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May 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 55Club of the Month: Bosom Pals MKIf you have experienced breast cancer and you%u2019re from the Milton Keynes area, which includes Olney and Newport Pagnell, here is a group off ering friendship and support.Bosom Pals MK was established in 1991 by two breast cancer patients with the assistance of a breast care nurse from Milton Keynes University Hospital.The group is entirely volunteer-run and off ers a range of services to support individuals aff ected by breast cancer.Members of the group know how it feels to be aff ected by this cancer, they know the concerns that people will have and they can advise on what to expect. Nobody needs to feel alone, say the group, whether you are going through treatment now or have in the past. The group is there to listen.They off er both telephone support and one to one help and members meet regularly in various venues, providing a space for members to connect, share experiences and receive support.In addition, there are other events during the year, such as an annual Gala Dinner in October, a catch up in the summer, visits to the theatre and pantomime.To get in touch, go to the group website: https://bosompalsmk.co.uk, or you can email on: info@bosompalsmk.co.uk.Newport Pagnell SwiftsLook up in the sky and you might hear a swift screaming high above, having fl own from Africa for the breeding season, says expert Paul Dubery.Those of us old enough might realise %u2018there aren%u2019t as many as there used to be%u2019 since the UK population has plummeted by over 50% in the past 20 years or so. It%u2019s partly because we%u2019ve become so tidy with house renovations that we inadvertently rob them of the cracks and crevices that they rely on to provide nest sites. This is easily compensated by installing an artifi cial nest box out of the sun on your north- or east-facing walls up under the gutter line (we can recommend installers who charge only a nominal fee). Another factor is the drastic reduction in airborne insects that they rely on to feed themselves and their chicks %u2013 please plant as many fl owering plants as possible and don%u2019t use insecticides.RSPB%u2019s Swiftmapper website/app is used to log sightings of swifts and their nest sites, whether natural or artifi cial. In Newport Pagnell there are more than 20 nestboxes installed so far and quite a few sightings of %u2018screaming parties%u2019 which is an excellent indicator of nearby breeding. Our Facebook group %u2018Newport Pagnell Swifts%u2019 now has well over 100 members so please join and follow our sightings %u2013 information and advice is always available there or by emailing swsm@btinternet.com.The regular meetings each month are:1st Tuesday of the month %u2013 7pm Age UK, Peartree Bridge MK6 3EB, Milton Keynes. Here they often have speakers on a variety of topics or just have a chat over a drink and cake. Next meeting is 6th May 2025.1st Friday of the month %u2013 2pm Community Room at Morrisons, Westcroft, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DD. Next meeting is 9th May 2025.2nd Tuesday of the month %u2013 2.30pm social zoom meeting. Next meeting is 13th May 20253rd Tuesday of the month %u2013 2pm %u2018The Place to Eat%u2019, John Lewis, CMK, MK9 3EP. Meet for a catch up and chat over a drink and cake. Next meeting is 20th May 2025.