A WIDOWER has donated more than £1,300 to a dementia club that provided support to his wife.

During Ron Norman’s year as senior officer of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes [RAOB] he raised funds for the Rosewood Dementia Club in Blackbird Leys.

On Wednesday the 84-year-old donated £1,340 to the centre, which is run by the Daybreak charity that supports adults with learning difficulties.

Mr Norman was married to his wife Margaret for 54 years before she died seven years ago aged 78.

He said: “My wife used to go to the centre twice a week and really enjoyed herself down there, that was the reason which I chose that charity and donated the money.


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“I felt very proud to be able to do it. There is one thing said at all weddings, it is ‘until death do us part’.”

The Northway estate resident has been part of the ROAB Oxford province lodge for more than 40 years.

He retired from being a security guard at a warehouse, aged 73, to care for his wife who regularly attended the Rosewood club.

Mr Norman has two daughters, Jane and Mandy, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The ROAB was created in 1822, and is a fraternal organisation in the UK, which has the motto “no man is at all times wise”. It aims to help charities with fundraising throughout the year.

Mr Norman said the money raised would go to help fund the running costs of the centre: “The council only pays about half of the money so they really need the money to function.

“And as my wife went there and the charity were supportive and gave me a period of respite, I made that my charity.”

The day club provides members with exercises, quizzes, art work and other activities to help stimulate them and enjoy themselves.

Director for Daybreak Oxford Andy Buckland said: “We cannot thank them enough. Without such groups supporting us we cannot continue to run.

“It’s essential for small charities like us to be supported because we have to raise a third of the money that it costs to run our day clubs.

“It’s fantastic that the ROAB has donated this amount.”