Holiday at Home- stepping back in time

Debbie Gurling, Pastor for Older People and some of the team including Jane Butcher (centre), one of the BRF Anna Chaplaincy co-ordinators.

St John's Church , Harborne (south-west of Birmingham city centre) recently ran the annual Summer Connect (holiday at home) events for those aged over 70. It covered two consecutive weeks. Each time more than 80 people - guests and team gathered to enjoy a trip back in time to the 1950s and 1960s. The first day took place on the hottest day of the year, thankfully in an air conditioned church and the second week on one of the wettest for a long time! 

Many of those present attend the midweek service on a regular basis although a good number joined from the local independent living facilities in the area along with other local residents. It has become a regular feature in their diary.

Throughout the day there were a variety of activities including hand massage, tech support for digital devices, jigsaws, colouring and the ever-popular themed quizzes. Alongside, there were engaging talks, a delicious two-course home-cooked themed lunch, followed by an energising concert led by an intergenerational band. A great deal of singing, foot tapping and dancing was enjoyed as we revisited the era. 

'It was all amazing fun' said Jane Butcher one of the national Anna Chaplaincy coordinators, 'with some lovely relationships nurtured and new relationships initiated.' 

'One of the older ladies with limited mobility left the concert saying 'I feel 21 again'! I'm not sure if the team did by the end, but we wouldn't change it for anything. Special memories created for one and all.'

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