Recent Events – News and Photos
July 2019
Nene Valley
June 2019
In June, we had a pizza making lunchtime activity at The Banyers in Royston. Our members and carers were provided with pizza bases to shape and decorate, and the pizza was then cooked for them in their authentic pizza oven. There was a wide variety of toppings available and the staff were on hand to help anyone who needed it. The attendees were then free to eat the pizzas along with a drink, or take them home for a snack later on. Despite the look on this members face below, it was a very enjoyable activity!
April 2019
On Sunday 28th of April, a group of members and carers boarded a coach to visit Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, not far from our homes in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. It was a chilly day, but the animals were still out in force, and we were able to see the very realistic dinosaur models that they have on display, with sound and movement! Although this was scary for some, it was a fascinating experience for most. Everybody had a good walk around to work up and appetite, before enjoying a snack in the café and catching the coach home.
January and February 2019
To kick off the year in style after a quieter January with just the pantomime on the agenda, we held our ever popular Valentines Disco, at the Royal British Legion in Royston. This was a very well attended event, and we had everyone enjoying the music and dancing, along with a few snacks and drinks. Part of our aim as a society is to improve the wellbeing of our members, and holding a disco is the perfect way to provide a social environment, and some fun exercise.
December 2018
Our AGM was held in December, which always doubles as a nice Christmas Party to wrap up the year, held at The Heath Cafe in Royston. We had the photo booth in attendance once again, providing a bit of fun and a picture to take away, for all the members. We did a guess the Dog and Teddy Bear name game for 20p a guess, and both toys went to very happy homes. The usual small Christmas gift for each member was the finishing highlight for the year.
Thank you to everyone for your help, attendance at events, and general support of the charity – we wouldn’t be able to do this without you!
October 2018
A new activity for Royston Mencap was embarked on this month as we travelled the short distance to Watford, to visit the Warner Brothers Studios and take in The Making of Harry Potter! This attraction has grown in size exponentially in the past few years, and is all very accessible so the whole attraction could be enjoyed by all. We spent the day looking around the various props, sets and costumes on display, along with a Halloween themed Great Hall and live demonstrations of wand use from actors.
The trip was immensely enjoyable and no one was keen to return home when it was time to depart.
July 2018
Following a well remembered and enjoyed outing from a few years ago, it was suggested that we have a repeat trip on the North Norfolk Railway between Holt and Sheringham. The coach picked us up bright and early on Sunday 8th of July, and off we went to Holt. On arrival in Holt we caught the 11:25am steam train between Holt and Sheringham, taking in the views of the countryside and then the sea. Once we arrived in Sheringham, the passengers disembarked and explored the town, with many sitting down for a tasty meal of fish and chips in the blazing sunshine. We also discovered that it was a Morris Dancing Festival weekend, which provided much entertainment for us all, the music and dancing was very enjoyable to watch and listen to. The previous day the Morris Dancers had attempted (and succeeded) in breaking a world record, by having 200 Morris Dancers doing the same dance, at the same time! After we had our fill of fish and chips, and Morris Dancing, the coach came to Sheringham to pick us up and take us home.
May 2018
Further to the success of our Afternoon Tea at The Barn last year, we decided to reprise the event for another go. On Sunday the 13th of May, we had a positive attendance of around 25 members, their carers and families. Sandwiches, homemade scones and cakes, along with macaroons were devoured, leaving very little, and numerous pots of tea, coffee and juice were consumed. The room was alive with chatter for the whole afternoon, and we finished with a quick raffle to help replenish the societies funds and provide entertainment and small prizes for the members to take home.
March 2018
On Sunday 18th of March, a group of member and carers met at Glazed Creations in Royston for an afternoon of pottery painting. This activity was enjoyed by all, and some wonderful pieces were produced. The afternoon was wrapped up with a meal at the local pub which satisfied all the hungry bellies, pottery painting can be hard work!
December 2017
The concluding event of 2017 was our Christmas Party and AGM at The Heath Cafe in Royston. This event provides a get together at the end of the year for all the members and their carers and family to come and have a few nibbles and a drink. The photo-booth was in attendance again and was enjoyed by all, providing a memento to remember the event by. All members received a small gift to help get them into the festive spirit, and we had a few larger gifts to give to our departing committee members and chairman who will be greatly missed!
September 2017
Before the summer sun completely departs, we held a group coach trip to the seaside at Southend on the 10th of September. The coach collected 26 members, carers and family members from the agreed pick up point, and at 10am we were off on our way. Once the coach arrived, the train trip along ‘The Longest Pleasure Pier in The World’ was undertaken by a few groups, while some were partial to the ‘Adventure Island’ rides. The weather was fine, albeit windy (but what can you expect from the seaside!). Food and drink was enjoyed by the members in their family groups, including fish & chips, and ice creams! We hope to do another seaside trip next summer, to a different location in the area.
July 2017
We held an Afternoon Tea at the Barn on the 16th of July to give members and carers a chance to socialise with tea, cake and sandwiches in a relaxed setting. After careful consideration we decided not to hold this event outside, and this turned out to be a wise decision as the weather was not kind to us! Thank you to all who helped with making sandwiches and cake, they were very much enjoyed by all.
May 2017
The members and carers embarked on a coach trip to Whipsnade Zoo on the 7th of May. A wander around the area enabled many animals to be seen, and the tour was broken up by a visit to one of the coffee shops for a drink and a piece of cake! A successful trip that we hope to repeat (potentially to a different zoo) in the next few years.
February 2017
Our annual Valentines Disco was held at the Royal British Legion, Royston on Thursday the 16th of February. The room was decorated in a classic pink and red theme, helping to keep the romantic mood in place. Much dancing was undertaken to the fabulous music, which was provided by our resident DJ Andrew Skerry.
December 2016
The final event of 2016 was our AGM and Christmas Social at the Heath Club in Royston on Monday 5th of December. The ever popular Prop N’ Pose Photobooth returned with all Christmas hats and masks provided to allow members, friends and family to take pictures, with a printout provided as a memento – much fun was had pulling silly faces, as we donned the daft accessories. A light buffet supper was consumed followed by cake, and a small present gifted to each member brought the evening to a close.
October 2016
The Society organised a long weekend for members and carers at Butlins at Bognor Regis, coinciding with Halloween. At Butlins there were lots of people getting into the spirit of the spooky celebrations with costumes and face painting, along with a great Halloween show on Saturday night. Sunday was topped off with Tom and Dick’s Entertainment Quiz (where we all got a bit wet from the water fight!). Throughout the weekend the funfair was open with lots of rides and on Saturday evening before the show we all had a drink in the bar (see pictures below).
The weekend was a very successful trip, with a pleasant and social time had by everyone – we hope to be able to repeat this trip a few years in the future!
July 2016
Our Summer Picnic at the Green Man in Shepreth on Sunday the 17th July.
Outdoor games, food and drink were enjoyed by all!
