Birmingham and South Warwickshire to establish new branches in 2015. Regardless of where you worked you are more than welcome to join any local branch of your choice here are ours: Bromsgrove & Redditch This group meet on alternate Wednesdays 10.30am 12 noon at Catshill Methodist Church Centre, Bromsgrove B61 0LG. As well as meetings they have theatre visits, holidays, social nights, luncheon clubs coach outings and a walking group. They would be pleased to welcome anyone who has worked in the NHS, or related industry, in whatever capacity. For further details contact secretary Eileen Kirby tel: 01527 871237 or email: br.nhs.rf@gmail.com Coventry Members enjoying some retail therapy at Milton Keynes on their November outing A very busy branch with a wide range of activities planned for most Wednesdays each month. Recently celebrated their 30 th anniversary with a lunch at a local hotel with a special cake made to mark the event, enjoyed by seventy six members. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month 10am- 12 noon at CSB Walsgrave Hospital CV2 2DX. For further details contact secretary Christine Checkley tel: 0247 696 5199 email: chrischeckley@talktalk.net Derby Left: Iron Gate, Derby city centre with Derby Cathedral.
Founded in 1994, Derby has 155 members currently from all areas of hospital and community services residing in Derbyshire. The branch will be celebrating their 20 th anniversary in grand style on Friday 5 th December. They meet monthly for 10 months of the year at Mickleover Country Park Social Club, DE3 0UJ from 2-4.30pm the last Friday of each month. A very active group with a Walks Co-ordinator organising monthly walks with a pub lunch on the first Wednesday of each month. A Luncheon Club also meets monthly. For details please contact: Andrew Gamon, branch secretary tel: 01283 733857 mobile: 07791001415 email: Andrew@gamonfamily.freeserve.co.uk Good Hope, Sutton Coldfield In November the branch held a WW1 Event with members bringing along memories of relatives who had been alive during the time and some who d taken various active parts. There were poems, letters, photos and artefacts shared, followed by a welcome cup of tea or coffee with lovely homemade cakes. Meetings are held in the Partnership Learning Centre at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield on 1 st Thursday each month 2-4pm. With help from girls at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School they produce a very interesting monthly newsletter for members. There is always a warm welcome for new members, please contact Secretary Paula Johnson tel: 0121 605 2818 or social Secretary Barbara Marston 0121 378 2120 Kidderminster Meet on 2 nd Tuesday each month, except August, at Kidderminster Health Centre, Bromsgrove Street DY10 1PG. For further details contact Mrs Cynthia Round tel: 01299 826313. Leicestershire Having worked in the NHS, you obviously care about other people. The caring does not stop when you retire and neither do the good things that happened to you along the way. Meetings are held on 1 st Tuesday each month, except December, at 2pm in St Andrews Parish Hall, Old Church St, Aylestone, LE2 8ND where car parking is free. Contact Marina Briers, recruitment officer tel: 01530 245007 or email: marina.briers@virgin.net. They would love you to go along and join them.
Moorlands This branch meets on 1 st Wednesday each month, except January, at 2pm in Cheddleton Community Centre, Cheddleton, Leek, ST13 7HP for further details contact Ann Pratt, secretary tel: 01782 342521 North Stafford This over 150 member s branch has an active program of meetings and outings. Meeting on the last Thursday of each month 10am -12 noon at North Staffs Medical Institute, Hartshill Road, ST4 7NY for further details contact Ian Bradley secretary tel: 01782 659570. Nottingham Nottingham s Robin Hood statue Meets on the 4 th Saturday monthly (except August and December) at 2pm for 2.30pm start in The Concert Hall, 121 Highbury Road, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 9DR. For further details contact Neville Wildgoose tel: 0115 953 8803 Sandwell & West Birmingham Are you a retired NHS worker? Do you want to meet up with your past working colleagues? Then come and join them! They have a yearly programme consisting of speakers, quizzes and annual outing and Christmas Lunch. Meetings are held on the 2 nd Monday monthly 2-4pm at Hallam Community Project, Methodist Church Lewisham St West Bromwich B71 4HE. For further details contact Ann Harrison secretary tel: 0121 525 1123 email: annken26@btinternet.com New members are always welcome. Solihull This branch welcomes anyone from any discipline who has worked in the NHS (or health related industry) or is about to retire, new members are always welcome. Meetings are held in the John Palmer Hall, Union Road, Solihull B91 3DG monthly on the 3 rd Wednesday 1-3.15pm. For further details contact Carol Pearce tel: 0121 779 2191 email: carolpearce@gmail.com
Stafford & District This is a very friendly group of members from all areas of the local NHS. Meetings are held monthly on 1 st Friday 2-4pm at St Johns Church Hall Littlework Stafford. For further details contact Mrs M Hoyle secretary tel: 01785 251627. Telford Shropshire A new branch in 2013. Meetings are held on the 2 nd Wednesday monthly 1-3pm at The Glebe Centre Wellington Telford. For further details contact branch secretary Moira Wallace tel: 01952 613933 email: moira.wallace843@btinternet.com Walsall Also a new branch started in August 2013 with 14 members which have now grown to 37 fully paid up membership by October 2014. We have a mixture of recent retirees and older members with a wide range of experience in the NHS and allied professions. 23 members, family and friends enjoyed a day trip to Salford in October 2014. Visiting the Imperial War Museum (North) The Lowry and Lowry Outlet along with a walk along the canal, it s certainly a lovely destination. Meetings are held monthly in Board Room at Manor Hospital Walsall WS2 9PS at 2pm on various dates ten months of the year (except January & August). Members enjoy free car parking when attending Fellowship meetings, thanks to the chief executive and current president Richard Kirby. The branch has a wide variety of activities including ten pin bowling, skittles, and coach trips along with speakers of different subjects. The branch celebrated its first birthday in September with a special cake to accompany afternoon tea with Black Country Bugle Poet Trevor Johnson.
There is a program of meetings and activities available, for further details contact Sue Williams, branch secretary tel: 0753 1497 990 or 01543 684566 email: swilliams985@btinternet.com. New members are always welcome to come along and join. Wolverhampton Left: St Peters Church, 4 Exchange, Wolverhampton is on the highest and oldest developed site in central Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Health Workers Fellowship is a very active branch meeting formally on the 2 nd Thursday of each month 7-10pm at Dunstall Hill Community Centre, Dunstall Ave., Whitmore Reans WV6 0HN. In July 2014 they teamed up with community partners, for a third time, organising a One 4 Everyone free event at Bantock House in Wolverhampton, featuring music, dance, storytelling and sales stalls. With visitors being able to pick up helpful information about health and wellbeing from a wide range of organisations, get their blood pressure checked and take part in reflexology sessions. The branch are in the process of formalising their pastoral care. This is being undertaken by developing a specific form with the names and contact details of all members who; a) have not attended meetings for some time, for example as a result of long term illness, change in their circumstances or it could be that they just need encouragement to return. b) are house bound c) it is essential that these contacts are made clear to the individuals that the contacts are from the Branch as in some cases the individuals are friends and could be seen just as a friendly contact. Included on the form will also be the date visited/contacted and any outcome. It has been identified so far that most members have been contacted but this information is not general knowledge. So feedback to the Branch as a whole should be much improved. A co-ordinator has also been selected to undertake this "project". New members are always given a warm friendly welcome for further information please contact Doreen Quammie branch secretary tel: 01902 566146 or email: dquammie@hotmail.com
Left to right: Sue Williams Midlands regional representative, Doreen Quammie branch secretary, Asda representative, John Rostill NHS Retirement Fellowship director, the mayor of Wolverhampton Mike Heap, Dorothy McDonald branch chairwoman, Marie Veerasamy retiring West Midlands regional representative and Mrs Heap