Louise Reid is the group coordinator and one of the hosts with the wonderfully named ‘Jolly Fifers’ tea party group which has been running for over 20 years. We recently caught up with Louise who told us all about her group and what she enjoys about being a Re-engage volunteer,

“Some of our older guests have said that Sundays used to be the hardest day of the week as they didn’t even see the postman. It’s rewarding helping people and knowing that you’re giving some meaning and purpose to their lives when everything else is disappearing.

“Tea parties are such a simple concept really, but they make a big difference to our older guests’ lives and all the volunteers enjoy the events too. That’s what's so nice about them, you can’t go wrong with a cup of tea, can you?”

Louise heard about Re-engage through her local newspaper, not long after she and her husband had moved back to the area he was brought up in, north east Fife, in 2007. The Jolly Fifers were looking for hosts at the time.

“We had the space and facilities to host, but most of all I enjoy baking - it’s good to have people to share with so I don’t have to eat it all myself!”

When the previous group coordinator moved away in 2013, Louise stepped into the breach, as well as continuing to host. But of course, everything changed with the pandemic, when the tea parties had to be put on hold. As with many of our tea party groups, it’s been a challenge to get the group underway again.

“Our numbers diminished over that time, but we’ve taken things slowly and re-starting with a smaller group has helped build the confidence of our remaining three guests, who have enjoyed being able to sit around a table and chat together. I would love to be able to help more local, lonely older people and recruit some additional volunteers from Cupar and north east Fife.”

“One of our previous guests was a very smart and well-spoken lady called Olga. She was an amazing person to talk to as she was a firefighter in London during the Blitz. Her stories were incredible, although it was difficult to imagine this rather refined lady hurtling around London to tackle the horrific fires, or envisage what she must have seen.

“We have a wonderful gentleman who volunteers as a host and driver. Damon is fascinated by all things 1940s and his house is called the ‘Forties House’, and is open to the public once a year. Everything, including the cooker, crockery, furniture and the wireless, is from the 1940s The guests love going there and start reminiscing about the 1940s, so it’s a real trip down memory lane for them.”