KNOW YOUR BLOODPRESSURE formerly Stroke Awareness Day

We were blessed with a beautiful sunny, windless day and all went so smoothly that our doctors, nurses, recorders, ushers and 'street herders' were in place very early and the first customers were being seen well before the official opening time of 10.30.

Having taken my first batch of photographs I left the team to have a cup of coffee before returning at 11.30 for my official stint.

When I returned the operation was still going smoothly and was looking forward to a pleasant hour in the sun as an 'encourager'... (Strong arm tactics are not usually required) 

I had not been in place for more than about 30 seconds when Sylvia came hurrying out of the building to ask if any Rotarian could take an elderly lady to A& E as her blood pressure was dangerously high. I found myself volunteering to take said lady and her friend to the Queens Hospital. It was quite a pleasant journey and my two passengers chatted away as we sped through Hornchurch. I did explain that I would be unable to stay with them but they were quite happy with the situation and assured me that they would be alright. They were delighted that the 'lovely doctor', Mutel, had picked up on the problem.

I dropped them off outside the A&E department. By the time I got back to Upminster my stint was up so I sailed past the brightly coloured bunch of Rotarians collected outside the church, slowing down just enough to inform them that I was going home.  

George Larkey 

To find out more, visit The Stroke Association's website www.stroke.org.uk