Tag Archives: coeliac uk

Plymouth Coeliac Group

9 Apr

This Saturday (13th April) is the AGM for the Plymouth Voluntary Support Group for Coeliac UK.  The meeting will take place at The Woolwell Centre, Darklake Lane, Woolwell, PL6 7TR.  The meeting will start at 2pm.  Easy and free parking is available, and there is a £1 voluntary entrance fee.  There will be a talk by Coeliac UK Dietitian Kathryn Miller, and friend of Gluten Free by the Sea Lisa Hackett will also be present selling her delicious Let Them Eat Cake gluten and dairy free treats.

This is a particularly important meeting, as this is a pivotal time for the Plymouth Group.  Group Organiser Alice Williams and Database Administrator Vivien Johnson are stepping down after years of great service to the group.  Treasurer Harry Booth will also be stepping down.  I’d like to personally thank them for their service.  What this means is for the group to continue in its current form we must find at least three volunteers to fill the roles.  The group organiser role could potentially be split between more than one person.

I have volunteered to take over from Vivien as the Database Administrator, and I hope that we can find at least two other volunteers to fill the Organiser and Treasurer roles.  I would really like to see the group survive, and I hope that someone will be able to step up to work alongside me to make this happen.  This is an opportunity to inject new blood and push the group in a new direction after the great work done by Alice and Vivien in recent years.  If you are interested, see contact details for Alice below, or contact me directly.

For further information, please see communication from Alice below.

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

CoeliacUK_logo

Dear Member,

It’s time for the April meeting and with it the AGM. I hope that you will be able to come. Do bring family or a friend for company. We are meeting at The Woolwell Centre, Darklake Lane, Woolwell, Plymouth, PL6 7TR. We will be in the smaller hall. There is free parking and it is best to park up to the right of the building as the side door will be open for us.

The Woolwell Centre is off the A386 in the north of Plymouth. Turn off at the Woolwell roundabout for Tesco. Take the 3rd exit off the next roundabout and travel along Woolwell Road for half a mile. Reach another roundabout and take the first exit along Pick Pie Drive and within a short distance you’ll find Darklake Lane on your left. It’s a small narrow lane and after 200 yards and a sharp right corner, you’ll find the centre’s car park.

To start the meeting off Kathryn Miller, one of the dietitians with Coeliac UK, will up-date and talk to us about recent research, good practice/training for caterers and also answer and discuss any dietary questions.

Then we can get going with the AGM with a short report of the last year, the finances and the election of the committee members.

Once the business is over there will be tea/coffee/juice and biscuits provided for you.There will be a raffle with a maximum of 10 prizes but please note. . . . WE ARE NOT HAVING OUR USUAL BRING AND SHARE TEA.

Please bring your spare gluten-free prescription goods which are still in date for new members to try out.Let Them Eat Cake (run by Lisa Hackett) will be attending with her delicious variety of sweet and savoury vegetable based food for sale.

Further details: As you know I am standing down as group organiser at the AGM and I’m hoping that there will be someone out there who will take this on perhaps sharing the jobs with another. As a committee we haven’t necessarily filled all the posts that we could have had, due to a lack of members coming forward to offer their help. The good news is that Kevin Gollop will replace Vivien Johnson who has run the data-base for many years. He has also kindly offered to take on the Restaurant etc. list and to keep our page on the Coeliac UK website updated. You may already have looked at his blog http://gfreebythesea.me which was mentioned in the recent Spring Crossed Grain p.51. Harry Booth our Treasurer would also like to step down.

For the group to carry on it is vital that we find at least 2 more replacements. If not then the group is suspended and gets administered by Coeliac UK. After about 6 mths they contact all the Plymouth group area members to see if there is enough interest to restart the group and that means enough members prepared to volunteer their time to enable that to happen. It would be sad to see the past efforts of the group go to waste. So to save Coeliac UK the extra administrative work. . . .WHY NOT VOLUNTEER YOURSELF? It needn’t be for very long but it could enable the group to continue in the meantime.

  • Dates coming up are – Awareness Week 13 – 19th May – possible Information Stall at Sainsbury’s Marsh Mills Next new members on Sat in late June also at Sainsbury’s Marsh Mills Sat. Sept. 7th Food Fair run by Torbay Group 10am-4pm at English Riviera Centre Torquay
  • Finances after the last meeting continue to be good despite having to pay for the hall. The Woolwell Centre will be half the price by the way but when the committee met recently it was felt that we should return to the Postgraduate Medical Centre in the autumn to try out what it is like now that there is no parking available nearby. Unfortunately they were booked up for this meeting in April. So there is £416 (approx.) in the bank, and £147 was raised at the last meeting with outgoings of £235. Since then Vivien and I have reduced the numbers being contacted by the group so our postage and printing costs will be much less ie.down from 270 to 70. If you do not have access to a computer and emails, perhaps you have family, friends or a neighbour who would be happy to receive them and pass them on to you. As a group we are not able to pass on as much information to those members who can only use the postal route.

So I hope to see you on the 13th and on a lighter note, shall sit by my phone waiting for that all important call to say that you can help the group continue by volunteering some of your time! Thanks to the support of the other committee members and their dedicated imput, I have enjoyed my 4 years as group organiser. It’s been very worthwhile getting the new members meetings going and also the famous Restaurant list which has grown from 43 entries to what it is today thanks to all you members who pass on information to me.

Alice Williams, Court House, The Crescent, Crapstone, PL20 7PS 01822 859269 coeliac.plymouth@gmail.com

Group Organiser, Plymouth Voluntary Support Group for Coeliac UK

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Eggbuckland Fish and Chip Shop

19 Mar

Update 31/08/14: Unfortunately Eggbuckland Fish and Chip Shop is now under new ownership and is no longer serving gluten free.  See Kingfisher Fish and Chip Shop review for an alternative option.

Gluten Free by the Sea recently brought you news that Eggbuckland Fish and Chip shop in Plymouth were having a gluten free night the first Monday of every month.  It was pleasing to see owner Johanna Haimes had received training from Coeliac UK and that the fryers would be completely steam cleaned, fresh oil used and only gluten free items cooked on the night.  For more information see their press release.  With confidence I made the trip to Eggbuckland village to try it out.

EggbucklandChipShop

When I arrived I could only just fit in the shop, it was extremely busy which was great to see.  It was immediately apparent that there was a really lovely atmosphere within the shop.  Staff and customers were exchanging stories about their excitement to tuck in to gluten free fish and chips.  There was a young coeliac child who was about to have fish and chips for the first time, heart-warming.

It was good to see Coeliac UK literature and certification, along with labelling from the gluten free products used on display in the shop, and this certainly added to my confidence.  The choices were chips, battered fish, battered sausage, gravy and curry sauce.  Johanna is looking to expand this range and is planning to add mushy peas, chicken and chicken nuggets to the menu for the next gluten free night on Easter Monday (open as normal).

It was personally quite a nostalgic trip for me.  Not only was this my first trip to a chippy since my coeliac journey began nearly two years ago, but I was brought up in Eggbuckland so this was my local chippy as a youngster.  This was my first trip back since I moved away from Eggbuckland over ten years ago.

I don’t eat fish, so I was very pleased to see the battered sausage on the menu.  I ordered a large portion of chips and a battered sausage, with a side of curry sauce.  I rushed home to dish up, and as I did I looked at the portion and thought that I’d never be able to eat it all.  Truth be told I demolished the whole thing, probably without even stopping for breath.  The sausage was tasty, the batter was light and crispy and very impressive.  It was so good to have “proper” chips from a chippy again, I loved it!  I am away on Easter Monday, but will definitely be going back for more.

GFChips

The evening itself was a great success, Johanna said “I was very surprised at the amount of children that came. It’s very sad that it has such an effect on the whole family.  We were very happy that the hard work and research gave people with gluten intolerance the chance to enjoy something that most of us take for granted.”  For some more quotes from Johanna on the night see this report from The Herald.

The chip shop are investigating an option to supply meals boxed with a knife and fork as many gluten free customers had travelled some distance to try this.  Johanna is keen to hear feedback, and suggestions for other products that you would like offered.  You can contact her via email at johannahaimes@yahoo.co.uk

There were some lovely comments on the Gluten Free by the Sea Facebook page after the event, so I’d like to leave you with a few of those:

I enjoyed my cod and chips too. Haven’t been near a chip shop since I got diagnosed in 2010 and tonight was a taste sensation for me thank you Eggbuckland Chip Shop – Louise Williams

Would like to say a big THANK YOU to Eggbuckland fish and chip shop for the lovely gluten free fish, chips and curry sauce both myself and my 4 year old daughter was both very happy girlies after it was very yummy and my daughters little smiley face was all worth it…roll on the first Monday in April where we will deaf be back again – Stacey Willcocks

Finally, a big thank you from me.  I really enjoyed my meal and am looking forward to the next time.  Thanks for putting these nights on, evening like this really make a difference.

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

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Living With Coeliac Disease

27 Jan

I have been asked a few times recently about my tips for those newly diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, and advice for those struggling to get to grips with the disease.  So I thought I would put together a post with some advice for those struggling, based on my experiences over the past year and a half.  Please bear in mind that I am not a medical professional and this is based purely on my personal experience.  Always seek advice from your GP or Dietitian before making any major changes to your diet.

Kev_Abby

The photo above is of myself and my wife Abby in Lyme Regis is Easter 2011.  This was one of the few moments of our trip away that I didn’t spend in a public bathroom.  Little did I know these bathroom trips were to be the start of my coeliac journey.  As I’m sure most of you that are reading this will know, this means a lifetime without gluten, therefore a lifetime without wheat, rye and barley.

So you’ve just been diagnosed with coeliac disease.  You are probably feeling like the world has just ended.  So what to do next?  Well the first thing to know is that life isn’t over.  Gluten free life can be a challenge, but there are lots of gluten free options out there and plenty of people willing to help.  First stop for anyone newly diagnosed should be the Coeliac UK website, where you will find a wealth of helpful information.  Membership for the first six months is free, and it is worth joining for the annual Food and Drink Directory which lists thousands of safe to eat foods.  They will also put you in contact with your local coeliac support group.  It is also worth getting a book to read more about the disease.  I can recommend “Coeliac Disease: What You Need to Know” by Alex Gazzola.

It is also a good idea to register with some of the gluten free food manufacturers, as this can lead to lots of gluten free freebies.  After I was diagnosed I registered and received free samples from Juvela, Glutafin, Dietary Specials and Livwell.  Ask your GP if you are entitled to gluten free food on prescription, and hopefully your free samples will help you choose what to have if so.  I am lucky enough to get Juvela foods on prescription, but many regions have recently made cuts in this area.

Unfortunately accidental glutenings will be part of the learning process, and coeliac life going forward.  It’s a good idea to stock up with peppermint tea as this can help calm your stomach when you have accidentally ingested the evil stuff.  The psychological impact of being diagnosed is one of the biggest things to deal with, and is not something that the NHS will offer any help with.  The best way to deal with this is to become part of the gluten free community.  Sharing experiences with other coeliacs, and having people who understand what you are going through is a massive help.  I have written about how to become part of the GF community for the Foods You Can website here.

Those of you who have read the story of my first year as a coeliac will know I’ve seen major heath improvements, but coeliac disease is different for us all and it can take as long as two years for the gut to recover in some cases.  It’s my belief that I’ve had a relatively smooth recovery due to a fairly swift diagnosis.  I’ve read many stories since from people who have been suffering for over ten years before being diagnosed, and this level of damage can have much longer recovery times.

So you’ve gone gluten free, but you’re not feeling better.  What to do now?  Hopefully by now you will have been referred to a dietitian, and will have been advised to cut out oats (even gluten free versions) for the first year.  A small number of coeliacs react to oats and it is best to be back to full health before slowly reintroducing to see if oats are a problem.  From talking to other coeliacs it is clear that after-care and advice from the NHS varies dramatically and I have spoken to several people who have not had this advice.

Many coeliacs suffer from lactose intolerance when first diagnosed, which can be a side affect to gut damage.  Fortunately this was never an issue for me, but I have spoken to many coeliacs who have been affected.  In most cases this should be temporary and you hopefully you will be able to tolerate lactose once your gut has healed.  There is further information on the Coeliac UK website.  Consult your GP or dietitian if you feel lactose may be an issue for you.

Personally I have cut out anything carrying a “may contain wheat/gluten” or anything “made in a factory handling wheat/gluten”.  I’ve had some bad experiences with these products and now avoid completely rather than risk it.  Cross contamination is one of the hardest aspects to deal with.  If you are living with others that are eating gluten then having your own utensils is a good idea, your own separate toaster, chopping board and pasta drainer etc.  I’ve recently thrown out all my wooden spoons and replaced with silicon versions.  Always clean down surfaces before preparing food, one crumb is enough to make you sick.  My wife now eats gluten free as much as possible at home, and keeps all her gluten containing food in a cupboard in another room.  I am very grateful to her for this.  If you are outnumbered by the gluten eaters then a lot of coeliacs have their own cupboard for their GF food.

Eating out is another big challenge.  I try not to eat anywhere that I haven’t thoroughly researched first.  Use the internet to search for recommendations and social media to ask for suggestions.  There are websites such as Live Gluten Free that have searchable databases of gluten free friendly restaurants.  See also my guest post for the Give Me Gluten Free website for more eating out advice.

Also pay close attention to what you are drinking.  The last two times I’ve been glutened have been from drinks.  Firstly I was drinking Tetley Green Tea which I later discovered carried a “may contain gluten” warning, and then I drank cider in a pub and got ill so I assume the glass or pumps had previously been used for beer and not cleaned properly.  Many squashes contain barley and it’s an area that’s often easy to overlook.  Beer is obviously a no go, though there are some gluten free beers on the market.

I am taking several supplements to help me get back to health.  I have always taken a multi vitamin with added iron, due to leading a previously largely vegetarian diet at home (my wife is vegetarian) and I believe this helped me from becoming anaemic when I was going through diagnosis.  I have since started taking a prescription calcium supplement (AdCal) after a bone density scan showed osteopenia.  I also take an Omega 3 supplement as I don’t eat fish.  Please consult your dietitian with regards supplements.  I have also started taking a good quality probiotic (Culturelle) with the aim of improving the health of my gut.  Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease I have also developed issues with acid reflux, and have been prescribed Omeprazole to combat this.  The acid reflux has also led to me having to give up black tea, and I now drink green or peppermint tea instead.

So have you struggled to get back to health despite going gluten free?  Do you have any tips for the newly diagnosed or those struggling to feel better?  Please use the comment section below to share your experiences and tips with the gluten free community.

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

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