Warwickshire News Mine

To mark the anniversary more than 20 people have written their experiences of Sesame including the tale of a tandem parachute jump.

Sesame was founded in 1978, and to celebrate the milestone anniversary staff and service users, past and present had a party to celebrate and have been recording their stories of the service.

Katie Taylor, who originally set up the group in November 1978, is among many people who have documented their experiences. She says that the anniversary date was a great opportunity to chart the history of the centre.

“We started the centre with just 10 members, and by summer 1980 there were 25 disabled people involved,” she said. “We needed a name and Dr Twomey, a much loved physician on our management team suggested the name Sesame – an Arabic word meaning ‘opening the door to new opportunities’. That was exactly what we set out to do,” explained Katie. 

Alison Porter, Manager of the Sesame Centre from 1997 to 2007 explained
“I was flabbergasted when one of the service users came up with the idea of a tandem parachute jump, Denise and Stephen did their sky dive’s in 1998 and although I was firmly rooted on the ground I was silently praying.”

Sesame started at Hamilton House, Bilton Road, Rugby then moved to Fawsley House, Lower Hillmorton Road, Rugby in November 1998. Service users get involved in a range of activities including pottery and arts and crafts.  People are also supported to use local facilities such as the Leisure Centre, the library, shops, café’s and pubs.

43 year old Judith Menzies started using the service 27 years ago at the age of sixteen. She said:  “I’ve met lots of people, built friendships and enjoy getting out and about.”

Alison Malcolm, who manages Sesame today, said, “The day was a great success, it gave people the chance to see people they have not seen for a long time and reminisce. “

Link to WCC