Famed dancer, broadcaster and dementia services advocate Angela Rippon launched a twentieth anniversary party for a Tavistock memory loss group.

The TV star sent a specially recorded surprise video birthday message to Tavistock Memory Café (TMC), part of Tavistock Dementia Alliance (of which she is a patron), when the cafe gathered for a party in Tavistock Town Hall.

The hall was full of dancers swinging to the sounds of the 1940s as the charity celebrated 20 years of supporting those affected by memory loss.

Angela, who has roots in the Tavistock area, has spent years campaigning locally and nationally for improved dementia carer after her mum was diagnosed with the condition in 2004.

Angela, 81, who used to present the BBC’s Come Dancing and famously danced on the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, urged guests to “dance their socks off” and “eat lots of cake’at the party in her video message.

She also congratulated TMC on its years of support and joked: “I would have sung my message, but changed my mind. As most of my friends know, I’m better at dancing than singing.”

And continued: “Happy, happy birthday to Tavistock Memory Café. I am thrilled to hear you are having a tea dance celebration which is well-deserved. I can’t congratulate you enough for the terrific work the cafe is doing for the people of Tavistock and surrounding area for people living with dementia, for their friends, for their family and for their loved ones.

“You really are doing a terrific job in supporting the dementia community. I hope you can continue for the next 20 years.”

Angela, who has made numerous speeches in the Tavistock area telling residents how important it is to create a supportive dementia community, added: “You really do make a tremendous difference to the lives of people living with dementia and enabling them to live well with dementia.”

Blue and white balloons hung from the ceiling as friends, carers and those living with dementia and other conditions enjoyed a large party with live entertainment, a celebration cake and afternoon tea on Saturday, July 25.

Molly Cummings was a special guest, as one of the first carers at the charity’s pilot session back in 2006, and cut the birthday cake to applause as café chair Graham Coiley performed as master of ceremonies and introduced VIP guest, town mayor Cllr Anne Johnson.

Graham said: “TMC was formed when a small group decided there ought to be a social meeting provided for those adapting to living with memory loss, and for those supporting them, and so the first café was held with six people. How we’ve grown. Molly is an inspiration to us all at the Memory Café. We all had a wonderful time at the town hall.”

He thanked Angela Rippon for her ‘kind video’, the volunteers and trustees of TMC for organising the party. the Hummingbirds trio for singing and the dance music and to King Street Bakery for the catering, Fran, Jane and Julie in the kitchen and Tavistock Town Hall staff.

Tavistock Memory Cafe carers, family, volunteers and guest, including town Mayor Cllr Anne Johnson (second left) celebrated its twentieth year with a party in Tavistock Town Hall.
Tavistock Memory Café carers, family, volunteers and guests, including town mayor Cllr Anne Johnson, second left, celebrated its twentieth year with a party in Tavistock Town Hall. (Iliffe Media)
Tavistock Memory Cafe carers, family, volunteers and guest, celebrated its twentieth year by dancing and socialising in Tavistock Town Hall.
Tavistock Memory Café carers, family, volunteers and guests celebrated its twentieth year by dancing and socialising in Tavistock Town Hall. (Tavistock Memory Café)
Tavistock Memory Cafe carers, family, volunteers and guest, celebrated its twentieth year by dancing, socialising and cutting a celebration cake in Tavistock Town Hall.
Tavistock Memory Café carers, family, volunteers and guest, celebrated its twentieth year by dancing, socialising and cutting a celebration cake in Tavistock Town Hall. (Tavistock Memory Café)