The Widows Group first met on March 17^th 2003 and was formed by ladies who had lost their husbands to Prostate Cancer.

I ( Barbara Pugh ) lost my husband in October 2000, and a few months later was invited to join the Prostate Group committee.. Some  while later I was chosen to undertake the Macmillan Cancer Support Certificate which I successfully completed. One of the modules related to Loss and Bereavement and it was, at this juncture, suggested that I should become involved in forming a Widows Group.

Our first meeting, which took place at Kidderminster General Hospital, consisted of four widows, Mary Symons the Specialist Urology Nurse, and myself..

The group has grown since its formation, and now consists of fifteen active members and twenty five associate members. At our meetings we have looked at a number of issues that have been important to group members, e.g. loss of a loved one, anger, catering for one, but the primary object of the group is that of providing mutual support and help to each other. A list of members details have, with their permission, been distributed within the group thus giving each other a point of contact.

We do have a lighter side to the group. We have lunch out on a Sunday, which is determined by a member having a birthday in a particular month, and the group pay for that persons lunch. This happens almost every month and the person with the birthday chooses the venue, Sunday can be quite lonely for people on their own, and so it is an appropriate day for us all to meet up.

 The ladies are very lucky to have the support of the President of the Prostate Cancer Support Group, Mr D. Baxter-Smith, Consultant Urologist and his wife, as well as the Chairman of the group, Revd Paul Brothwell. They attend most of our meetings, which are held about every six to eight weeks.

There is only one other similar group in the country that I am aware of, so we are almost unique in our existence.

Barbara Pugh