Our speaker this evening was Dr. Margaret Lobo

Dr. Margaret & Walter Lobo founded The Otakar Kraus Music Trust (OKMT) in 1991 by. Their aim was to provide subsidised music therapy for people of all ages who have physical, psychological, behavioural and emotional difficulties, in order to improve their wellbeing and quality of life through creative and participatory music making, enabling them to reach their potential.  
They started the charity working from a purpose built music therapy studio (which they funded) at the back of their house in Twickenham and now have just celebrated their 27th Anniversary. Through sheer hard work and dedication they have set up a unique facility to provided refuge and hope for families and individuals with much needed help and where in many cases the state facilities were unable to offer further support. The OKMT currently employ 7 music therapists, all hold a Master’s Degree in Music Therapy and are members of the BAMT (British Association for Music Therapy) and HCPC (Health Care Professional Council).  They currently run 250 sessions a week for individuals and groups.  Otakar Kraus Trust operates a published health and safety policy and a child protection policy.
The trust has had one of the lowest operating costs and every penny raised by the trust is accountable and wisely spent under the management of Walter Lobo- who was a qualified accountant.  Both Walter and Margaret offered all their administration and operational work of the Trust free of charge. Please refer to the web site for further information.  https://www.okmtrust.co.uk/
Both Margaret and Walter’s work did not stop with providing facilities in South West London but they also set up The Music Therapy Centre in India and Nepal.  As well as providing valuable music therapy facilities the Centre in Delhi provides certified training facilities for Indian & Nepalese music therapists.   http://themusictherapytrust.com.

Sadly Walter passed away on the 8th of March after a short period of bad health. He has left the OKMT on a very sound footing and his last wish was to put TMTT on a similar footing. Walter was awarded the much cherished Paul Harris Rotary award for his amazing services for his years of unselfish service to the local community and for his work in India and Nepal.

A Special Memorial Dinner in memory of the late Walter Lobo will be held on Tuesday 19th June at The Fulwell Golf Club.

Margaret brought a video about the Music Therapy Trust with her this evening. It can be seen here:-