On Monday, 26th January 2026, Willy Gilder was elected as the new Chairperson of Meeting Centres Scotland. 

I’m honoured and delighted to take over as Chair of Meeting Centres Scotland. I do this in memory of my friend the late Ron Coleman who so sadly passed away in October.

I’m aged 72, and have lived for most of my life in Northampton where I worked for BBC Local Radio as a journalist. But after a spell of ill health I retired and decided to move to be nearer family. I have two sons, one who was based in Edinburgh (though he’s now a Fifer) and one who lives in Finland. So I moved North of the Border as Helsinki is too far, and too cold.

Five years ago I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after several brain scans and an unpleasant lumbar puncture. But I don’t have memory loss and my disease hasn’t progressed in a typical way. instead I have eyesight issues. Recently I’ve been told that the original diagnosis is now seen as unsafe, as results from the lumbar puncture weren’t clear cut – so now I’m starting the whole dementia diagnosis process over again from scratch. Which is – to put it mildly – aggravating.

I feel strongly that dementia is treated as a second class disease. We have a system in which us folk with brain disease don’t get the same kind of help and support that some other patients benefit from. A system where diagnosis can be a good experience – or can turn out to be fraught. And a system that too easily ignores us.

But there are rays of hope! Meeting Centres are beacons of light for people in the earlier stages of illness. Not just because of providing meaningful activity but also – and crucially – offering tea and sympathy. A place where there are others with similar conditions happy to chat and laugh or cry together.

Personally I’m involved with the Heart of Newhaven Meeting Centre here in Edinburgh. This is my dementia family. A blended family that meets together to sing songs, make art, play boccia, drink tea and blether. A happy place that feels like home.

My own hobby is art. From childhood I’ve drawn and painted pictures – but I lost this skill when I first got brain disease. I managed to re-engage with drawing through listening to the music I grew up with – mainly the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. I’ve since become a big fan of Playlist For Life, and would urge everyone to draw up their own personal playlist. I know just how powerful a medicine music can be.

My hope for the coming year is that we see Meeting Centres thrive throughout Scotland. We need those beacons to shine out brightly. I only hope I can help with that. I’d love to come and see your Centre in action, and maybe draw what you’re getting up to. I take my tea with milk, and no sugar.