40 Faces of Brendoncare – Roy Elliott

A measure of volunteer Roy Elliott’s popularity came when the four Ferndown community clubs all came together at a party to celebrate his 80th birthday in September.

Roy even helped to organise it, inviting along the ladies from the Council Office at the Barrington Centre where the clubs meet to come and join them.

Roy can trace his association with Brendoncare back to 2007 with the first Ferndown club, named after local historical character Penny Hill. Helping out was the Rev Tony Hanson, a Church of England missionary, who went on to be Brendoncare’s area manager.

“We all met at a posh lady’s house and had salmon sandwiches,” Roy recalls. “In the end, 100 people came along – with a dog, a mobility scooter and pushbike. You could not move because of the number of people there!”

The club moved to nearby St Mary’s Church for many years. There, Roy continued to take an active volunteering role, helping to organise a coach for outings and arranging Christmas buffet lunches.

“We used to go for cream teas at Athelhampton House – and had Christmas lunches at St Leonard’s Hotel and the Hamworthy Club. We had entertainment, a raffle and went home happy.”

When the community clubs closed during Covid, Roy was part of the team who continued to run them online. One of his roles was acting as team captain for the regular Big Quiz.

After the pandemic, Roy was one of the people who got the clubs started again at the Barrington Centre. “One week, it was just club member Brian and me, then the following week, two more came along and now, we are running four clubs here!”

The Ferndown clubs are very much a family affair for Roy who takes on many roles including quiz master. His wife Shirley volunteers, helping out with refreshments while daughter Sarah leads the seated exercise and provides support at the Kurling club.

Sarah’s daughter Amy also volunteered for several years starting at an early age.

Though Roy has seen many changes, the one thing that remains the same. That is his loyalty and passion in supporting Brendoncare in our mission to promote friendship and alleviate isolation among older people in communities like Ferndown.

Friendships:

What keeps him going? “It’s something to get up for and go to,” he says. “It is also about the many friendships I have made over the years. I have met some lovely people here. We all get on and always have a laugh together.”

Prior to becoming a Brendoncare volunteer, Roy was in the Merchant Navy, then become a car salesperson and valeter. After retiring, he began volunteering.

No wonder his birthday party was such a success, its theme being ‘Hilarious Hats and Head Pieces’. Many of the partygoers turned up wearing tee-shirts with a photo of Roy in his Merchant Navy uniform emblazoned across them.

Does Roy’s story inspire you?