Stroke charity celebrates 10th birthday

Local historian Robin Rendell (pictured), of Bedfont Green Close, has been attending the workshops over the past year after suffering a stroke in January 2006.

He said: "I couldn't talk or walk at all after my stroke or even move my arms. I've always been an active person and it was frightening not being able even to tell my family what I wanted to eat."

Mr Rendell, 68, has now made a good recovery and is able to do the gardening and other household tasks but still visits the TALK group at Ashford each week to work on his speech.

"It's a really good workshop and they've helped me 100 per cent. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's had a stroke. If I can make a recovery so can you."

The scheme was launched a year ago largely thanks to a £450 donation from MidasPlus Fundraising which paid for art equipment, set up costs, stationery and word-based games.

They hold workshops offering one-on-one conversation sessions, art therapy and wordsheets to help people regain the communication skills damaged by their stroke.

On Tuesday Mike Wylie from MidasPlus visited the workshop to celebrate the workshops first anniversary and meet some of the 12 survivors and 12 volunteers who attend the group.