LOST CHORD NEWS
North Staffordshire Laryngectomee Support
Group
President Mr. Richard Hughes M Phil FRCS (ORL-UNS)
Vice Presidents Mr. W V Carlin M.B. B.ch FRCS
David Durham
Chairman
Vice Chairman Bernard Bonsall
Treasurer Elizabeth Joynes
August 2012
Becoming a
laryngectomee
is a learning
experience with very
few teachers
The July meeting was a visit to the National Arboretum
The July meeting was a visit to the national Arboretum. We arrived at 10:30 toured the site and
then had lunch at the Waterfront at Barton Marina. The day was not without incident when we
left the Arboretum the A38 was blocked due to an accident and we had to take 10mile detour
instead of a 5 mile trip. Afterwards on our way home once again there was an accident on the
A50 and being unable to detour we were delayed by approx. 2 hours. Still we all had a good day
out.
Cliff Tayar has done a report on his experience of the day
Reported by Cliff Tayar
Nil Desperandum Carborundum Arboretum!
Elizabeth and Tony organised an excellent trip to the National Memorial Arboretum on 3rd
July. Lost Chord members were Hilda (with Geoff), Bernard (with Mavis), Reg (with Norma),
Cliff, Elizabeth (with Tony) together with their friends John and Jane Platts. Head and Neck
Cases present were Fred (with Rita), Sam (with Dot), and Val.
After a short service and the Last Post in the wooden Chapel, I joined a group led by a volunteer
veteran guide, but in 90 minutes we only saw a small number of the amazing variety of the
remembrance gardens. One incredible statistic was the wood containing 2535 trees, one for each
merchant ship lost. The symbolism was everywhere, such as the Ann Frank memorial with a
white flowering tree never allowed to flower by annual pruning on 12th June.
Bernard showed me two plaques laid in the Chapel area, one inscribed Ron Hawkins, 19452009, Lost Chord Club, and the other Pte. G. Wilde (Army) SWB, Lost Chord, 2008.
We all then went to a superb lunch at The Waterfront at Barton Marina. Bernard thanked Tony
and Elizabeth. The A50 was grid-locked, so we had to take a fairly long detour to get there,
greatly confused by our SatNav guide who kept trying to get us back to the original A50 route.
Next Meetings
Tuesday August 7th
2:00pm the British Legion Club
197 Meir Road
Longton
Guest Speaker for August
Kath Curley from The Beth Johnson
Foundation she is the advocacy on the Wards
Project Co-ordinator for older people affected
by cancer
Web Site
We now have our own small web site which is http://www.lostchordstoke.org.uk/ .This is
being run by one of our members Cliff Tayar who has done a wonderful job in setting it up
and updating it.
Below are pictures of the Plaques at the National Arboretum that the club have had dedicated
to commemorate two of our stalwart members
Telephone Numbers
MARK YOUR DIARY
Useful Contacts
Outpatients
Next Meetings
www.laryngectomy.org.uk/
01782714444
www.laryngectomylife.com
Speech Therapy
Tuesday august 7th
www.webwhispers.org
01782 555677
2:00pm the British
www.kapitex.com
NALC 020 7730 9595
Legion Club
www.macmillan.org.uk
Lary Life (Platon)
197 Meir Road
www.countrywidesupplies.co.uk
01323431930
Longton
www.cancerlt.org
www.cancerbackup.org.uk
Letters articles or any input to 01538 753084 anthony.c.joynes@btinternet.com
Web site www.lostchordstoke.org.uk