A Short History of the Mid Derbyshire Association
for Mobile Physiotherapy
The Association was set up as an independent registered charity as the result of an innovative project of Matlock Round Table in 1974 to provide a free mobile physiotherapy service to housebound people. By June 1976 enough capital had been raised to employ a Physiotherapist and begin work. Matlock Round Table donated the first van and Wirksworth Rotary Club provided the equipment. In the early days the Charity received Grants from the NHS which moved some time later to contracts of payments, but there were considerable difficulties throughout the 1990s getting funding and it was touch and go at times whether the Charity would survive. To make ends meet MDAMP had to withdraw service from the Matlock and Darley Dale area and concentrate on further south in Derbyshire.
For 15 years until 1999, Mieke Leney was the Chairman, with Beverley Withers as the charity’s physiotherapist for an amazing 21 years until her retirement in 2012. During Mieke’s time the charity held a number of varied and successful fundraising event including an intriguing sounding Vaudeville Evening in Wirksworth and flag days in Ashbourne and Wirksworth, as well as selling refreshments at Dam Farm and Dove Cottage when their gardens were open. Lucy Thompson took this format a step further when she took on being Chairman in 2005 by setting up the incredibly successful Culland Plant Fair which became the Charity’s one annual fundraising event and over the years this event raised somewhere in the region of £100,000. That’s a lot of cups of tea brewed, cakes baked and raffle tickets sold!
The Association decided to employ an Administrator in 1998 and Debbie Webster took on the day to day running of the charity. She, Lee Broderick and Lucy Thompson then brought MDAMP into the 21st century by making MDAMP into a Company Limited by Guarantee, which has given it a secure and sound base for these past 20 years.
When Beverley retired our current physiotherapist Dave Collis took his place behind the wheel of the trusty MDAMP van and has continued to follow her example of conscientiously and cheerfully treating people in their own environments. They have both shown tremendous self-discipline, enthusiasm and unfailing dedication to the role and have been excellent ambassadors for the charity.
Midsummer Tea in Parwich Hall Gardens, June 2025
With the very kind permission of Mr and Mrs Robert Shields, MDAMP held its summer fundraising event in the gardens of Parwich Hall on Saturday 21st June 2025.
We were lucky with the weather and the rain held off for most of the afternoon, enabling our supporters to stroll around the beautiful gardens or to sit and have a cup of tea and enjoy some of the delicious homemade cakes whilst they listened to the splendid Osmaston Wind Band.
We were delighted to raise £2,574.00
We are hugely grateful to all those that came on the day, but would also like to thank all those who helped behind the scenes, planning, setting up and clearing away, donating prizes for our raffle and also for the tireless team of bakers who donated cakes.
We would like to thank Longcliffe Quarries Ltd for sponsoring the event and Northend Full Service Printhouse for supplying our marketing leaflets and signs.
