COMMUNITY CAFÉ
FRIENDS - CAKE - MEMORIES - BOCCE
Intro CREATING COMMUNITIES
How warm welcomes, anecdotes, and cake make for great times
A parish is more than the worship it provides, indeed it is more than the building in which worship takes place: increasingly it is an idea that invites people to lean on it, draw energy and positive vibes from it, depend on it as solid ground in fragmented times Our time spent with the patrons at Lidgett Community Café brought this home forcefully. As a York based charity we have for 12 years spent time visiting community centres and learning academies working with vulnerable people. We have ran creative activities with young people with disabilities, elderly residents who have experienced solitude, and, recently, refugees from Syria and Ukraine. We are aware of how not only creativity but the context in which creativity takes place can make the difference between engagement with activities and apathy. Luckily for us, as soon as we arrived at Lidgett Community Café in early 2023, the welcome was not only warm but proactive Eric, Bill, Graham were all genuinely interested in what we could bring to the table
Our teenage advocates stepped up and created mini-films based on the memories of the elderly residents they talked to; they scanned old black and white prints that had spent the last decade in photo albums or shoe boxes and brought a new lease of life to them by colourising them, using the AI inbuilt in the latest graphic design apps They shared their hopes for the area of Acomb and listened closely to the memories of what Acomb used to be like more than half a century ago, with some specific focus on the building of Lidgett Methodist Church The conversations widened, and the mood was so positive and pride in the weekly Pop Ups so palpable, that we hit on an idea Lidgett Methodist Church is readying to celebrate its 99th year anniversary. What if we circulated around the room and recorded 99 reasons why the weekly cafe is such a successful proposition? It was a blast. We got to know a lot of wonderful people, with generous anecdotes and memories, in a room that vibrantly celebrates friendship, toddlers, elderly residents, music, and cake. These pages are our small attempt to chronicle the bright stories we were received Thank you, Lidgett Methodist Church, keep up the good work The tough times are a little less dark with the light you nurture
ERIC SHARES THOUGHTS AND PHOTOS
POSTSCRIPT: THIS MAGAZINE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT ERIC’S GENEROUS GUIDANCE. THIS BOOKLET IS IN HIS AND BRIAN SHANNON’S MEMORY
COMMUNITY & COLOUR
“Lidgett has a very interesting history. 1932. If it didn't work as a church it could be converted into a cinema, so it, to this day, a dual purpose church. Early 1960s - they built this hall. Some of the bricks have initials of the people who donated them. The cross three has a story of its own, which we’ll be happy to tell over a cup of tea on a Wednesday morning.”
PHOTOS
“I enjoy taking the photos. Some of them are of locations around here, some of them have local interest, and some of them have now gone, so I’m glad I actually took photos of them when i had the chance. A lot of things have changed around here but there a lot of people in this very room who could tell you stories to keep the memories alive.”
“I have been corresponding with Greg regarding the titles of the community photos of mine that I transferred onto Isla’s laptop, using a memory stick I’m confident with Adobe Photoshop and enjoy editing photos.”
PAGES DESIGNED BY ISLA AND MILLY, ALL SAINTS SCHOOL
LIDGETT
COMMUNITY CAFÉ: ERIC'S PHOTOS
PHOTOS & DESIGN
Lidgett Lidgett
Community Community
Café: 99 Café: 99
reasons to reasons to come over and come over and make friends, make friends, take cake, take cake, drink coffee, drink coffee, and catch up and catch up
“It’s a nice place to come here and catch up. I like Table Tennis I used to play years ago, in my National Service I had some good years, we were at Fulford, Somerset, Yeovil, and Cyprus.” (Brian)
“Some people feel as if they can come in and out, with no pressure ” (Simon)
"Cake! Best homemade cake in the city!” (Simon)
“We get to meet new people who often say how welcome they feel, which is very gratifying ” (Graham)
“The church has a good congregation, very welcoming, and they're breaking down barriers so people feel at home here ” (Peter)
“They call me a technological dinosaur! (laughs) Seriously though, I was watching TV If one partner, the one who knew how to order shopping through an app, was to pass away, the other one would be in deep trouble and may hit the wall So all help is welcome.” (Howard)
Outreach Worker Bill Topping addressing Lidgett patrons about forthcoming events
"EVERY CAFE NEEDS GOOD COFFEE!"
GAME OF SCONES
Jenny & Jan: “We’re very proud of the cheese scones we sell here. We’ve just been told they’re the best scones in the city.”
"The tea's lovely, and it's nice to sit back and chat " (Chris)
"SOME OF THE BEST IN YORK."
"Sometimes I can smell the bacon cooking and I think ' go on, then!" It's really nice." (Ann)
"We all meet every week and enjoy what's on offer The scones are lovely, the cake's lovely too." (Pam)
"It's a very welcoming place to come and sit and take 5. It wouldn't be the same without Jenny and Jan looking after the cafe " (Sheila)
"No matter what the weather, the food is always excellent and served by lovely people with smiles " (Mary)
"I gave up cakes for Lent. Are scones cake? I'll have to come back!" (Greg)
"It's all about the people."
Chris:“It’salovelyplace.Mygrandson, now 27, used to go to Cubs here. I have a lot happy memories. They used to have a lovely time, just in the hall next door to this. I have a grand daughter too, she used to come and sing with other kids, songs like ‘The WheelsontheBus.’Happytimes.”
Pam: “I came here years ago, my mother’s funeral service was here. I knewAndrewFoster,whoworkedhere. He was great fun. It was always “It’s Friday, we’re going to sing!” When my husband died suddenly, they did a funeral service at Park & Ride where he’d worked and was very popular That was a nice touch. When I came to walk in front of the coffin for the funeral service here (at Lidgett) I had towalkinwithmyeyesclosed.WhenI opened them there were 200 people there. My first thought was, “How am I goingtofeedthemall?”(laughs)
Mary: “People It’s all about the people They’re so pleased to see you, which is good for me, as I like helping out. I used to go to Lithuania, I travelled to a lot of the Methodist church groups in Eastern Europe. They still keep in touch, we still exchange Christmas cards. I have a lot of happy memoriesandIammakingnewmemories here.It’simportanttometohaveapurpose insuchalovelyParish.”
Joan:“MyadoptedsonAlexlovesithere.He loves the music and he loves being relaxed.”
COMPANY
"For me I was persuaded by Howard to come My late wife Sue was a busy member here. I lost her just before Christmas. We’d been married 28 years. Howard said, “Come over Sue always liked it, you might like it too.” Well, I tell you, it was one of the best things I ever did Peter and Mary knew her as well, Graham and Rosamund knew her. A lot of the bonding has been strengthened over pets, like walking our greyhounds Now I like coming here for the company. ” (Dave)
“It’s a lovely place. My grandson, now 27, used to go to Cubs here. I have a lot happy memories They used to have a lovely time, just in the hall next door to this. I have a grandaughter too, she used to come and sing with other kids, songs like ‘The Wheels on the Bus.’ Happy times.” (Chris)
Howard: “Sue (Dave’s late wife) used to make Jam and Marmalade, even Whisky Marmalade, and Chutney. They were lovely. Me being a Yorkshire man spotted an opportunity, and I said, “Why don’t you bring them here, to sell them?”
SMILES GO A LONG WAY
“One word. Company. I’m always sat with lovely smiling people, and my dog, Joanie, loves coming here, especially when Pam here gives her a treat Joanie is a hearing dog, she helps me hear things, so it’s lovely that she is made so welcome too.” (Sheila)
“For me, it’s the friendliness you get here. Going back years, there were dozens of toddlers around I used to bring my dog, Buster, and sit him on the end of my scooter The toddlers would love that, and crowd around and say hello and pet him. I’d attend table top sales to buy stuff for Christmas Graham would be Santa, and we’d give out the parcels of the things I’d bought and say, ‘this is from Santa ’ Well, the looks on the faces of the kids were magical. I’d go around and buy Easter Eggs, and give them out over the Easter Holidays. I enjoyed giving gifts because the children’s smiles gave me so much pleasure ” (Pam)
“For me, it’s fun We have such a laugh here. We have a coffee afternoon, once a month on a Saturday, always served by lovely people, and it’s great to catch up with people you see regularly I must say I like the music too!" (Joan)
“This is our church. Church is not just about coming to a building for Sunday worship It’s a living experience, that brings communities together.” (Jean)
Turning up the Light at Lidgett
“I love coming here, one of my favourite memories is providing Entertainment here on a night. I’ve done a lot of ‘50s, and ‘60s, a lot of Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra, a lot of Dean Martin I’ve had plenty of experience, with performing in Malta, at the Grand, and at ‘York Against Cancer’, and running a Quiz Night here at Lidgett In between the Quiz questions I’d perform a few songs.” (Danny)
LIDGETT
“Here’s one. Lilly Savage died today. Well I remember going to the Green Hammerton Hotel in the 1970s. They did this ‘Chicken in a Basket’, which went down a treat. They were the first people to do it. Anyway, the place was ran by Sid and Dennis, and Lilly Savage worked there behind the bar. He also put on a drag act, which became his Lilly Savage character. The drag act was called ‘Play Girl’. It was all lighthearted fun.”
“Thank you for making me feel so welcome, Eric.” Isla, aged 16
THERE ' S NO LONELINESS HERE "
“We have organised community groups, organised by the cafe. Quizzes, environmental awareness, community police to keep us up to date as to what’s happening.” (Simon)
“Young and old, kids can run around, older people can feel less lonely It encompasses all ages ” (Graham)
“There are ‘IT savvy ’ meetings, to help elderly get to grips with what’s on offer ” (Peter)
“This church gets involved with a lot of causes, a huge array of causes The Shoeboxes project was hugely successful You can get haircuts too!" (Mary)
""Happy memories I used to come to the Youth Club here It was in the 1950s, led by Mrs Jean Gee and Norman Stabler After prayer, read, play badminton in the hall, or play table tennis, or even try the latest records.” (Howard)
“You can’t beat the camaraderie you get here I think if you ’ re on your own, the danger is, you get isolated There's no isolation here " (Peter)
“I’ve been coming here since 1947 We moved to Poppleton but then continued to come Now it’s just as sociable as ever, I attend a Women’s Meeting, ran by Jean, once a month We buy tea, coffee, cakes, or even a bacon sandwich sometimes! It’s the smell when you walk in, it’s irresistible ” (Ann)
'BOCCE GIRLS' PUT THE WORLD TO RIGHTS
THEFRIENDS BEHINDTHE SPORT
“I lived around here for 36 years I made a lot of friends a mixture of people I met here at church and playing Bocce, which takes place here too ” (Mary)
“It’s lovely to catch up with friends
We chat or we do craft Craft can be a lot of fun and it’s good to lose yourself in it We made 100s of poppies, we put them on the cross outside in the front garden It looked fantastic and it was a good way to remember those who served in the wars ” (Helen)
“One of the main things I like is that it s a mixed bag of young and old
Here’s something funny, I was born in York, in 1962 I moved to Scotland, then came back to York to marry a Scotsman That was 43 years ago ” (Carol)
‘The biggest reason for me is friendship I am a church go-er, but it’s the friends who encourage me I discovered people who live close to me who I didn’t know came here
There’s always something to talk about.” (Caroline)
“Sometimes if it s closed I come here, to the front garden and I just sit It’s quiet, it’s peaceful, and I feel welcome ” (Mary)
...ANDOTHERACTIVITIES
“There’s something on most days It’s important to remember that as well as being a church this is a great place for community events We have York Light Opera and a show coming up The acoustics here are fantastic (Helen)
“We come here on a Tuesday afternoon We chat or we can do craft there s knitting sewing we make things for church For example we made chickens for Easter and then hid eggs inside them - chocolate or otherwise!” (Mary)
MEETTHETEAM
“Boccia is an easy game to play, and a lot of fun We re always looking for new players At the moment I have the Bocce Cup - and I’m not bringing it back!”” (Mary)
“Monday afternoon is our ‘Ladies Leisure Group which is open to anyone " (Helen)
“We come here for evening quizzes Our group name is Bocce Girls A lot of fun is had ” (Mary)
My daughter came to Guides and Brownies here My son came to Cubs here Victoria came to Sunday School in the mid-’80s We have a lot of happy memories here (Mary)
This is the place to come if you have lost someone It’s peaceful and if you want you can meet so many lovely people ” (Carol)
“I lost my disabled daughter Carol said to me Why don t you come with me? I thought why not? There’s Art Craft coffee and it was just nice to sit and talk to nice people I met Caroline, Helen, Mary ” (Debbie)
Since getting Debbie here we ve converted her to Downton Abbey!” (Carol)
“When I’m down, and I do get down as both my Mum and my Sister are gone, I find it just so peaceful in the garden that I don’t stay down for long ” (Mary)
