Monday, March 28, 2005
"REMEMBER THOSE WHO FORGET"
On Wednesday, 16th March, John Beanse, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green, joined other members of the Alzheimers Society in Westminster for a mass lobby of Parliament.
There were speeches in St.John’s, Smith Square, followed by a march to College Green (opposite the Houses of Parliament), with placards, and later a gathering in Westminster Hall with speeches from some MPs.
Members carried artificial giant forget-me-nots as a poignant symbol and there was a giant blown-up model of a life-size elephant (who never forgets) as another pointer to the tragic issue of memory loss.
A key theme which featured on many of the placards, was “Remember Those Who Forget”.
The central demands were for free personal care for people who suffer from Alzheimers and other mental illnesses, and no cutting of funding for key drugs.
As it turned out, the day of the protest coincided with Budget Day. John Beanse commented:
“Although this is a key health and spending issue, the protest sadly received little media coverage and was often squeezed out by the Budget news. Yet this is a vital matter. While sufferers of other diseases – e.g. cancer – will receive all their care free, this is not the case with people who suffer from mental illness.
Free personal care is an important plank of Liberal Democrat policy and I hope people will give this important issue serious thought in the General Election campaign.”
There were speeches in St.John’s, Smith Square, followed by a march to College Green (opposite the Houses of Parliament), with placards, and later a gathering in Westminster Hall with speeches from some MPs.
Members carried artificial giant forget-me-nots as a poignant symbol and there was a giant blown-up model of a life-size elephant (who never forgets) as another pointer to the tragic issue of memory loss.
A key theme which featured on many of the placards, was “Remember Those Who Forget”.
The central demands were for free personal care for people who suffer from Alzheimers and other mental illnesses, and no cutting of funding for key drugs.
As it turned out, the day of the protest coincided with Budget Day. John Beanse commented:
“Although this is a key health and spending issue, the protest sadly received little media coverage and was often squeezed out by the Budget news. Yet this is a vital matter. While sufferers of other diseases – e.g. cancer – will receive all their care free, this is not the case with people who suffer from mental illness.
Free personal care is an important plank of Liberal Democrat policy and I hope people will give this important issue serious thought in the General Election campaign.”
# posted by John Beanse @ 8:50 PM 
