Group Organiser
/Treasurer
/Secretary
Martin Cooper80 Waterdell Lane
Gosmore
Hitchin
Herts
SG4 7QZ / John Wilburn
21 Alder Close
Baldock
Herts
SG7 6HN / Pam Richardson
17 The Woodlands
Broom
Biggleswade
Beds
SG18 9NH
H: 01462 436655
M: 07708 400363 / H: 01462 894091 / H: 01767 601966
M: 0774785 80 80
/ /
NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2012
(Large Print or PDF versions also available. Please contact Martin – details above)
Hello everyone
No, I wasn’t so keen on the watermark (the Coeliac UK symbol behind the text) that I put in the last newsletter either! The logo had been absent for a while so I was experimenting but it did obscure the text a bit. I hope you like this one more. Also new for this edition is a larger font size. It was smaller in the past because there was so much to say and so many to print, but I hope you like this better.
Once again there’s lots to tell you about and two events for you to book. The first event is a Theatre night followed by a meal so I hope this will tickle the fancy of some of you. It’s on 1st November so do please get your bookings in soon so that we can confirm numbers. We haven’t set a deadline for returning the forms this time – I hope I can trust you to be prompt! I was aiming to get the newsletter out by mid-September so sorry for the wait and the short notice for booking but I hope you will agree it was worth it. The next item is the Christmas meal and again, this will be a little different to usual.
PAST EVENT REPORTS
Tea/Coffee mornings at the Café in Sainsbury’s, Stevenage and Bedford
You may recall that from June we relocated the later-in-the-month coffee morning – here’s Nikki’s report: “Wednesday 27th June 2012 saw the arrival of the 1st coffee morning to be held at Sainsbury’s Clapham Rd Bedford instead of at the Biggleswade store. Would they remember we were coming here instead? Would anybody turn up? We need not have worried; Sainsbury’s were very welcoming and allowed us to rearrange seating as necessary and offered to make us GF toast and teacakes to buy if we wished. The event was hosted by Nikki and Pam from the committee and a further 6 people arrived to support us. All were very pleased to see an event at a local venue, some saying that this was the only way that they could attend. Coffee and GF products were consumed amongst a lively conversation and everyone attending seemed to enjoy the event. Here’s to next month!” Well, ‘next month’ (July) saw 8 people and in August there were 12 thanks to Pat’s (another committee member) phone skills drumming up trade! We also had a new member turn up who had seen it advertised at North Wing, Bedford Hospital where another member had taken it upon herself to do some advertising on our behalf! Keep it up!
The coffee morning at Corey’s Mill (Stevenage SG1 4AE) continues to be popular every first Monday in the month. It’s nice to see many of you coming back each month and we’re just as pleased to see new people too, so if you fancy a chat do please come along.
Strawberries & Cream Afternoon Tea – Sunday 24th June
This was held at the sports pavilion in Whitwell and 42 members/partners attended. Debbie, Nikki and Pam from the committee, along with former committee member Marilyn Pearce prepared a delicious afternoon tea in very pleasant surroundings. Their aim was to serve members a totally GF tea similar to one that is served in smart London hotels, but priced at £9.50. Those who attended were not disappointed, as they tucked into a variety of sandwiches (crusts removed of course), quiches, sausage rolls, cheese scones and several other savoury items. This was followed by a vast selection of cakes and scones with jam and cream, everything being home-made. It was all served on beautifully decorated tables with smart cake stands etc. Many of those who attended said it was the best GF tea they had tasted. The afternoon finished with items being sold on the Bring and Buy stall, and all the cakes left over from the tea were plated and bagged up and were quickly sold off.
Warburton’s had generously donated the bread and other items for the day but the courier let them down which meant we had to quickly find 16 loaves from local supermarkets. Pam borrowed the cake stands and we liked them so much we have now bought some for the group for future events!
Several members asked the Smart Tea Team if they could give cookery demonstrations or if we could publish the recipes that were used at the tea so we are looking into this.
Day Trip to Brighton –30th June
This was the group’s third trip to Brighton and 25 members/partners joined the coach for our drive down to the coast. It was a nice dry and bright day although a bit too breezy for sitting on the beach for too long. Most of the party sat down to a GF meal at Donatello’s Restaurant which was very enjoyable and following this we had a free afternoon before re-joining the coach for our journey home. Some went for a stroll around the shops while others went to the Pavilion. The number of people booking for the outing was lower than we hoped and it was feared we may have to cancel it or make a loss but we managed to downsize the coach and ended up with a contribution towards funds, thanks to the raffle.
Coeliac UK AGM –30th June
The event at Sandown Park, Surrey coincided with the group outing to Brighton, so we were not able to send delegates this year.
New Members’ Event – Saturday 7th July
This was the second New Members Meeting of the year and was held at Southend Community Centre in Stevenage. There was as usual an abundance of food provided by the committee, so it was a shame that only 6 people turned up despite an invitation being sent to 150 new members. However those who did attend derived great benefit from the conversations with Vera, Marie, Nikki, John and Martin and they went away with goody bags with items from Juvela, Perkier (mmm, chocolate brownie lollipops!) Nairn oatcakes and porridge and Genius bread kindly donated by Hitchin member Nicola Wilson. They have all been added to our database – not the goody bags! - and we hope they will gain benefit as active members.
We believe that these events are an essential part of the group’s purpose, which is why we began with2 a year then 3, but due to the response we shall be going back to 2 a year from next year, but we will make sure that they are well publicised in advance.
All Things Healthy – Saturday 11th August
This event was in Hitchin Market Square, organisedby local health food and GF products shop The Health Emporium and it gave us and other wellbeing companies and charities a chance to raise awareness in the sunshine. It ran from 10.00.am to 4.00.pm and Martin, John, Marie, Nikki and Pam manned the stand throughout the day offering help and advice (and bread and cakes made by us!) to visitors from around the area.
Young Coeliacs Picnic in the Park – Wednesday 15th August
Morfydd from the committee organised this event at Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton. Again, invitations were sent to the 60 junior members of our group and about the same number were sent to juniors who appear on the main Coeliac UK database but who are not members of our group, but attendance was lower than hoped. Nevertheless those who did attend had a great time sharing their picnics, with Nikki and Pam bringing along contributions and helping out on the day. Thanks also to Dr Schaer for the Fresher for Longer loaves samplesfor the event.
Sunday Lunch – The Golden Fleece, Braughing – Sunday 9th September
This was the first time that we have been here as a group, but we were in familiar hands because the owners once ran the George and Dragon at Watton at Stone where we went on a number of occasions. As expected the meal was excellent and it was a delight to see so many items on the varied menu that we can’t usually consider in a standard restaurant. When I first got the menu I had to read it twice as it looked too good to be true – profiteroles? Bread & butter pudding? I should not have worried. There were about 24 of us there and everyone enjoyed it immensely. Don’t wait for us to arrange another trip there, before you go!
FUTURE EVENTS
Tea/Coffee mornings – First Monday and Last Wednesday of the Month
Don’t forget that the coffee morning on the last Wednesday of the month is now at Sainsbury’s Café in Clapham Road, Bedford, MK41 7PJand we hope to see you there! Pam and Nikki will be there on: 31st October, 28th November and 26th December (but please check first in case Pam or Nikki are still sitting on Santa’s knee).
On the first Monday of every month our coffee morning is at Corey’s Mill store in Stevenage, SG1 4AE. John and Marie and Vera are usually there to greet you. The next ones are on: 5th November (remember, remember that one), 3rd December and 7th January.
Both are from 10am to around noon, offering an opportunity for an informal chat over coffee and cakes in the company of seasoned ‘GF professionals’. On most occasions Sainsbury’s provides us (free of charge) with samples from their Free From range. You will be more than welcome to come to either or both, for as long as you like.
Coeliac Masterclass for Health Professionals – 10thOctober
The idea of this event was to invite healthcare professionals to an event all about what being a coeliac is like from ‘our side of the desk/counter’, so as to raise awareness of a different sort. This arose in response to some of the feedback we hear from members about what it feels like having symptoms and hoping for a diagnosis;when you are newly diagnosed; selecting your first GF items to try and how hard or easy it is to get a reliable supply. This was an idea intended for GPs, dietitians and pharmacists - especially now that they are more involved in the supply chain, at least in Beds. However, as I explored the practicalities more, it became clear that it was going to be easier to go to them that to expect them to come to us one evening. GPs and pharmacists already have training and education sessions arranged within their practices and local areas regularly and these are planned weeks ahead so instead, we will be contacting the relevant bodies offering to attend their events to spread the work and help raise understanding. I’m sure Dietitians have similar arrangements and we will be working with them in much the same way.
So to cut a long story short, this event will not now be going ahead but all the planning and the ideas raised will certainly be put to good use in other ways. If anyone would like to see a list of the issues we’d cover please contact me. I would welcome your thoughts and any other concerns that we should raise.
Peterborough Food Fair - Saturday 13thOctober 2012
Another casualty of the recession, I’m afraid, but we have had to cancel the trip to Peterborough as fewer than ten people expressed an interest. If you would still like to go to the food fair, please make your own arrangements.
Show at the Market Theatre, Hitchin followed by dinner at Zizzi’s – 1stNovember
We thought we would try something a little different. The Market Theatre in Hitchin has been going for over ten years, putting on a range of different presentations including comedies, scarys, historical plays, whodunnits, most written by Kirk, the artistic director. Joy and I have been going since the start and we have never been disappointed! All shows last about 1 hour with no interval and finish about 9pm. The theatre is in Sun Street, within 50 yards metres of about 20 places to eat.
The evening will begin at 7:30pm upstairs in The Long Bar for a pre-theatre drink. We’ll go down for 8pm to enjoy a production of The Flatmate, a comedy. Vanessa is looking for another girl to share her flat. She would like her flatmate to be respectable, straight-forward and ordinary. However, without really knowing how, she has offered the room to the fast-talking Tyler. Reluctantly Vanessa is carried along on Tyler's wave of unrestricted enthusiasm. Just when Vanessa feels that Tyler has gone too far, her life is unexpectedly changed forever...
After the play we can walk across the road to Zizzi’s, which has a GF menu including lamb shoulder, pork belly, Sea Bass and even pasta dishes. For more information see or call 01462 433553; or call 01462 440708.
You can book for the show and the meal, or just one or the other. The show is just £10 each. You can choose what you want at Zizzi’s from the menu and pay on the night, but we ask for a deposit of £5 when booking to get an idea of numbers.
New Members’ Event – Saturday 27th October
Using the regular updates from Coeliac UK we invite those who have been diagnosed in the last six months to help them get used to the new way of life, and to sample a selection of GF products. The event is again at the Community Centre at Southend Close, Stevenage, from 10am until around 1pm. Invitations will be sent to all those joining Coeliac UK since 1st May, but if you have missed out on a previous chance and would like to be invited this time, please contact Marie on or call 01462 894091 and we will make sure that you are included.
This is the third and last New Members event of the year. As I said above, response has been low for the last few of these events with numbers attending also low, so from next year we will be going back to two rather than three a year to see if this boosts numbers.
Hitchin Wine & Food Festival - 24/25-Nov
We have been invited to have a table at this event again this year, but we felt that as we have already done one event in the name of Coeliac Awareness in the town this year, we would make room for another charity to promote themselves. If you know of any forthcoming events in a town near you where we might have a stand to raise awareness and provide advice and support, please let me or a member of the committee know. Thanks to John Pearce from Hitchin Tilehouse Rotary for inviting us now and in the past and we wish the event every success.
Meanwhile, at the All Things Healthy day I met Bob Clarke from the Hitchin Mimram Rotary Club who invited me to speak at one of their dinners in October, so I’ll be raising awareness with the help of the Rotary club in another way – same meat, different (GF) gravy!
Christmas Meal – Saturday 1st December
The Christmas celebration this year is in the usual venue of Westmill Community Centre, John Barker Place, Hitchin, SG5 2PG but we have a treat for you: the meal is being prepared by Taste Buds of Hitchin. Not only does Charlton run a very popular café with GF options sweet and savoury, he does outside catering too. When booking please make your choices from the following menu, which I hope you will agree sounds wonderful.
Starter- choose from:
- Tomato and roasted red pepper soup, Beetroot and butternut squash soup, Smoked Mackerel Pate or fruit juice
Main - the selections are:
- Vegetable Wellington (that's in pastry for those who don't know!), Honey Glazed Gammon and Turkey, Beef & Yorkshire Pudding all served with roast pots, lemon glazed carrots, sautéed Brussels sprouts, peas, roast parsnip.
Dessert - as is tradition, the desserts will be made by the committee
The cost of the meal will be £15 adults, £7.50 under 16s. Please come along from 12:00 onwards and enjoy a glass of mulled wine, followed by the meal which will be served at 12:30pm. As usual there will be a table quiz while we are dining. As we were going to press we learnt that our planned speaker is now not able to attend so we are currently making arrangements for an alternative, which will be either a cookery demonstration or a talk, which will start at 2:30pm. Members who do not wish to come for the meal are welcome to come along later just for the presentation, for which there is no additional charge but any donations are welcome.
After that there will be a tea/coffee break – do please bring along a cake or fruit loaf etc. to share, if you like – we’d appreciate that. About 4:30pm we will give the answers to the quiz and call the raffle.