How we started
DFSG was founded in March 2007 and our first meeting took place at Devonshire House in the grounds of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary (Derby Community Hospital, London Road), on the 10th May 2007. As a first meeting it was very successful and about thirty eight people attended.
Because of the access to the meeting room, we moved the meetings to the Charnwood Spiritualist Church on Charnwood Street Derby.
The Three people who started the group were Jackie Banton, Douglas Banton and Paula Crawford.
Jackie came up with the idea when she attended a pain management clinic and found out that she had the syndrome and the nearest support groups were at Nottingham or Burton upon Trent. Knowing Paula as a friend for nine years and knowing she had fibro, asked Paula to help with the group.
Julia Barnes met Jackie at the Burton fibro group, and joined the committee after attending the first meeting, we were later joined by Anne and David Hughes in September 2007. Shirley Fenn and Christina Burger joined in 2011. Janet Warner Joined as Publicist in 2013.
Sadly Paula, Julia, Anne, David, Shirley, Christina and Janet have since moved on, but we have been joined by Lisa Hodgson, Kath Meynell, Chloe Burford and Tasha Whittingham.
Jackie Banton
Hi, my name is Jackie, and I was diagnosed with FM in January 2006. I had trouble coming to terms with the illness. I looked on the internet and contacted the Nottingham group, to find out if there was a support group in Derby, so I could have someone to talk to about how I felt. It was at this point I realised that my friends didn’t understand and they visited less. I was fortunate to be able to join the Pain Management Programme at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. I decided then that a support group was needed in Derby, I felt very strongly about it, so it was down to me to make the first move that was In December 2006.
Douglas Banton
Hi, I’m Jackie’s husband and I find that working with the group so interesting and enjoyable I have learned so much about the syndrome.
Helping to run the group really puts all of the computer skills that I have learned over the last 10 years to good use and hope to continue to use them in the future.
The people who attend the meetings are from all walks of life and backgrounds, it’s surprising how many people think that there will only be a few people at the meeting and go away after making new friends.
Lisa Hodgson
Hi, my name is Lisa I have been married for over 25 years to Paul, I work as a Senior Support Worker (RNLD) supporting people with learning difficulties. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007 at the Rheumatology Department of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary where I was given a leaflet and discharged. I met Jackie who was running an awareness table at the hospital, she gave me some information and invited me to a group meeting. The group has been a lifesaver as the more I understand fibromyalgia the better I can manage it, also it’s nice to know I’m not alone. As I became more involved with the group I wanted to do more to support others with similar diagnosis as myself.