British Stammering Association Silver Jubilee cake.

Party organiser Rachel Albert lights a candle on the BSA Silver Jubilee cake.

More than 100 people joined in the celebrations to commemorate the BSA 25th anniversary.

Dr John Bowden (with wife Vic) cuts a cake to celebrate the Institute of Linguists having awarded him the Richard Lewis Communications Trophy. Photos: Rachel Albert

On Sunday 7 December 2003 more than 100 people joined in the celebrations to commemorate the BSA 25th anniversary at the Ambassadors Hotel in London. Rob Day, our lovely DJ, provided the music and our members, friends and families joined in the fun, dancing, singing and jumping about until late evening. We also had a raffle which raised £375.

Many people from the early days who played an important role in the organisation attended our party, making the event even more special and memorable.

The most moving part of the day for many of us was the candle-lighting ceremony. Our wonderful MC, David Jones, introduced 25 key people who lit one of the 25 candles on the anniversary cake (pictured here).

They included Rachel Everard (Chair), Norbert Lieckfeldt (Chief Executive), Brian Dodsworth (President) Jon Smith (Patron) Trustees of the BSA, founder members Ron Turrell and Sparrow Harrison, Carolyn Cheasman, who lit a candle on behalf of Peggy Dalton (who established the AFS as a charity in 1978 when she was at the City Lit); Christine Simpson, on behalf of the late Nick Conrad, and Tim Bretherick, on behalf of his late father, Leslie Bretherick. I lit a candle on behalf of Peter Cartwright, Director of the AFS from 1989 - 1997, and one for myself as a volunteer with the BSA for many years. Our webmaster and BSA volunteer Allan Tyrer, also lit a candle.

Andrew Pope, one of our founder members, lit a candle for all the members of the then AFS, Howard Yaffe lit a candle representing the Manchester area, Vic Bowden for Sheffield and Hari Rivers for Birmingham (Hari was 7 years old when he appeared in our first fund-raising video in 1992). Robin Bunce lit a candle representing the Downs Syndrome Association, Roy Tranckle lit one for the many people who had taken an active part in the organisation and who couldn't be there on the day. Andrew Harding and Liza Waller lit candles representing BSA staff. I feel it is important to mention these people by name as a little bit of history was made on that day.

People felt very sentimental when the candles were lit and commented on how moving the occasion was.

One person said: "I hope I'm around for the 50th one, if it's going to be like this". Another commented: "I'm so proud to be a part of this wonderful day - 25 years from now I can say I was there". In my short speech as organiser of the party I said that this was one of the happiest days of my life and that our BSA is not just an organisation, it is a very big and wonderful family and we all share a very special and unique bond. I would like to say a very big thank you to my BSA family for the two gorgeous bouquets of flowers presented to me, to my Sunday Social members for the lovely gift and the help given to me on the day and to my lovely family for their help and support. My daughter Melanie videoed the event for me. If anybody would like a copy, please call me on 07956 900909 or e-mail rae_al_in_motion@hotmail.com