people
Tracy’s double
challenge
Tracy Lowth had
particular reason for
taking on the role of
Rank Cares charity
champion at Mecca
Chesterfield.
Not only did she
realise that she was
actually a carer herself,
finding out about Carers Trust also
brought home to her just how many
people there were like her who would
benefit from the help and support.
Tracy, operations manager at
Chesterfield, has been caring for two
close family members for some years
– her dad and her 90-year-old Nana.
Two years ago, her dad suffered
three strokes which damaged his
brain. He was unable to walk properly,
feed or dress himself or remember
anything. Tracy visited every day to
see if he needed help and took him
grocery shopping. Thankfully, her
dad’s condition has improved, but
although he is now able to walk, he
is still unable to do much, so Tracy is
always available at the drop of a hat
to help with jobs around the house.
In 2013, her very independent and
sprightly Nana changed after a fall. She
wasn’t looking after herself properly,
although she insisted she was fine, so
Tracy made a point of popping round
every day. Following a second fall and
another stay in hospital, carers were
arranged but Tracy would also go in
every day on her way home from work.
A scan showed her Nana had
suffered a stroke which had gone
undetected. Tracy continued to care
for her, spending some 15 hours
a week taking her to the hairdresser,
shopping and into town until her
grandmother’s needs became too great
for her to stay safely in her own home.
“It was only when I heard about
Carers Trust through Rank Cares that
I realised that I, too, had become
a carer without realising it,” said Tracy.
“Although my Nana got support, I don’t
think there was any support for me. It
was emotionally and physically draining
to see a loved one change so quickly.
“Carers Trust is a really worthwhile
cause and needs a lot of money to help
carers and those who need care.”
14 WOW! Issue 35 • August 2014
Proud
Julie with
her Wow!
Badge
presentation.
WOW! factor
Julie and Ash strike gold
J
ulie Smith and Ash Rayner struck
gold by going the extra mile to help
customers in their clubs. Their
efforts have been recognised with
a gold Wow! Badge each.
Julie, senior team member and first-aider
at Mecca Oldbury, went into action when
a customer collapsed with a heart attack in
the club. She did everything she could to
resuscitate him and keep him alive until
professional help could arrive.
Sadly, the customer later passed away,
but Julie is proud that she was able to
help in those vital early minutes and is
also extremely proud of her gold badge.
Ash is a team member at Mecca
Chester and went out of his way to help
customer Ernie Jones master the new
tablet technology.
Ernie had been given the tablet as
a present but didn’t know what to do
with it. Ash took it home and set it all
up, later taking the time to sit down with
Ernie and teach him how it all worked.
Salivating in Sale!
Expect some yummy dishes on the new winter menu this year, all chosen after
being put to the tastebud test by customers and team members.
At the latest taste panel in Sale, a range of ‘on trend’ items was carefully
considered and commented on by eight customers and two team members
from each region, pictured waiting to give their verdict on the next dish. Their
views will help to decide what will make it on to the menu, and among the
favourites were pizzas and puds.
Come Dine With ... Catford’s John
Mecca Catford host John Frontera
can be seen showing a different side
to his hosting skills in the current
series of Channel 4’s hit TV show
Come Dine With Me.
He was ‘volunteered’ to apply for
the programme by his stepdaughter,
Filiz, because she really rates his
cooking. Although reluctant, John
eventually agreed for his name to
go forward and was amazed when
a camera crew came calling to audition
him. He was even more astounded
when he was selected from more than
450 applicants in the South East.
Each episode centres around a group
of strangers competing for the title
of ultimate dinner party host, with
£1,000 on the table for the winner.
We can’t say how John got on or what
he cooked because the show in which
he features hadn’t aired before Wow!
went to press, but we can say he
thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It was hard work and took a long
time to film,” he said. “It was a real
eye-opener to see what happens behind
the scenes and my fellow guests were
really nice people. I’m looking forward
to seeing the result!”
Jo hn ’s cu lin ary
skills will be
ai red on th e
sm all scree n.
people
Keep up to date
with our blog
The Mecca blog is the place to find
all the best news about the fun and
exciting things going on in and around
Mecca, our thoughts and musings
about the wider entertainment
world and lifestyle posts covering
all sorts of enjoyable topics.
It’s more than a great place to
showcase the fantastic things we get
up to at Mecca, talk about our lucky
winners and prove to our customers
we don’t just care about getting
them to play bingo. The blog helps
us increase our Google rankings
and is a great way to differentiate
us from our competitors.
We’re always looking for new
things to add to it and would love to
have your input, from commenting on
posts and adding your thoughts and
opinions to the discussion to sending
us ideas for stories and events that
you would like to see us cover.
If you have an idea for
something for us to cover on the
blog please email laura.johnson@
rankinteractive.com with the details,
no matter how rough they are, and
we’ll work it out together.
Don’t forget
our latest app
Don’t forget to tell
all your customers
about the new
Android app from
Mecca which will
give them the same
fantastic experience
that they have in their
mobile browser.
The new app launched in June and
is downloadable from the website. It
means that Mecca customers have
full access to the full suite of Virtue
Fusion bingo games, including 90
ball, 80 ball and 75 ball variants plus
mini side-games Clover Rollover
and Dynamite Digger among
others, so they can play more on
their Android smartphones.
To download the latest app, text
‘Android Bingo’ to 64446 or visit
meccabingo.com
August 2014 • Issue 35 WOW! 15