Forty years of heart, humour, and hope at the Kettering branch
By Paul Clarke, Vice Chairman, Parkinson's UK Kettering Branch
Every great community movement begins somewhere, but ours did not kick off with a grand public launch or a glossy brochure. It started in the most ordinary of settings: a kitchen in Kettering, late in 1986. The kettle had boiled, the mugs were on the table, and two determined women—Sally Wates and Pat Lee—sat opposite each other talking about the people they loved. Both had brothers living with Parkinson’s disease. They knew the daily frustrations, the uncertainty of medication, and the crushing isolation that often followed a diagnosis. There was no local support network in town, so around that kitchen table, they made a simple but extraordinary vow: to ensure no one in Kettering would ever have to face Parkinson’s alone.
Joined soon after by fellow pioneers Ruby Mann and the branch’s first Chair, Brian Toby, a small core was formed. Early monthly gatherings began at Saunders Close. By January 13, 1988, the group held its first official committee meeting as a recognized branch of the national charity. The formal inauguration followed on September 12, 1988, at the Royal Hotel Kettering—an event marked by a clattering bit of branch folklore. To celebrate, a local Brownie was asked to present a £100 research donation in individual pound coins. Stage fright or the sheer weight took over, the container slipped, and the sound of 100 pound coins rolling across the hotel floor became the unofficial starting gun for forty years of history.
As current Branch Chairman Tony Robbs reflects, "Only the nicest people get Parkinson's," a sentiment deeply embedded in our culture of camaraderie. That spirit was perfectly captured in February 1989 when former Mayor of Kettering and current Branch President, Josie Pearce, famously "sacked" her own husband for the day so Ruby Mann could fulfill a lifelong ambition to serve as Mayoress.
If committee meetings are the meat of our history, our group holidays are the spice. For two decades, our legendary annual coach trips provided a masterclass in logistics and a sturdy sense of humor. There was the infamous "resurrection" of Secretary Sally Wates, who decided to stretch her back by lying flat in the coach aisle, only for two traveling Red Cross nurses to hover over her, poised to perform emergency CPR on what they feared was a cardiac arrest. On another soggy trip to the coast, three sleeping members in wheelchairs were briefly mistaken by passing shoppers for an incredibly lifelike window mannequin display.
The sheer longevity of our branch is unparalleled. Combining the service of our founders with President Josie Pearce yields a staggering 154 years of combined committee work. Sally Wates remains our living archive, remarkably possessing every single set of minutes from 1988 to the present day. Pat Lee balanced the books as Treasurer for over thirty years. Meanwhile, Josie Pearce ensures the Kettering Parish Church tower is bathed in blue light every April 11th for World Parkinson's Day, a luminous symbol of hope.
We have evolved dramatically from those kitchen-table days into a professional, community-leading organization. While the global pandemic forced us onto Zoom to combat isolation, we have returned stronger, now supporting over 160 local members with specialized exercise classes, singing groups, and high-end social events.
Our milestone 40th anniversary year in 2026 is packed with celebration, featuring a Summer Gala at The Lilacs in Isham on August 3rd, an Anniversary Fashion Show on September 21st, and a grand Festive Lunch on November 16th with Parkinson’s UK Chief Executive Caroline Rassell.
I see this article as a testament to forty years of humor, resilience, and the life-changing power of excellent company. The kettle is still firmly on, and laughter remains our best medicine.
GET IN TOUCH
The Kettering Branch welcomes new members, carers, and volunteers with open arms. For details on monthly meetings and activities, please contact:
Sally Wates, Branch Contact
Telephone: 01536 722734
Email: [email protected]