Members strolling past the Broomhouse Suite on an April Sunday may have felt the urge to break into dance and join in our ’Tea Dance with a Difference’. The Foundation was delighted to partner once again with DanceWest, hosting a jolly roster of dancing and live entertainment for more than 200 members of the local senior community. For many, this was their first time they had stepped foot inside the Club and we put on quite the show

Guests enjoyed dances ranging from the Salsa to The Lambeth Walk, high-spirited performances from The Sugar Dandies, including a ‘real-life’ French pink poodle, jived to DJ Reverend Milo Speedwagon and boogied with Black Elvis. Fortunately, few were too shy to join the dance floor on this occasion, which rarely had any space for the Foundation’s volunteers to join in! From welcoming guests to encouraging more dancers to get on their feet, our members and staff volunteers ensured that everyone was able to join in the fun. All that hip-twisting and two-stepping worked up quite an appetite, and a hearty meal rounded off the afternoon. 

All seemed rather reluctant to leave, with one guest telling us, ‘I know what I’ll be dreaming of tonight’, as they joined the mass of happy dancers still jiving as they made their way home!

As part of the festivities, we were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Patricia Quigley, to the Club. An avid supporter of DanceWest, which is a nominated charity for the current mayoral year, Patricia reflected that ‘[the] event has been really fun… it’s got the old people in the community up dancing… and it’s been about making new friends and lots of happy memories’. 

For some guests, this was their first introduction to DanceWest’s brilliant drive to use dance to provide equal access to physical activity for all ages and abilities across West London, working to transform the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities. The Foundation’s partnership with DanceWest is just one part of our work to support the more than 20,000 children and older people living in poverty within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

We would like to thank our new neighbours, KYN Hurlingham, the care home that is opening soon on Broomhouse Lane, for their sponsorship of our Older People’s Programme, which helps the Foundation to provide accessible activities like this Tea Dance for over-65s within the borough. KYN Hurlingham are hosting an early evening summer drinks reception to celebrate their opening exclusively for Hurlingham Club members on Tuesday 18 June. To enquire please email sarah.lilley@kyn.co.uk

LEANNE AYIN, HEAD OF FOUNDATION

Going the extra mile

Chair of The Hurlingham Club Foundation, John Shuffrey, has been walking the London LOOP (a 150-mile walk around London). He has already completed 100 miles and plans to reach Rainham Marshes, the end of the walk, later this year. He is fundraising for the Foundation and you can support him by contacting Leanne Ayin.

Renata to the Rescue

At the Hurlingham Foundation’s Tea Party with a difference on 7 April, in The East Wing, where I was a volunteer, the Disabled Loo was in high demand. With a growing anxious queue outside, I was informed that there was a problem which needed immediate attention. A call went out to cleaner, Renata Ragowski, who dealt with the matter quickly and quietly and with her usual efficiency. The guests were so impressed by her work and attitude that they asked me to make sure to pass on their enormous thanks for ‘such a quick response to the problem’. Just another example of the hard work of Renata and all the 32 cleaning staff who work tirelessly with minimal intrusion to keep the Club up to the high standards we have come to expect. Thank you to all of them.

JENNY MONTEFIORE