Great ‘camaraderie’ for all at Peebles Stroke Group

We visited the group at one of its regular meetings in NHS property Firholm on Innerleithen Road.

Peebles Stroke Group, which has men and women among its members, meets every two weeks on a Wednesday from 1.30 to 3.30pm and is co-ordinated by former speech therapist Jane Holmes.

Ms Holmes said: "The group started about 30 years ago with speech therapists holding it at Haylodge Hospital.

“When I worked as a speech therapist the nurses at Haylodge brought people down to the group to see what we were doing.”

A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and should be treated in hospital as soon as possible.

Typically the group has an exercise session, tea, coffee and biscuits and a good blether.

There are special events on the calendar and in the coming months.

These include: a ukulele group, an old Peebles slide show and, on December 11, a Christmas lunch at the Green Tree hotel.

Joan Rose, 82, who had her stroke – which affected both sides and her balance – on Christmas Day in 2014, said: “We all find something to laugh about and there is a lot of camaraderie.

“I don’t remember the stroke and have amnesia so only recall what people have told me.

“I was in two hospitals in Edinburgh for four months and brought to Peebles Nursing Home where I stayed for 17 months.

“During that time I learned to walk again and ‘escaped’.

“Coming to the group is a comradeship because we have all had a life-changing experience.

“We have different disabilities but we all accept each other.”

There was a definite feeling, among some members that once you leave hospital after having a stroke, you have to fend for yourself with little support.

And that is what makes the stroke group so important to the community.

Gill Hawken, 86, added: “I had my stroke about three-and-a-half years ago and it has made enormous differences to my life.

“I can no longer walk and do all the things I used to love.

“It is really nice getting out somewhere like this group and I have been coming about six months.

“I love meeting people especially those who do not mind if you are a bit slow moving.”

Brian Crooks, 79, who had a stroke aged 67 in 2012, said: “One of my main problems is speaking.

“I can’t answer the phone because if I am asked a question I cannot answer quickly and what I want to say does not come out.

“My speaking has definitely improved since the start but I find it hard to pick anything up with one hand.”

Julie Loughery, 83, enunciating her surname, said: “The next time I get married it will be someone called Smith!

“I had a stroke on my left side three-and-a-half years ago but I have been one of the very lucky ones.

“My daughter was with me when it happened, so it was immediately blue lighted.

“The biggest thing for me was that it took an awfully long time to get confidence back. I was frightened to go out and live a normal life.

“Gradually it changed. I went out one day without the phone at a shopping centre and an announcement came over the public address system.

“It was my daughter worried about where I was and was searching the shops.

“Now I am going to be tagged which makes it easier to check where I am.”

The group relies on volunteers.

Ms Holmes said: “We have a good collection of volunteers who are excellent but are always looking for more.”

For more information about Peebles Stroke Group email Jane Holmes on jh.kerfield@gmail.com