Last Sunday we all had an enjoyable day in Kenton. 55 people came from 6 local Norwood residential homes for young adults with disabilities, including residents and their carers, and we spent the afternoon eating and drinking together and singing along with Carmel Stockman and Philip Spiers, who provided popular entertainment, songs everyone knew and happily sang. Some guests came and took the microphone themselves and were not shy to sing on their own. Many have come to Kenton before and we know them well. Philip’s keyboard playing set the mood and Carmel’s lovely voice filled the hall as she walked around the tables getting everyone to join in.

We were given T-shirts by Norwood and Mitzvah Day, and we had bunting and balloons around the hall, setting the party mood. We did this as always with the help of Norwood, and were joined in the afternoon by 2 Norwood volunteers - Marianne Philips, and Sarah Neville and 2 of Norwood’s Head office professional staff, Ruth Korel – Young People’s Programme and Project Manager, who helped arrange the visit, and Sharon Bradman - Volunteering Manager. It was special to us that Sharon came, as she was brought up in Kenton – she is Allan and Dorothy Russell’s daughter, and for her it was a homecoming too. Thanks to all of them and the photographer Carissa Tucker.

Thanks to the Kenton ever-enthusiastic team of helpers who prepared the plentiful food for the tea - Evelyn Berg, Barbara Golstein, Gail Grayerff, Joyce King, Anne Leach, Irene Leeman and Maureen Simons.

In the afternoon, Sharon Bradman brought even more cakes, quite unexpectedly, specially made and decorated for Mitzvah Day at one of Norwood’s centres, and so every home ended up taking a sizable ‘goody’ bag home with them. Thanks to Philip and Carmel for the entertainment which really made the day.

We’ve been told that everyone is looking forward to next year!!

By Irene Leeman