Dave Lowe, who has pulled on his waiter’s apron in the Hope café for the last time, reflects on 18 happy years as a volunteer in Beeston
Hope Nottingham has come a long way since I became a volunteer in 2006. At that time the café was run from a Portacabin in the grassed area behind Wollaton Road Methodist Church in Beeston. We boiled water in a kettle to make tea and coffee and there was only one item on the menu – cheese on toast. We welcomed a small number of guests and several were homeless.
After Nigel Adams launched Hope, the project moved to Boundary Road and the drop-in cafe was based in the old kitchen downstairs in the hall. I worked alongside volunteer Barbara Parker, who founded the Hope Friendship Club. More and more people found their way to the café and more breakfast choices were offered.
Indeed, I was impressed and amazed at how Hope expanded in Beeston and in other parts of Nottingham and how rapidly a varied range of activities developed. A feature of the changes at Boundary Road was a shiny new kitchen and a much needed Food Bank.
I will miss everyone associated with Hope, especially the Thursday team. Tilly, Teresa, Gill, Meryl, Andrea, Louise, James and of course Rob – the fastest chef in the West. He somehow knows what people want to eat before they step through the doors, which makes life easy for the waiter. Perhaps the secret is that Hope always puts people first.
By the nature of their roles, the support and office team, especially Lauren, Iain, Claire and Jade, are often on the move. So, when taking breakfast orders, I didn’t put a table number on the order sheet. I simply noted they were floating…
Thanks everyone for lots of laughs and many happy memories. I wish Hope every success and blessing in the future. Before too long, I hope to pop into the café for a coffee and one of Rob’s special bacon and egg butties . . .
All of us at Hope Nottingham want to say a huge thank you to Dave - who like all our volunteers - has given up so much of his time to serve others.
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