The Voice of PLC Newsletter Oct - Nov 2011

1. The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)
A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees
The Voice of PLC
October- November 2011
Address: c/o 80 Warleigh Avenue, PLYMOUTH, PL2 1DH, Devon, UK
Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com
FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR EDITORIAL COMMENT
Written by Geoffrey N. READ
Dear Friends & Supporters, I NTERNET Links. If you’re reading this on-line and come
across words with blue lettering that are underlined, then
you can click on these links and be taken directly to another
The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club is now one-year-old and site for more information on that particular topic.
has just held its first Annual General Meeting. The results If you read this on Microsoft Word, you can put your cursor
are reported later in this newsletter. over the link, hold down the Control (Ctrl) Key and click! Ed.
I should like to offer my thanks on
behalf of all Club Members to Ted LAUGH AT LIFE!
BURNETT, a founder Member and our
Chair for our first year. And behind
every good man there is always good T HE BAD AND THE WORSE NEWS. A man visits the
doctor for a check-up and after some tests, the doctor
comes in with a grave look on his face.
woman! So our thanks also go to Liz
for her support in our first year... not Doctor: Well, I have some bad news and some really bad news.
least for her photographic efforts! Man: Well, give me the really bad news first.
Doctor: You have cancer, and only six months to live.
Now we have a new Committee which hopefully will carry Man: And the bad news?
on the good work. I should particularly like to thank Fiona Doctor: You have Alzheimer's disease.
MARTIN for volunteering for the post of Entertainments Man: That's great! I was afraid I had cancer!
Member. This should spread the work load considerably.
Thanks Fiona! PERSONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
H
st
Our first year was spent getting the Club organised, writing APPY BIRTHDAY TO Jean READ for Saturday, 1 October
constitutions, rules and regulations, etc. 2011. Jean is currently serving on our Committee as
Now we have that fairly well organised we intend that the Treasurer. Thanks for all your hard work Jean!
Committee should handle the day-to-day management of
the Club and then report its actions to Members via the
Club’s Newsletters.
C ONGRATULATIONS TO Ted & Liz BURNETT for Friday,
st
21 October 2011 on the occasion of their anniversary.
Ted was the Chair of PLC for 2010 – 11. And we all know
This will then mean that our monthly Club Meetings will that behind any good man is a good woman! Well done Liz!
become less cluttered with Club business. We still intend
to have a meeting one month at the Mustard Tree and the
next away from Derriford but we really hope to make
N OVEMBER 2011. No celebrations in November?
Have we missed anyone?
them just that much more sociable.. giving our Members
more time together.
R OSEMARIE STEVENS. Although Rosemarie was not
feeling well enough to attend the Club’s first AGM she
sent word to wish all those in attendance her very best wishes!
We do hope you will give us your support! Thanks Rosemarie! We hope you continue to improve.
Geoff S USAN STEPHENSON. Susan is being admitted to hospital
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on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 for a further operation
Chair, PLC and she’s expected to be in for a couple of days. The Club will
be making sure that Susan has everything she needs!
The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC)
In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support
Registered Charity Number: 273635
Our Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support
A Member of The Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC)
Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon,
Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

2. Payment. Members are kindly requested to pay their £5
THE FIRST PLC
Subscription at the November 2011 Meeting. If you do
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING not expect to attend that meeting then it would be
O UR OCTOBER 2011 Meeting took place at the Mustard
Tree Cancer Support Center at Derriford Hospital on
th
Friday, 7 October 2011 at 11 a.m. There were 13 members
appreciated if you could pay the Treasurer as soon as you
can. Her Contact Address details are at the top of the
front page.
in attendance... probably our best attendance yet! The salient
points of the meeting, including the results of the election of
a new Committee are given below. T HANKS FROM THE Outgoing Chair. Ted BURNETT
thanked everyone for attending this meeting and for the
support that the Members had given him during his tour of
N EW COMMITTEE. A new Committee was elected as
follows:
office. Ted also thanked Geoff and Jean READ for their
support on our Committee for the Club’s first year.
Chair.
As no volunteer was forthcoming, Geoff READ was elected to
sit in as Acting Chair until such time as another volunteer
V OTES OF THANKS.
Professional Staff. During our recent
stepped forward. difficulties with running the Club,
Treasurer. Maggie JARVIS (Clinical Nurse
Jean READ was re-elected to continue in this post for a second Specialist), and Julia POCKETT
tenure. (Speech & Language Therapist) very kindly jumped in to run
the Club for us. Club Members agreed to formally record a
Entertainments Member.
vote of thanks to them both.
Fiona MARTIN was elected.
The Mustard Tree. Club Members also agreed to formally
Secretary.
record a vote of thanks to the Supervisor, the Staff and the
Geoff READ was re-elected to continue in this post for a
Volunteers of the Mustard Tree. They allowed our Club to use
second tenure.
their facilities for our meetings over the past year and have
been the perfect hosts!
R AFFLE.
THE PLC TREASURER’S ANNUAL REPORT
September 2011.
£8 was raised at the raffle we held on our Coach Trip to
th
Dartmeet on Saturday, 10 September 2011 and this was
passed to our Coach Driver as his tip.
J EAN READ GAVE a review of the Club’s accounts for the
first year. This was summarised as follows:
The Club started off with zero funds. The Club had nearly
October 2011 £800 awarded to it and the rest was chipped in by the Club
Fiona MARTIN won the September 2011 Raffle so she Members themselves. With over £700 in the bank the Club is
provided the prize for today’s Raffle! Today’s raffle took in quite a healthy state. It was the hope of Club Members that
place during the lunch break of the Laryngectomy the new Committee would start to think of ways in which our
Information Study Day and was therefore open to Club could help Macmillan Cancer Support.
everyone attending. A sum of £23 was raised! Pam WALLS
(non-Club Member) won the First Prize of a National CREMATE ME
Lottery Ticket! Percy FURNEAUX won the Second Prize of
A businessman on his deathbed called his friend
an Electric Knife and one of the attending Professional
and said, "Bill, I want you to promise me that
Staff won the Ornamental Candles. when I die you will have my remains cremated."
November 2011. "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to
Percy will therefore be providing the Raffle Prize for the do with your ashes?"
November 2011 Raffle! The Club has been charging 50
The businessman said, "Just put them in an
pence for a strip of five raffle tickets. Members agreed envelope and mail them to the Inland Revenue
that in future, the Club should charge £1 for a single ticket. Service and write on the envelope, "Now you have
However there’s no limit to the number of tickets that everything."
each person can buy!
S UBSCRIPTIONS.
Our subscriptions rules previously read:
A mandatory fee of £5 per Friend or Member on joining and a
voluntary contribution of £1 per month.
The members agreed that the Club should change its
Subscription Rules to read:
A mandatory fee of £5 per Friend or Member payable at the
November 2011 Club Meeting and thereafter at each AGM.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
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3. Head & Neck:
THE PLC SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT
There’s a question hanging over the Club at
G EOFF READ GAVE an overview of what the Club had
achieved in its first year. He pointed out that the Club
had agreed a Constitution, built a website, issued a
the moment as to whether our Club should
remain as a Laryngectomy Club or whether it
should become a Head & Neck Cancer Club. This will be for
Newsletter and held Monthly Meetings. But there was still a the newly-elected Committee to progress.
lot of work being done in the background and this included:
Macmillan:
Affiliations: The newly-elected Committee should
Our Club has been successful in forming affiliations with think of ways of how our Club can
other clubs and organisations. These included: help Macmillan Cancer Support.
 National Association of Laryngectomee Club (NALC) After all, they have helped all of us! Our Club should also
 Speak Easy Club in Cornwall be thinking of looking at the Macmillan Training Programme
 Exeter Head & Neck Cancer Club
 The Recovery Club in Cornwall so as to ascertain which courses our Members might like to
 The Torbay Laryngectomy Club take part in the coming year.
Members agreed that such affiliations are to be encouraged. Membership:
Club Business: Our membership is fairly healthy. Julia POCKETT (Speech &
No-one likes bureaucracy but some bits are essential... Language Therapist) and Maggie JARVIS (Clinical Nurse
especially when public and donated money is concerned. Specialist) conducted a survey this year to ascertain the views
Our Constitution is essential and legally of all laryngectomees in the Derriford catchment area.
mandatory. Our Club would not have received Members agreed that a similar exercise should be undertaken
the funding it has without it! this year but that this time it should have some involvement
The Club’s current Constitution needs updating by the Club’s Committee.
and Members agreed that that the newly-elected Committee NALC:
should take this on board. The Minutes of our Club Meetings Our Club is affiliated to NALC which is as our umbrella
are also essential for a similar reason. The Committee does organisation. Our Club is able to use their
record minutes and stores them but the Club does not Registered Charity Number. More of our
formally issue them to Club Members. Club Members should try to make an
Instead the Committee publishes the salient points in our attempt to attend NALC’ events including
Newsletters (similar to what you are reading now!). That their Quarterly Meetings and its Annual Dinners.
said, the Club’s Business Papers and its Accounts are open
to view by any Club Member at any time... subject to the Newsletter:
appropriate request being submitted to the Chair. This is available to everyone on our website
and a copy is mailed to those Members not
Emergency Devices: on-line.
The Club was recently investigating
whether it could get a grant to purchase Peninsula Cancer Network:
Press-Don’t-Panic audio devices for For the past six months or more Geoff had been participating
laryngectomees in times of emergencies. in some training and attending very informative
This will be up to the newly-elected Committee to progress. meetings and panels regarding Cancer Support,
Cancer Rehabilitation and the National Cancer
Entertainments: Peer Review. This is just Geoff’s way of trying to
Now the Club had funds, perhaps its Members could get out “give something back”. If any Member wishes to know more
a bit more! But first our Club Members have our Christmas Geoff would be happy to discuss this with them.
Dinner to look forward to!
Website:
Forecast of Events: The Members expressed their thanks to Kanda (our
A copy is always available on our website. However notices webmaster) who had built our website from
are also placed in our Newsletters. scratch and maintained it for us! Kanda is saving
Funding: us a fortune! For those Members who can go
Our Club may be able to obtain monetary grants from other on-line, please note that our Club is on Facebook
charitable trusts such as the Plymouth Drake Foundation. The as well. Please remember to click on the LIKE button when
newly-elected Committee will need to decide precisely what you visit!
they need the funds for prior to any application being made.
But the Committee will need to be guided by its Members!
Goodybags:
All members should now be aware of what this project is
about. It’s to provide some useful information and
gizzits to new laryngectomees. It will be up to the
newly-elected Committee to decide if it should go
ahead. The Committee will need some volunteers
from to help out on this.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
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4. THE PLC TRIP TO DEVORAN THE PLC TRIP TO
S EVEN INTREPID CLUB MEMBERS travelled from
th
Plymouth to Devoran on Wednesday, 14 September
LANGAGE ENERGY PARK
2011. It was well worth the three-hour round trip by car.
The weather was absolutely beautiful and our Club
S EVERAL OF OUR Club Members took part in a trip to
rd
Langage Energy Park on Monday, 3 October 2011 where
we were joined by some members of the
Members, along with some from The Recovery Club in Devon & Cornwall Food Association
Cornwall, were treated to a lovely Soup & Sandwich lunch. (DCFA). We were given a guided tour of
Afterwards we had a round-table discussion and a general the plant and an extremely interesting
exchange of ideas. presentation by Mr. Roy BAILEY, the
One message that came through loudly and clearly from all Operations Manager of Centrica Energy.
three clubs was that we must all make a concerted effort Roy made it a really fun time... even though what they
to attract more members to our respective club meetings produce is a very serious business. That was obvious when
and functions. It was generally agreed that joint meetings we had to get dressed up in hard hats and fluorescent jackets.
such as today’s should be one way ahead for us. At least We thought Eileen FURNEAUX looked particularly fetching!
it’s a chance to see new faces.
 But how do we get to meet new laryngectomees
with the constraints that Confidentiality place upon
THE PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS

us? The fifty-nine thousand dollar question!
The suggestion of changing our clubs from
C ALENDAR of EVENTS. A copy of the Club’s Calendar of
Events, including Future Entertainments for the next 12
months or so, is available on our Club’s website. Please keep
Laryngectomy Clubs to Head & Neck Cancer Clubs yourselves up-to-date by taking an occasional peek!
was briefly mentioned but there wasn’t immediate
enthusiasm for such an idea. However, it was
generally accepted that this would open up the
membership rate of our three clubs.
N OVEMBER 2011.
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Monday, 7 November 2011: Monthly Club Meeting
We should like to thank both the Speak Easy and the The next Monthly Club Meeting is scheduled for Monday,
th
Recovery Clubs for making our Plymouth Club Members so 7 November 2011 at the Mustard Tree at
welcome! You were excellent hosts and we look forward to 11 a.m. Members should try to arrive by
meeting up again sometime soon! 10.30 a.m. for a cup of tea before the start.
John MCKENNA of Colebrooke Housing
Carers has kindly accepted our invitation to be our Guest
Speaker.
D ECEMBER 2011.
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Monday, 5 December 2011: Monthly Club Meeting.
Members agreed to use this meeting to discuss items that
they had not had time to discuss at previous meetings. There
will be no guest speakers. As usual, please arrive at 10.30
a.m. for refreshments.
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Monday, 12 December 2011: The PLC Christmas Dinner will
be held at Leandra’s Restaurant in Plymouth City Centre at 7
p.m. The cost of this event will be offset
by Club Funds. However, we must ask that
Friends of PLC pay the full price! Those
wishing to attend should first notify Geoff
READ who will then send a copy of the
menu choices. These must be completed
th
and returned to Geoff by no later than Monday, 7 November
2011... the date of our November 2011 Meeting.
Please book now to avoid disappointment. Those members
who would like to can bring a pressie along on the evening to
the value of not more than £5. These will then be placed into
our Grand Christmas Draw.
A GM FOR 2012. Geoff READ will propose at the
November 2011 Meeting that the 2012 AGM be
st
scheduled for Monday, 1 October 2012.
Photographs courtesy of Ron and Rose WILLS
See the slideshow at Photobucket and at PLC Facebook Page.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
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5. THE PLYMOUTH LARYNGECTOMY PENINSULA CANCER NETWORK
INFORMATION DAY
G EOFF ATTENDED THREE Internal Validation Panels for the
Peer Review Process in September:
A
th
N INFORMATION DAY was held on Friday, 7 October

th
2011 at The Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre, at Head & Neck at Dartington on Thursday, 15
Derriford Hospital. The day started with the Club’s first AGM September 2011.

th
and that’s reported on at Page 1 of this newsletter. That was Gynaecology at Lifton on Monday, 26 September
followed by a buffet luncheon kindly provided by our product 2011.

th
representatives. The afternoon session included a very well- Urology at Dartington on Tuesday, 27 September
received presentation by Trevor PHILLIPS, our Clinical 2011.
Specialist Physiotherapist who talked about Managing Your
Geoff was a Panel Member as a User (patient) Representative.
Chest and Breathing after Laryngectomy Surgery. The
Should anyone wish to have further information, please don’t
audience were then divided into two groups to discuss:
hesitate to contact Geoff.
The Carers’ Perspective
and
The Patients’ Perspective
THE AIMS OF THE
All in all, a highly informative and sociable day! So much so
PLYMOUTH LARYNGECTOMY CLUB
that the general consensus was that we should make this an THE PURPOSES & AIMS OF OUR CLUB ARE:
annual event!
The Day was well attended by professional medical staffs, Purpose:
medical suppliers and of course laryngectomees. The Club is formed to promote the rehabilitation of
Our especial thanks go to the Maggie JARVIS (Clinical Nurse Laryngectomees in the Plymouth area.
Specialist), and to Julia POCKETT (Speech & Language Aims:
Therapist), for organising the day. To collect and coordinate all information relevant to the
And we would also like to thank the Mustard Tree and its rehabilitation of the Club Members and disseminate it so as
volunteers who were wonderful hosts as always and kept us to encourage a bond between the Club and its Members.
supplied with never-ending cups of tea and coffee throughout
To raise funds to enhance the rehabilitation process of
the day!
Club Members.
To promote public understanding and appreciation of the
needs of Club Members who have undergone laryngectomy;
their carers and their families.
To promote proper access to Social Services and other
agencies that can cater for the needs of Club Members.
To assist in research and other projects that would be
beneficial to the Club Members.
THE SOUTH WESTERN
AMBULANCE SERVICE: A REMINDER
G EOFF RECENTLY VISITED the South Western Ambulance
Services Training College recently where he met up with
Lizzie RYAN, the Education Business
Manager. It was agreed that the
Ambulance Service Emergency Control
Room for our region could flag-up the
names and details of our Club Members
so, in the event of a medical emergency, the Service could
ensure that their paramedics could be properly briefed that
the patient was a Laryngectomee so they would know what
to do, and more importantly, what not to do! The Service
could also ensure their ambulances would be kitted out with
any special neck-breathing equipment that may be necessary.
The Data Protection Act forbids me passing anyone’s
personal details to anyone else without that individual’s
authority. So if you wish to take part in this scheme, would
Photographs courtesy of Liz BURNETT
you please ask Geoff to send or email you an Application
See the slideshow at Photobucket and at PLC Facebook Page.
Form? He will then ensure that your details are passed on
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
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6. to our local Ambulance Service.
This authorisation will need to be renewed every six months
but don’t worry... the Club will send out reminders. One last
T HE RECOVERY CLUB Newsletter. A copy of the
September 2011 Newsletter has been sent
out to those on-line. If anyone not on-line
point: Laryngectomees do not have to be Club Members to wishes to have a hard copy then do please
participate in this Scheme and we have passed blank forms to contact Geoff.
Julia and Maggie to dish out to their patients as required. Click on this link to see the Newsletter.
NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS
DISCLAIMER
Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this section are
not necessarily those held by the PLC Committee nor its Members.
T HE SPEAK EASY CLUB Newsletter. A copy of the
September 2011 Newsletter has been sent out to those
M ACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Newsletter.
Change is in the air this autumn in the Mac News
Autumn 2011. Leaf through the autumn
on-line. If anyone not on-line wishes to have a hard copy
then do please contact Geoff.
Click to view it online.
edition of Mac News to find stories about
supporters like you, as well as information on
our services, events and more. If you are
unable to obtain a copy by clicking on the link The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club
above then just contact Geoff for a hard copy.
(PLC)
P ENINSULA HEAD & NECK Cancer Support Group.
(PHANCS). Are you interested in a Support group for
head and neck cancer patients and carers? This could take
the form of:
 Group meetings, One-to-One meetings,
 Information / advice by post or E mail
 An on-line web site,
 Telephone help line,
 Or a combination of the above.
We have established that there is a need for such a group and
are in the early planning stage. If you would be Interested in
helping with setting-up the group please contact Mac MERRETT Come join us!
at phancs@btinternet.com or telephone: (01392) 8412490. Our Members and Friends meet
Click on this link to see more. on the first Monday of every month.
P LYMOUTH ONLINE DIRECTORY. The Plymouth City
Council recently launched the Plymouth Online Directory
of social care and health services. Our Club’s details have
since been included.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Our grateful thanks to :
S TRIKERS WILL CRIPPLE the country from November right
through the year apparently. Union
barons have insisted that a one-day walk-
THE PLYMOUTH DIOCESE
th
http://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/
out would take place on 30 November
2011with others in the pipeline. UNISON
has 14 million members which includes for their assistance in reproducing
NHS staff such as nurses, paramedics, copies of this newsletter
cooks and cleaners. Try to avoid any medical appointments on
this day!
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
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