TEN children from the First Williton Cub Group enjoyed an evening at the Bakelite Museum in the village, finding out all about the plastic products: “The museum is one of their favourite activities, it was really engaging, they were shown all sorts of things and had

the chance to play with them and look at them properly,” said Dave Shattock, cub master.

* LATER, a group of students had their eyes opened to what was once mind-boggling new technology when they visited the Bakelite Museum.

The students were from Reminiscence Learning, a charity which trains people in dementia care, activity and reminiscence work.

Some had never before seen objects such as a giant calculator, a real old typewriter, mobiles like bricks, old-fashioned cookers and radios that were once cutting edge fashion.

Now they will use their new knowledge in course work and to help stimulate memories for older people they will work with, using photographs and objects to help recall the past.

“Quite a few of the students are younger,” said Sue Alderman, of Reminiscence Learning.

“They’ve never seen or experienced these things, but this bridges the gap and gives them topics to reminisce about.”

Patrick Cook, creator and curator of the museum – who has also taken the artefacts to a number of care homes and organisations – said: “Reminiscence work is a growing area.

“It’s important to be able to trigger memories and engage with people who have strong memories of the past, through such things as objects like these.

“You’re looking at another world – there is a lot to understand about these objects of the past that were just practical things in the home once, many of them now vintage icons which a whole younger generation loves.”