February Meeting 2009
About forty members attended the above meeting when the speaker was Dr.Krishna Korlipara, a recently retired senior partner at Pike View Medical Centre, Horwich. The doctor gave an absorbing address on the diagnosis, causes, symptoms and treatment of heart disease and went on to talk inspirationally about how to live with it. He emphasised the value of good diet and and the benefits of regular exercise and interspersed his talk with witticisms and philosophical asides. The talk was followed by questions from members and the meeting closed at 9pm.
BB.

OPEN MEETING - WED 19th NOVEMBER 2008
 
Robin, an ex-cardiac patient, gave an interesting and amusing account of his cardiac event which started in Scotland and ended in the Pyrenees - not very amusing for him at the time, though!
He explained how, during a cycling holiday in Scotland and then at a Scottish Country Dance a week later, he had experienced breathlessness and discomfort in the chest area. Like many cardiac patients he made excuses for the pain and didn't mention it to his family, knowing that a further three-week holiday was planned around the Pyrenees. However, he consulted his GP who said that he was experiencing typical angina symptoms and prescribed a GTN spray. Robin made sure he packed this with all the family's camping equipment before leaving.
The Pyrenees holiday included groups of carravaners taking part in various activities. Robin was always conscious of possible further angina attacks and tried to avoid many activities but joined others on a 6,000 ft. cable car ride. On the way back a retired GP asked him if he was feeling unwell and pursued this the next day with a long chat quoting observations from others in the group. Robin had also experienced pain during the night. The GP said that if he had entered his surgery with those symptoms he would have called an ambulance.
Robin's wife took the advice and drove him to Lourdes hospital where he tried to explain, with some language difficulties, his symptoms and how he had been feeling over the past few weeks. When the nursing staff assumed he was on a pilgrimage he didn't try to explain his Scottish Presbyterian heritage!
Following blood tests, ECG and echocardiogram, he was diagnosed as having suffered a heart attack and spent three days in intensive care. This was followed by a move to another hospital and two attempts at angioplasty - the cardiologist's monitor having developed a fault on the first attempt.
A week after admittance to the Lourdes hospital and following the excellent treatment in France Robin was back home and enjoyed the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation at Royal Bolton Hospital and a twelve week phase-4 cardiac routine at Horwich leisure centre.
Robin, in his talk, also covered the implications of obtaining holiday insurance following such events. The meeting was attended by about forty members.

OPEN MEETING - WED 20TH AUGUST 2008
 
The visit by three volunteers from the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team was very well received by about 40 members.
We were given a brief history of the team - formed in 1968 to provide a voluntary search and rescue service to the local and regional community. We were also given an insight into the way the Team tackles the various types of emergency and heard about incidents involving aircraft and hand-gliders as well as the more usual missing and injured persons. We saw at close hand some of the casualty care equipment and first-aid supplies and with the help of Ian (member of our committee) we had a demonstration of how to move and secure an injured person onto the versatile stretcher. The meeting closed with a question and answer session.
Thanks again to Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

SUPPORT GROUPS NETWORKING - MARCH 2008
On 11th March I was invited to Manchester Town Hall by the British Heart Foundation to do a presentation "Developing a new logo design". It was North West Heart Support Groups Event - Networking Together - attended by approximately 15 Support Groups.
Session One was "Welcome", "Supporting Heart Support Groups Project" by Julia Coffey BHF and "Developing a new logo design" by myself, which went very well.
Session Two was "Developing links between GP's and Heart Support Groups" and "Networking". Finally, Session Three was a variety of Workshops. It was a most enjoyable day ending at 4pm.
Ian E Brooks/bold>

OUR NEW LOGO AND ST JAMES'S HIGH SCHOOL 2008
 
When we decided to change our logo it was suggested that we should involve a local High School. We contacted St. James's High School in Farnworth and staff at the school recommended their graphic design students to take on the project.
Representatives from our committee met up with the staff and students involved and as well as discussing the logo itself also gave out information about our Group and about "healthy living".
More than thirty pupils took part and the standard of entries was very high. The logos were varied and imaginative and there were many interesting explanations
behind the designs. However, the winning student impressed the judges with her simple eye-catching design and said that the logo "represents protection and support - which sums up the group". She was presented with an iPod player as a prize and the two runners-up received gift vouchers. The school was presented with an engraved trophy.
 
Footnote:
St James's Church of England School & Sports College - A Voluntary Aided Church of England secondary school with "students from all faith traditions and none".
www.st-james.bolton.sch.uk
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