1. the SPEAK EASY club in Cornwall
for laryngectomees and the people who care for them.
Chairperson: Ron Wills, Phone: 01209 718284
E-mail: ronandrose.wills@btinternet.com
Newsletter No. 49 14 September 2011 Secretary: Jan Wilton, Phone: 01579 344884
(two pages this month) E-mail: nhwilton@yahoo.co.uk
This month seven members of the Plymouth Lary Club and six from the Recovery Club
came along to join our members, Nigel & Val, Peter & Pat, Jack, Janet, Ron & Rosemary
and Jan for a meeting at the Devoran Parish Hall - it was great to have a good attendance.
Apologies for absence had been received from Miles (Platon had changed his schedule
and sent him to another meeting) and from Colin & Brenda, Ted & Barbara. Our thanks to
Janet for organising the event and the lunch, to helpers Clare and Stephanie, and to the
ladies who made the cakes.
Ron welcomed our visitors and thanked them for making the journey, and sent our good
wishes to Maggie, Chair of the Recovery Club who is not well.
We discussed:-
Some lary clubs are re-forming as Head & Neck Cancer clubs, with, we understand
NALC’s approval.
Publicity for Speak Easy and the work we are trying to do – we hope to contact
Laurence Reed on our visit to Radio Cornwall, which Ron is trying to organise for
some time in November.
Getting a Speech Therapist along to one of our meetings – we would be happy to
organise transport.
Support Group Awareness Week, being organised by the Recovery Club.
There is now a notice board at Treliske for use by Speak Easy and other support
groups.
Website – after discussion with Geoff, Valerie will approach Macmillan to see
whether we can be linked to their website and will also contact NALC.
Other useful information passed to us:
Jack Paget has come up with an excellent bathroom set up for himself – a vanity
unit with wash basin; swing and tilt mirror fixed on the wall; a spotlight strategically
placed on the ceiling, with a pull switch by the side of the washbasin; suction pump
facility alongside. If anyone would like more details Jack has kindly said he can be
contacted on 01326 250484.
The Fire Safety Advice Freephone based in Cornwall (0800 3581999) will arrange a
home safety check and would then recommend any special equipment for larys and
those hard of hearing, all of which can be arranged.
For those finding it difficult to communicate at times, especially at night, several use
a signal instead – such as a hand clap, or gentle squeezing of fingers – once for
yes, twice for no, and so on.
Macmillan Cancer Support Newsletter “Macnews”.
If anyone has an opinion on any of the above please let us know (your name will not be
mentioned unless you wish it).
2. Events:
Wednesday 5 October – the Clock and Key, Trispen, 12 noon for 12.30 lunch, followed
by our meeting, which will be attended by David Broadhurst who will demonstrate a “new
to us” lightweight speech aid device with microphone which has been available in other
parts of the country for some time. One of our members has recommended that we all see
this. Miles Williams from Platon will also be giving us a talk.
Friday 7 October - Laryngectomy Information Day at the Mustard Tree, Macmillan
Cancer Centre, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth – for larys, carers and staff. Buffet lunch
12.00 – 13.00; 13.15 “Managing your chest/breathing after surgery”, Trevor Phillips,
Clinical Specialist Physio, and HMEs, Julia Pockett. 14.15 tea; 14.30 split into groups –
carers’ perspective, and Patients’ perspective; 15.15 open discussion until 15.45. Contact
Sam Smith: 01752 431467 or email: samantha.smith16@nhs.net
November – visit to Radio Cornwall - to be confirmed
Wednesday 14 December – Christmas lunch, to be provided from Club funds, will be held
at The Carlton Hotel, Truro 12 noon for 12.30; more details in the next Newsletter. The
Recovery Club has chosen the same location for their lunch so that we can all get
together. The Speak Easy raffle will be open to all, and we would welcome gifts to be
donated as raffle prizes, with all proceeds going to Speak Easy.
Other items:
Information from Treliske SLT Department received after our meeting. Sadly, John
Henry, locum SLT will be leaving at the end of October as there will be no vacancy; we will
all greatly miss his dedication and excellent work. We will be welcoming back Emma and
Jane in due course after they have taken their accumulated annual leave, but we have
been assured that the service will be covered.
We are sorry to hear that Stan Edgcumbe is still unwell and send him our good wishes.
Recipe book – NALC have been printing extracts from “Soups & Puddings” produced by
THANCS Group, Hawthorne Suite, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Charles Hastings Way,
Worcester WR5 1DD, or email b.bishop800@btinternet.com or wendyowen52@gmail.com
£2 minimum donation.
Car boot sales at Pool and Lostwithiel realised £110 for Club funds – our thanks to
Valerie, Pat and Ron.
Would anyone like to receive the quarterly CLAN magazine from NALC? If so, please let
Jan know (Secretary’s contact details at top).
SPEAK EASY club
No. 49 14 September 2011