ABBEYFIELD GLOUCESTERSHIRE NEWS - Time flies when you're a dedicated Board Member!
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Spring 2021
ABBEYFIELD
GLOUCESTERSHIRE NEWS
Time flies when you’re a dedicated Board Member!
Margaret Winterbourne receiving her Royal Patrons Award from Brenda Dean ex President
of The Abbeyfield Society
High quality independent living for older people
Follow in Gloucestershire
Margaret’s story overleaf …….
More than 40 years have zipped past for Margaret Winterbourne. Margaret worked for GCHQ where she met Peter Little who introduced her to Abbeyfield. He explained that elderly people of both sexes were living together and being looked after. Peter asked Margaret to become a volunteer, who would visit the house and chat with the residents. Her role became filled with more activities such as painting and visiting individual residents, getting to know them and helping them with any financial concerns. She accepted the voluntary role. Margaret helped with the purchase of Heathercroft and also Trigg House in Cheltenham. Margaret, Jenny, and Anne spent many nights sleeping at Trigg House, providing 24-hour cover in order that the staff could go off duty. The committee took it in turns to help. In 2008 Trigg House was sold and the proceeds used to enlarge Heathercroft, which was completed in June 2009. The residents moved to temporary housing during this period and the Committee continued to visit them. Everyone knew and liked Margaret because she could answer any question regarding the residents and their needs. In September 2012 Margaret was awarded a Royal Patrons Award for her long service. It was a great surprise for Margaret. His Royal Highness HRH the Prince of Wales approves nominations for those who had made significant contributions to the mission and work of the Abbeyfield Society. Margaret played an important part in helping with the merger of the Cheltenham, Prestbury, Cirencester and Nailsworth houses in 2012 to become the Abbeyfield Gloucestershire Society. She has worked tirelessly whether involving expenditure, dismissals, residents, general business, or responsibilities and has always spoken firmly but given issues considerable thought before speaking. Her life has been dedicated to giving hours of her time to Abbeyfield residents. Margaret is now giving much time to her own mother, who recently celebrated her 100 th birthday. As a result, she is unable to give hours of time to Abbeyfield and has retired as a Board Member. We would like to thank Margaret for her years of commitment to the residents, staff and the Board of Abbeyfield Gloucestershire. Come back and visit any time. Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Good wishes and thanks from Leanne Dear All, As I write it’s a beautiful sunny wintry day - a real tonic for the soul during these difficult times. As our teams and yourselves continue to do all you can to keep our houses as safe as possible from the virus, it is with much hope that I report nearly all residents have now received first vaccinations - thank you! I am also delighted to welcome Stacey and Ian to the staff team. Many of you will have met them already, but we will try and tempt them to provide a photo for your next edition! I also want to say an enormous thank you for taking part in the Resident Experience Survey last year. I am sorry for the delay, but your feedback was incredibly valuable and we will be following up and communicating very soon. Take good care, Leanne National Baking Week! Delicious homemade cinnamon and apple cake made by Sue at our Prestbury House. Thank you, Little Betty, for helping to serve this delicious pudding. Welcome to our Family Despite the COVID-19 pandemic we have been delighted to welcome new residents to our houses. Prestbury House Cirencester House Mr Ken Mitchell Mr Kay Cambridge Mr Dave Sheppard Mr John Gulliford Mrs Mary Tristram Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Christmas is all about creating memories
Thank you to the children of St Mary’s Primary School, Berkhampstead School,
Cheltenham College Preparatory School and Chesterton Primary School for their
lovely Christmas drawings and amazing craft work. They have been admired by
all our residents.
An early Christmas
lunch at our
Cheltenham house
followed by watching
a DVD of the children
of Berkhampstead
School in their nativity
play
Artwork courtesy of St
Mary’s Primary School
Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Community Engagement Award Our Cirencester house won the Abbeyfield Society Community Engagement Award for enlisting the help of the nearby Chesterton Primary School with the pupils donating these drawings for their window. Wonderful artwork from St Mary’s Primary School in Prestbury Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
We would like to share with you a wonderful poem written by one of our residents
about a fellow resident, Betty Bromage. It’s so lovely to see that we have such
talented residents living in our Abbeyfield houses.
A Tribute to Betty
I want to pay homage For those in dire need
To Elizabeth Bromage She was recently lowered
Known to us as Betty Down the Eagle Star
She’s over ninety years old A building so high
But she’s brave and she’s bold It can be seen from afar
And nothing can frighten our Betty We wish you well Betty
She has flown through the air In all that you do
On the wing of a plane For there can’t be many people
Not just once but again and again As brave as you
She has travelled by zip wire
At a phenomenal speed
All to raise money Written by a fellow resident
Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Birthdays, birthdays …
Bruce is 98!
We may not be able to hold
big parties, but we can still
give our residents big cards!
Happy 98th birthday Bruce!
When Bruce was asked what
is the secret to reaching the
grand age of 98, he said “It is
the fact that when I was 58 I
had a very bad accident and
survived by a miracle - I got a
40-year extension and I am
very much looking forward
to reaching 100”.
Many thanks to Kate
Browning for creating the
card.
Happy birthday to
Jean who celebrated
her birthday in
January with the
other Cheltenham
house residents and
our lovely member of
staff, Ally
Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Birthdays, birthdays … Jean who lives in our Cirencester house celebrated her 91 st birthday in September. Everyone had a lovely afternoon chatting over tea and birthday cake. Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Winter Fun Rain and cold certainly don’t stop play across our Abbeyfield houses. Have you played Rummikub? It is one of the resident's favourite games at the Cheltenham house. The game brings people together and keeps your mind active! Our ladies at our Cheltenham house are always adapting to the current circumstances, whilst still having fun. Here they are enjoying a game of Bingo with one of our lovely members of staff, Ally. Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.com
Supporting Caring for Communities and People
(CCP) Hamper Scamper Appeal
This year, we supported CCP’s Charity Hamper Scamper Appeal – helping to bring the
spirit of Christmas and give hope to vulnerable people in their local community.
We were lucky enough to receive £750 from ’Ìn This Together’ – Community Matters Fund
from Western Power Distribution to help CCP in their mission.
Nikki Browning, said “We were
excited to be working with CCP and
support their Hamper Scamper
appeal. They kindly provided a
shopping list for us of essential
items along with some ‘nice-to-
haves’ which enabled us to fill 34
boxes for older people in the local
area”.
Nikki Browning commented that “Our residents
in our houses know how disheartening and
distressing it can be to feel so lonely and
isolated, especially over the festive period. This
has only been compounded by the coronavirus
pandemic and they feel passionately about
wanting to help those less fortunate than
themselves. It is our hope that the Abbeyfield
contribution will make a difference and help the
recipients of our hampers to feel assured,
knowing that there are others who care about
them nearby”.
Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.comAnyone for scones?
Lovely to see one of our residents, Little Betty, making cheese scones for tea.
Betty – they look amazing!
We are hungry for your feedback!
Why not let us know what you have enjoyed so far and what you’d like
to see in the future editions. Please share your photos, tips and stories
by emailing nikki.browning@abbeyfieldglos.org.uk
Keep safe and stay well
Registered Charity No 220611
Call 07710 818721 or visit www. gloucestershire.abbeyfield.comYou can also read
