Reminisce Awhile...

From Sept – Nov 2009 I worked in partnership with Epic Arts as a facilitator delivering workshops to patients with AIDS who were currently being treated and elderly patients who were stroke victims. Using stimuli such as ration books, songs from the 40s and images we worked with patients emphasising the value of their memories and past experiences. One of the most striking things I will take away from this project is the value of simply talking. I felt very privileged to hear stories about school or family, Christmases and the houses they grew up in, deep personal memories that were of great significance to each participant; a stolen kiss with an American GI during the war, fond memories of sweets after Sunday School but my favourite came from a patient explaining how he met Sir John Betjeman whilst working as a reporter for the BBC. Apparently, Betjemin walked straight past him, took two lumps of cheese out of each suit pocket and said to the bartender “Where’s the port?” - by Samantha Holdsworth