ON Saturday 20th May, six Year 13 students from Monmouth Comprehensive School and staff from Monmouthshire Museums Service hosted Monmouth Museums’ first ever Memory Café, and what a success it was.

The museum was packed with people laughing and chatting, reminiscing about Champion the Wonder Horse, drinking tea from bone china cups and sampling delicious 1950s-inspired afternoon tea.

The students have been working alongside museum staff for the past few months to plan a series of cafés for older people, and people living with dementia and their carers.

The students are volunteering to plan and deliver the memory cafés as part of their Welsh Baccalaureate Community Challenge. They have all become Dementia Friends after attending an information session and have also undertaken reminiscence training.

This was all put to great use as they prepared a sumptuous feast of bread and dripping, spam, battenburg cake and victoria sandwich.

The students, who all dressed in period costume, also spent time chatting with guests about their memories of life in the 1950s.

They used a series of objects to trigger memories ranging from a 1953 ration book to a powder compact and bicycle clips.

Tea was served to the sounds of Elvis and Buddy Holly and a great time was had by all, with many of those who attended booking for the next session.

This will take place on Thursday 1st June, 2pm to 4pm at Monmouth Museum. The theme for this café will be the 1960s so dust off your tie-dye, get ready for lashings of ginger beer and make space for cheese and pineapple on sticks and a jam tart or two.

The organisers look forward to seeing you there but booking is essential.

Contact Karin Molson on email [email protected] or 01600 7103630 to reserve a place.