MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

HITCHIN & DISTRICT BRANCH

Patron: The Hon. Sir David Bowes Lyon K.C.V.O.

Dear Members,

It is just over nine months since our Branch was formed at the memorable meeting at Hitchin, when the National Chairman, Mr. Cave, gave us such a send off.

What has happened since then, for some only a little, for others a great deal. In January, there was the Christmas party, only marred by the wretched weather, which stopped some from arriving, there was the outing to see "Bless the Bride" at the Town Hall in Hitchin.

Then while all this was going on, the committee and the visitors were busy making their rounds through all sorts of weather, to offer a cheery word or a helping hand.

Meanwhile our numbers were growing and our area getting larger, until now our membership is up to 50, and associate members nearly as many. The area must now be all of 40 miles across, stretching from Royston to Luton, Bedford, Welwyn Garden City, Harpenden, just to mention a few of the places.

Quite a number of us remember Henry Robinson of Royston, who after many moves, has now arrived at Rook Wood Hospital, nr. Cardiff, is very happy there and has already been visited by the Cardiff Branch. They find there are three other M.S. people also there and have promised to take them out to a social evening once a month, we wish them every joy, and happiness.

The next thing we remember, was the lovely sunshine and the Japanese Gardens at Cottered in June, we feel the weather and the flowers were ordered specially for us, our grateful thanks to Mrs. Goode for her generosity, and the people of Cottered, who gave so freely of their hall and tea. We look forward now to our outing to Walkern on the 16th August, when Miss Faith Wood has promised to come and talk to us, then to the St. Leger Draw which will take place on the 9th September at the home of Mrs. Boyle at Hexton, who has very kindly offered tea to anyone who would like to come along.

The St. Leger Draw - what a shattering result to all of us except our much over-worked Secretary, who has been terribly confident all the way through. Starting with a timid 4000 tickets as an advertising scheme, it has now blossomed into a rapid sale, which on the closing date will almost certainly show the record total of 8000 tickets sold. We feel in passing that we must also mention Mrs. Allen of Stevenage, who so far has sold over £14 worth, congratulations!

Finally, what are we cooking up on the committee for the future, well, quite a lot, another visit to the Thespians in November to see "Love from Judy", a musical, a Christmas party in early December, and we hope the weather will be more kind to us, then in March next year our first Annual General Meeting.

On top of that we are trying to form plans for a Holiday Scheme with some sort of financial help for M.S. members but not their families, would those interested please drop a line to the Secretary some time saying what they would like, all this correspondence will be treated as strictly confidential.

Then we are trying to form a Social subcommittee to look after money raising events to help on the research side of the Society, all volunteers will be gratefully received.

Yours very sincerely,

R. M. EDWARDS,

Chairman.

Cottered, 29th July, 1959.