In March 1975 when the Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor S Symmonds attended the official opening of Moortown Baptist Church’s Day Care I doubt whether he or indeed anyone else associated with this new venture would have dared predict that thirty six years later it would still be going strong.


But based upon the simple formula of serving up good food, good company and stimulating activities in a warm and safe environment up to two dozen senior citizens still enjoy meeting in MBC’s Music Room each and every Wednesday.

At first glance it’s all too easy to think that for for just over three hours a week this space has been changed into a cross between a casino and a seafront bingo hall. But with Mary Chadwick calling the numbers (I’ve known Mary over forty five years but l wouldn’t dare ask her age) and with dominoes, cards and word games in reserve the group skip effortlessly from one game to another like a gang of friends half their ages.


With lunch the high spot of the day – when I called in, Gill Duffy, Michael Grayson and their team of helpers were serving up roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, broccoli and carrots followed by apple crumble and tea or coffee – MBC’s new kitchen has made preparing, serving and clearing away a whole lot easier.



“Being able to serve up on an island rather than round the old peninsular makes an enormous difference”, says Michael while Gill, cheerfully emptying a second load of dinner plates from the dishwasher still can’t quite get over how much easier the clearing up process has become.



For the last fourteen years Irene Wyatt has coordinated Day Care, and at an age where some might be looking to take things that little bit easier I’m glad to report that neither Irene nor her right hand man, husband Wilfred, show any sign of stepping down.





Over the years a small but incredibly dedicated team of volunteers have contributed to this important branch of our ministry; to them all – past and present – we owe a huge thank you.

John Sherbourne