Today was our first session of the year at the Finchley Memorial Hospital and it was buzzing with so many members. Everyone said how they really missed the sessions over the festive period.

Lisa welcomed everyone and then asked Mark to read out the quiz questions which today were about fire safety especially as we were expecting the Fire Brigade to be visiting today to give members a brief talk about fire safety. Members did really well with the questions.

We then followed with some birthday celebrations. As Peter and Dawn’s birthday is on the 11th and 12th January, they didn’t mind celebrating their birthdays and therefore Lisa prepared a large Panettone cake with the usual firework candle which members always enjoy seeing. As there was another birthday a little later on in the month for another member, everyone also sang Happy Birthday to Enzo too.

We then had some time for a couple of our members who wanted to share some of their Christmas experiences.

James talked to us about some of the medals he was given by a family member recently. In the photo;

The item on the left is a Para Regiment Medal (Northern Ireland, Falklands, Argentina clasps) Top middle – Royal Regiment of Fusiliers C1854 Cap Badge (Crimean War) Middle bottom – Parachute Regiment cap badge To the right – SAS cap badge

Thank you James for sharing this with us Laurie then wanted to say how he did not enjoy being bossed! around over Christmas by the family but was very proud to become a Great Great Grandfather. Thank you Laurie.

It was then time for our Firemen who arrived and received a warm welcome. We had Matthew, Adam and Karl from the North Finchley fire station. They gave members a short talk about fire safety and members also asked questions. We are very grateful for them attending. It was lucky they stayed for 3o minutes and then they had an emergency call and they had to run.

The session then continued – Lisa did some exercises with everyone and then there was the Tovertafel followed with some music and dancing. A busy and very enjoyable first session of the year.