To coincide with International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8 March 2023, Mesothelioma UK held their Ladies Lunch at The Manchester Piccadilly Hotel.
Guests met other patients, family members, healthcare professionals, support groups, and legal firms who specialise in mesothelioma cases.
The day includes a three-course meal and guest speakers.
That was the invite we accepted and although it was freezing cold Ray and I are so pleased we went on a very long journey by train, travelling up on the Tuesday to stay in a very cold room,
We did mention it and they said they would deal with it but they didnt.
Not like the great service we had using assist at Euston.
We were taken to the train put into our seats and case was put in the rack. We must make sure we use this service more.
At London Euston, we are proud to offer mobility assistance to customers free of charge throughout station opening hours.
What we offer Our service is open to all mobility impaired passengers who feel they need an extra hand during their travel. This includes boarding and alighting trains, assistance with your onward journey and access to the toilets and First Class Lounge. This does not include assistance to and from shops. Comments If you have any comments you can contact the Network Rail Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 Booking Euston is the busiest station in the country for mobility assistance bookings. We strongly recommend that assistance is booked up to 24 hoursin advance. We understand that this won’t always be possible and we will always try to assist all passengers who request our help. Customers who were unable to pre-book can ask for assistance on the day but may face brief waits until staff become available to assist, as pre-booked customers take priority. To book assistance, please call the train operator that you will be travelling with. You will need to provide your train operator with the information required, including train times and seat reservationsif you have them: • Virgin Trains – 0800 015 8123 • London Midland – 0800 092 4260 • London Overground – 0343 222 1234 • Caledonian Sleeper – 0330 060 0500 If you have any requestssuch as a preference to being assisted on foot rather than in a buggy please make this clear to the assistance booking agent. If you are travelling with others, especially if they also require assistance please let the booking agent know as our assistance vehicles only seat 3. Luggage Luggage trolleys can be located throughout the station. We do not provide a porterservice to passengers with large amounts of luggage. Personal belongings must not be left unattended at any time. For luggage storage, you can use the facilities at the Excess Baggage Co. (Left Luggage)situated opposite the customer waiting room. They are open Monday to Sunday 07:00 to 23:00 Departing from Euston Customers travelling from Euston requiring assistance should notify the Mobility Assistance Reception they are on the station. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure for Virgin services, and 20 minutes for other services. London Overground operate a 'Turn up and go' service. Please speak to Overground staff on the platform who will assist you onto the train, however you can still prebook if you wish. When arriving by taxi, please call us using the handset positioned next to the bench. If you arrive in to Euston much earlier than your departure time, you may have to wait for a buggy driver to become available. There is also a lift available that will bring you up to the main concourse. There is also a handset on Level 4 of the public car park. There is lift access from the Underground ticket hall to the concourse. Once met, we will either take you directly to your service or to the Mobility Assistance Reception. We like to board you on to your service at the earliest given opportunity
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We were soon speeding up north and arrive at Manchester where there was a short walk to the hotel,
After a rest in our room we went down for a meal and met up with our friends from SASAG a wonderful support group in the west country.
We were all tired so bed was in order even if very cold we were soo fast asleep.
Up the next day and had a lovely breakfast. The time soon went and others arrived.
Settling in too the event room and there was lots of laughter as we all meetup for anther year.
There was a bag each of wonderful goodies- Im stocked up on perfume and creams to soften my dry skin and lots more x
The day includes a three course meal and guest speakers – the full programme can be viewed here.
Mesothelioma UK would like to thank the following companies for donating to this event-
Next
Escape Reality Manchester
Space masks
Set Design Limited
Charity Escapes
Hallgarth Manor
Manchester United Football Club
Leigh Day
Asbestos Law Partnership
RWK Goodman
Slater & Gordan
Fieldfisher
Doughty Street Chambers
Irwin Mitchell
12 KBW
Andrew Collier Photography
Thompsons
Hugh James
Lunch was served
Starter Cured Salmon With roast beetroot, sour cream, gel, heritage tomatoes Burrata With rocket, black olive salsa Vegan option: Salad of rocket and black olive salsa
Followed by the Main Course
Chicken Supreme Roast Mediterranean vegetables with new roast potatoes and herbed tomato and olive jus Sweet Potato Coconut Curry With spinach, mushrooms, chickpeas and spices
Dessert was Manchester Tart With custard, coconut caramelised banana and rasberry couli
All very tasty.
then Fun & Games
Auction of Hallgarth Manor with a B&B stay for two in a double deluxe room with a two course dinner?
Signed Manchester United Football
Gold Envelopes Prosecco Raffle Win the bottle of prosecco on the table, put £5 in an envelope, and pop into the bucket from where the winning name was drawn.
Main Raffle Draw There are some amazing prizes Hampers • Spacemasks • 2 x throw pillows from Set Ltd • 3 x escape room tickets from Escape Reality
The speaker was Helen Bone a 39 year old mum of three and specialist nurse, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma last August. Since then Helen has been writing a blog, 'It Is What It Is', detailing her journey after diagnosis - https://helenbone82.wixsite.com/itiswhatitis
Helen is now doing all she can to raise awareness for Mesothelioma UK, highlighting in particular that the disease does effect women under 60 despite common misconceptions.
As she finished she looked at me and burst into tears and came over for one of Grandmamavis's cuddles and that took me back to Maggie Portman who did the same as she was so nervous to tell her story at the same venue a few years ago.
So that was it we were soon heading home. Another year over x
