COVER STORY - Rashpal goes to Canada

Our cover picture on our Magazine records a presentation of a watch to Rashpal Sahota prior to her departure to Canada. This presentation was made jointly in the name of THROB together with the very many people who had enjoyed her classes and was in recognition of the spendid work she has done over many years. We can't remember exactly when Rashpal started taking classes but it was certainly some time in the last century! Rashpal's move to Canada was because her husband was made an offer he couldn't refuse so although he has deprived us of a wonderful Exercise Instructor and a lovely person, we will forgive him. Whether the family has gone for an extended stay or with a view to immigration is not clear at the present time (according to my sources) but whatever the case, I am sure that we all wish them a happy and healthy time in their new life.

David Read

THE END OF THE YEAR SHOW 2004

In Millennium Year 2000 I had this bright idea that it would be great fun to bring as many local amateur dance and drama groups together along with some individual performers for a 'one off' show to mark the end of the millennium. People seemed to think it would be a good community venture and we cast about for a suitable venue. Some frustrating time later we finally ended up to our amazement (and that of the theatre personnel I think) at Windsor's lovely Theatre Royal.

Response from groups and individuals wanting to take part was so good that we ended up putting two entirely separate shows together – one a Matinee (mainly children and young people) and the other an Evening show (adults and some of the older teens). Both shows took place on the same day and both show 'casts' had only one rehearsal together before the actual show date and NO REHEARSAL AT ALL AT THE THEATRE ITSELF! The recipe for chaos and disaster was thus writ large – the more so as no dressing room space was available at the theatre either as this was taken up by the Pantomime performers costumes etc. Our 'casts' used the Circle Bar, club room and the theatre director's office as dressing room space with a rapid change over between shows as the Matinee folk left and the Evening show performers arrived. And when I tell you that the Matinee usually has a cast of around 200 and the Evening show another 100 or more – I leave you to consider the implications. Amazingly not one single thing went wrong and I still can't quite believe it. Since the shows cost a total of over £4,000 to produce (theatre hire charges, our one rehearsal space hire charge, insurance etc.) we didn't expect to make money and in any case that wasn't the point of the exercise. However to our absolute astonishment both shows were a total sell-out and we ended up with a profit of over £1,000 and immediately looked for a suitable charity to donate it to. That year we favoured The Thames Valley Adventure Playground and helped them to buy a new, specialised round-a-bout for their young patrons.

And how does it come about that we are putting on another show in 2004? Well may you ask! Our idea for a 'one-off' performance rapidly went out of the window as both performers and audience clamoured for a repeat – and another repeat – and another repeat . . . .So here we are again getting ready for two more bumper performances and this year the plan is to raise money for THROB. Having worked for a year or two as a trainer for THROB – until deafness and family commitments sadly made this impossible – I have a particularly soft spot for the charity and hope that we can make a good profit to pass on to you.

Now what can you do to help us achieve this? Simple! Just encourage as many people as you can to buy tickets for the show – particularly the Evening show (the Matinee always sells out and often 'standing room only' tickets are sold too.) Tickets are very reasonably priced at £12, £10, £8 & £6 and there are concessionary reductions available too so that it is a great night out at very little cost. This year's shows are on Sunday 12th December with the Matinee at 2.30p.m. and the Evening show at 7.30p.m. Tickets will be on sale at the Theatre Royal Box Office (01753 853888) from about the end of October. When the 'flyers' come out we will supply some to THROB for circulation. We are lining up two great shows this year so make a date in your diary now. Our costs remain roughly the same each year so that the more tickets we can sell the more money we pass on to the charity of our choice.

Hope to see you there!

Rosemary Arber

ANY VOLUNTEERS?

Wexham Park Hospital are setting up a Patient Panel to represent the views of patients in order to improve hospital services. They are looking for anyone willing to help. It will involve four meetings a year with possible further involvement in working parties or focus groups. No special knowledge or skills are required, apart from giving your views. Travel costs will be reimbursed and all THROB members are invited to apply. Please call me on 01344 622855 for further information or an application leaflet.

Roger Mills

ORANGE PEEL DOES YOU GOOD!

An interesting item in a women's magazine was drawn to my attention by my wife recently. According to the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, eating the peel of oranges and tangerines as well as the flesh, could be beneficial in lowering low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.The flavinoid plant pigments in these peels is responsible for the beneficial effect. So far the benefit has only been given to hamsters but researchers seem confident that it will also benefit humans. Apparently there are twenty times more flavinoids in orange and tangerine peel than in the flesh and much more than in other citrus peel. Whizzing the whole fruit in the blender makes for delicious juice or you could grate the peel into soups, casseroles, cakes and puddings. Apart from benefitting cardiac heart disease sufferers, citrus fruit also helps with obesity, diabetes and some cancers.

STOPPING SMOKING

I am sure that all members of THROB are aware of the dangers of smoking. There is no better way of increasing life expectancy than by stopping smoking. Smokers, on average, die 10 years earlier than non-smokers. A smoker stopping at 50 will halve any future problems and those who stop, or stopped, at 30 will have eliminated any long-term effects. At a national meeting recently for Directors of Public Health it was stated that the easiest way to reduce mortality world-wide would be to eliminate smoking.

Having said all this, for many it is very difficult to stop in spite of many good resolutions and, often, many attempts. All three local PCTs offer a free Stop Smoking Service which offers professional advice and help in stopping with a variety of techniques including Nicotine Replacement Therapy. This service is open to all and can be contacted on 01344 823267. Please use this service if you need it and pass the number on to anyone you know who might be helped by it.

Roger Mills

STEPS TO A HEALTHIER LIFE

I mentioned to some of you that the company O2 were giving away free step counters and all you had to do was go to a specific website and print off a vouncher -take it tc an 02 shop (selling mobile phones) and they give you three step counters. I know this was true because I did it. Now when I visit the site there is no link so the promotion may have stopped .... however it did get me thinking. Step-counters are pretty cheap anyway (seen some for £3.50) so I thought I'd recommend them..............could have a word with THROB who could get them even cheaper and sell them to those of you who want them...........maybe......

Now I know that you all spend a lot of time doing your walking to supplement the exercise class ( was that loud guffaws I heard - surely not?) anyway, you may not know that you need to walk 10,000 steps daily to ensure fitness from walking. Hence the beauty of step counters which just attach to belt or trouser pocket and count every step you take. There is more information about this at: http:llwww.dietandfitnessresources.co.uk/fitness exercise

If anyone can find the free step counters again - let me know!!

Lesley Richards