People Travelled — Because It Still Matters

Although the Lunch Club is based in Croydon, the room told a wider story.

I chatted to people who had travelled from Kent, Harrow, Redhill and Romford. Some had been on the move for more than two hours — and they are in their seventies. That kind of journey isn’t casual.

It reminded me of how things used to be. Deaf people have always travelled for connection — not because it was convenient, but because it mattered. When there is a space where conversation flows naturally in British Sign Language, distance becomes secondary.

What struck me wasn’t only the official figure of 94 Deaf community members aged over 55. It was the willingness behind it. People chose to make the effort.

There was also a visible show of support from senior leadership. Founder Jonny Nelson, Chair Herbert Klein, and Head of Community Steven Wynne were present throughout. Their backing felt steady rather than performative — a sign that this new Lunch Club is being taken seriously.

There’s often a suggestion that Deaf community spaces are fading, that the culture itself is weakening. Sitting in that room brought back a different feeling — one of unity and quiet pride in our culture and in BSL.

At one point I stood back and simply watched. From the corner of the room, the movement of hands felt almost like waves across the space — conversations rising, overlapping, carrying from one table to another. Even first-time attendees seemed quickly absorbed into it.

What I saw was something steady and familiar — the instinct to gather, to share stories, and to feel at ease.

It was a feeling I had taken for granted twenty years ago - I am part of the Deaf Community.

It was good to experience it again.

The Atmosphere

There was a natural ease in the room.

It wasn’t loud for the sake of it, nor overly structured. Conversations rose and fell in waves. People leaned in across tables. Hands moved constantly. Faces lit up in recognition.

What stood out to me was how quickly people seemed to settle. Long-standing members greeted one another as if no time had passed. Newcomers didn’t look like outsiders for long.

There is something very particular about a Deaf space that feels comfortable. It’s difficult to describe unless you’ve experienced it — that sense of not having to adjust yourself, of simply being.

That feeling was present throughout the afternoon.

The arrival of the civic Mayor of Croydon shifted the room, but not in the way you might expect.

There was a pause — a flicker of surprise — and then something more interesting happened.

He didn’t hover at the edge of the room. He didn’t restrict himself to formal greetings. He moved between tables, took time with people, and held short conversations in British Sign Language.

He explained that he had previously worked alongside four Deaf colleagues and had picked up BSL during that time. With a Deaf neighbour as well, he continues to practise.

It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t theatrical. It was simply an effort to communicate directly.

Watching members respond to that was telling. The interaction felt mutual, not symbolic. It was a small moment, but it carried weight.

Five star rating

Looking back on the afternoon, what stays with me isn’t just the number.

Ninety-four attendees on a launch day is strong. But numbers alone don’t explain the atmosphere.

What felt significant was the intention behind it — people travelling, staying, signing, lingering rather than leaving quickly.

There was no sense of nostalgia or forced revival. It didn’t feel like recreating something from the past. It felt present.

If community spaces truly were fading, I don’t think that room would have looked the way it did.

This wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t overstated.

It was steady, real, and quietly encouraging. Maybe this is just the start…

— Mark Nelson


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