friendship – Reflections

Vikki Melrose – 9th December 2025

December 31, 2025 by Peter, posted in Friends Group

It’s Christmas party time!

Vikki once again came along to our Christmas party ensuring everyone had a great time.

Before the festivities got underway, the team had a rare get together to enjoy lunch together and celebrate another successful year of the Friendship Group.

We were pleased to welcome back Mayor Linda who popped into wish members a Happy Christmas before going onto another event. It is a busy time of year for a Mayor.

We were delighted the ASDA Foundation gave us funding for our Christmas party. A total of 52 members and 12 team enjoyed a sandwich lunch and hot drink.

While members were having their lunch, there was a surprise visit from Father Christmas and Dominic the Donkey, aka lovely Kath, the Shrewsbury House Manager, seen here with Mayor Linda, who came in on her day off to dress up as Dominic. Father Christmas and Dominic were followed around by Peter with his phone and a speaker playing the Dominic the Donkey song sung by Lou Monte. It’s a catchy song. Father Christmas handed out a small goodie bag to all the members.

As is tradition, we held a raffle from prizes donated by group members. All members were able to buy a ticket and win a prize. We are grateful to trustee Sarah who took a day off work to come and run the raffle table as she has done since we started this tradition.

Once lunch was over, it was time for singing and dancing but not before another tradition of everyone joining in an interactive sing a long of the 12 Days of Christmas led by Janet and the team. Everyone had a lovely afternoon.

The Friendship Group will now take a break until 2026. We look forward to more socialising and fun next year. Happy Christmas.

The Reflections Friendship Group is next at Shrewsbury House on 6th January 2026 at 1pm when Tony will entertain us.

Please note: in our uploaded photos we blur the faces of all group members. You do see the faces of our wonderful volunteers.

Julian Garman – 11th November 2025

November 12, 2025 by Peter, posted in Friends Group

What an afternoon!! There was so much going on today.

Julian was in top form, playing plenty of powerful well known tunes on his guitar, harmonica and cornet.

Dave has now attracted quite a bingo crew. In our games, everyone gets a small prize whether they win or not. Dave is learning the bingo phrases, though everyone shouts out the phrases as the numbers come up even if he doesn’t know them.

We welcomed two therapists from Creative Companion Collaborations who were giving free hand massages to group members. There was even time towards the end for some team members to have one too. Members reported the ladies were very good and the massages were relaxing. Thank you for coming along ladies.

Karlee, our local ASDA Community Life Champion came along to present us with a cheque for £1,000 from the ASDA Foundation. This money will be used to fund our Christmas party on 9th December. Thank you Karlee so much for nominating our group for this award and for the donation of some biscuits and squash that you brought along today.

We also welcomed Andrew, Service Manager Bexley from the Alzheimer’s Society. He came along to see what happens at the Friendship Group and kindly topped up our supplies of Alzheimer’s Society publications which Helen, our Librarian, gives out to new members. He plans to come back in the New Year to deliver an updated Dementia Friends session for the team and anyone who would like to join us.

As always, great music stimulates the group members to take to the dance floor. I’m sure they will all sleep well tonight.

Team member highlight

Introducing Helen. Helen is our resident Librarian. Since taking on this role her warmth, keenness and willingness means she has also acquired two other roles. She is our Playlist for Life lead and has volunteered to run a reminiscence table with the Call to Mind Game if there is demand. Helen loves all of these roles as she enjoys chatting to group members and finding our more about them.

The Reflections Friendship Group is next at Shrewsbury House on 25th November 2025 at 1pm. Mark will entertain us and the elves will be in town.

Please note: in our uploaded photos we blur the faces of all group members. You do see the faces of our wonderful volunteers.

Scott Elvis – 30th September 2025

October 3, 2025 by Peter, posted in Friends Group

Elvis was in the building!! We rocked the afternoon away with The King.

An hour of dancing to classic Elvis tunes performed by star turn Scott on his first visit to the Friendship Group. He was very popular and he will return.

In the first hour we continued with crafts, word searches and a reminiscence session. In the Library, we played the “Reflections Friendship Group” Spotify playlist that Peter had created from the songs written on the bunting at the previous session. The playlist can be found on Spotify using the Search option.

Elvis has so many well known songs to choose from that the dance floor was continually busy.

Elvis charmed the audience. Some members were especially fascinated by him.

An amazing experience that was shared with us this afternoon, was that one of our members seen on the left, was stationed in Germany next to the barracks that Elvis was stationed at. One day when our member happened to have his camera with him, Elvis came out of his barracks and he took the photo on the right! What a special memory.

Also visiting us today for the first time was local Councillor Raja, seen here with team member Helen. He came along to find out what happens at the Friendship Group. He spoke to group members and joined in the singing and dancing.

Team member highlight

Introducing Lynne. Lynne is our Meeter and Greeter. She is the friendly face members see when they first arrive at Shrewsbury House, with her welcome table in the foyer letting them know about any special news of the day. She puts new members at their ease, so very important, and welcomes back existing members. She is always happy to have a chat to people.

The Reflections Friendship Group is next at Shrewsbury House on 14th October 2025 at 1pm. Tony will give us another sing-a-long with his top tunes.