The attraction was the visit of guest speaker, Professor Peter Jenner, Director of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Centre and the National Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, who was giving a lecture on 'The treatment available for Parkinson Disease'.

After an introduction by new chairman Mike Peaker, he began by warning not to believe the newspaper headlines that a cure was imminent. There was no quick fix.

Every new treatment had to undergo exhaustive tests and clinical trials and this could take up to 15 years.

Drug companies faced litigation if their products had dangerous side-effects.

There was no one thing that caused Parkinson's, he went on, and every person with the disease was different. Nevertheless, there was evidence that some pesticides caused the disease.

Paraquat and Derris dust were both named but he urged his audience, especially the elderly, to take care with all garden weedkillers.

Professor Jenner broke off at this point and asked for questions.

He was asked whether or not blows to the head could be a factor, for example, the boxer Mohammed Ali and the footballer Ray Kennedy.

He answered that it could be a cause in some people, but the majority of boxers and footballers did not have the disease .

He was asked if it was hereditary and he replied that in general it wasn't, but there were some countries in various parts of the world where members of one family had the disease.

Next question had the same theme. Could an anaesthetic be a factor? It got the same answer: statistically unproven.

Then the patch came under the spotlight. He was in favour of it, because it cut down the number of pills that were taken each day and it was absorbed evenly without the rise and fall that is the drawback of the pills.

If after a while the skin becomes sore, the remedy is to move it around the body each time it is renewed.

There is good news for Apomorphine drug users. As this drug can only be taken by injection or, if regular use is needed, by a portable battery-driven syringe pump, it will be a relief to users to know that now there are tests going on that will permit them to either sniff it like snuff, or inhale it.

Professor Peter Jenner answered many personal questions before concluding his lecture by telling members he would be available to take more in private for the rest of the meeting.

Chairman Mike Peaker thanked the professor amidst enthusiastic applause and called a tea break, during which he read out the notices.

The appointment of a PDNS is still going ahead. Job description has been agreed and recruitment should be starting soon.

It is not certain when a Community Support Worker will be appointed. It all depends how quickly Head Office recruits the right person.

Don't forget that the Carers Day is on May 8. There are no other major events by the branch.

The next speaker at the monthly meeting on May 8 at 7.30pm, will be Jacqueline Young, Lead Parkinson's Nurse Specialist for Cambridgeshire.

Her subject will be 'The evolving role of the PDSN'.