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A free day out for local residents living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment sparked many happy memories.
Memory Train
The ‘Memory Train’ trip was a partnership initiative between our Community, Culture and Wellbeing team, Epping Ongar Railway and Epping Open Gardens.
Around 50 people took the train ride from North Weald to Ongar and through the forest.
They disembarked at Ongar to enjoy the museum, have refreshments and take in more historical facts including details about the foot warmer house. The foot warmer house is a hut where metal containers were filled with hot water and placed under the seats for first-class passengers to warm their feet. Trains were unheated before 1920.
The day finished at North Weald for lunch. The trip provided an opportunity to reminisce, take in the beautiful views of the district’s countryside. The were able to learn from the exceptional knowledge shared by Epping Ongar Railway volunteers.
Fun and laughter
Fun and laughter was had by all and due to its glowing success, plans are already in place for the next one.
Councillor Aniket Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Community Partnerships said:
What an excellent example of partnership working by organisations in our district.
It gave people affected by dementia a fun, safe and stimulating day out not too far from home.
Find out more about the history of Epping Ongar Railway:
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