A DEMENTIA support group has made a ‘soup-er’ first-time delivery to its members, after dropping off tubs of home-made broth.

Dunbar Dementia Carers Support Group has thanked chef and caterer Rod Bunney – “the best of soup-makers” – for making batches of chicken, minestrone and courgette and mascarpone soups, and Dunbar Dementia Network for funding the ingredients and containers.

East Lothian Courier: Chef and caterer Rod Bunney, with a selection of soups to deliver

Lorna Bunney, the support group co-ordinator, told the Courier: “I’m very lucky to be married to a wonderful soup maker, a wonderful cook.

“He works for East Lothian mental health charity Stepping Out and, as part of his job, he started just in the last couple of weeks to make homemade soups to be delivered to people.”

In a move to improve people’s mental health and physical wellbeing, Rod – who formerly owned and ran a deli and cafe on North Berwick High Street – offered to make soup for the dementia carers support group too, an offer Lorna took up immediately.

She said: “Obviously, Covid’s had a dreadful effect on people.

“They’re in great spirits but we wanted to make sure that people are eating properly.

“I set up the group six years ago because my mother had had vascular dementia and one of the things that I remember after my father died was that my mother didn’t eat properly.

“For some group members, it’s not been an easy time for them, so this is just something to help – just spreading a wee bit of love.”

And last week, while Rod delivered 20 tubs of soup to Stepping Out members, Lorna took another 20 tubs to members of the dementia carers support group.

She said: “People were really appreciative. They were following up to say they had it for their tea or that they just appreciate the gesture. It’s just nice to do something for other folks. We’re all getting a bit fed up!”

Lorna, who lives with Rod at Newbyth, near East Linton, said that they planned to continue with the food deliveries for as long as they were needed and could be funded.

She said: “Folks in Dunbar and the carers have been so supportive over the years but obviously we’ve not been able to do just as much, because of the restrictions. We’d normally have days out and all manner of activities, art therapy sessions and that type of thing.

“We were very lucky in that we got some money from the Co-op a couple of years ago so that’s kind of paid for us since lockdown. We’ve supplied craft materials for people, takeaway afternoon teas, gardening supplies, that type of thing. So we’ve been able to do that – but the coffers haven’t been filling up again.”

To support and donate to the group, go to dunbardementianetwork.org.uk/support-us