Post by JEM on Dec 11, 2007 23:50:51 GMT
SILVER THREADS Part 2
Read 31 times before being moved to this new board
SO WE ROLLED INTO THE EIGHTIES
##################################
In 1980 in April a celebration was held of the Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs Saines. Also that year the road was resurfaced. (see Albums page 155). A party was held marking the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother. A presentation was made to Mrs Hudson the retiring Deputy Warden and to Dr Sills on the occasion of his marriage.
Molly Orrow came as Deputy Warden with her husband Dave and her son Graeme. There were coach outings to Wells and to Milton Keynes. In June £57 raised by a Whist
Drive was donated to the Saffron Walden Accident Group to help our doctors who race to the aid of motorway accident victims.
On July 29th 1981 Four Acres shared in the national euphoria in celebration of the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, and his bride the Princess Diana Flats, gardens, and lawns were festooned with flags and bunting , while a Guards Band played in the resident’s parking lot layby to a combined audience of residents of Four Acres and Stanley Wilson Lodge having tea on the Lodge terrace. The Mayor visited the celebration
To commemorate the occasion the Four Acres Committee presented each resident with one of the special minted Crown coins and in the The Albums were placed the letters and notes of response from all the residents.
Mrs Ruby Emery (93) of flat 33 opened the new Methodist Church Hall Extension, and Baptist Minister Revd Dennis Horwood began regular monthly services at the Common Room Some residents held whist and bridge parties in their flats, while Ethel Swan at Number 28 held Prayer & Bible Study Meetings in hers.
In 1982 residents visited the Cabaret Club at Newmarket for a Lunch. Ruby Emery died.
Feb.1983. Ken Spall died.
On May 26th 1983 we celebrated the Ruby wedding of Mr & Mrs Andy Rulton.
During the summer of 1983 a visit was paid to Glazenwood Gardens. The great occasion of that year was the Retirement Party for Nora Cox on her retirement as Warden. It included a Presentation being made to Nora and the cutting of a beautiful cake. Counc. Russell Green brought along his group The Entertainers who over many years have entertained residents with music song and much good humour, though sometimes for some people a little too coarse. Russell’s local dialect sketches were most amusing and along with some of their dance routines silence anything we get on TV, for their humour and costumes. (Dustbin liners on one occasion)
Nora retired to a ground flat on site and so ended a long successful chapter.. Worship services ceased following the retirement of Dennis Horwood in 1982 and his premature death in 1983. The “old” committee held together until the new Warden was appointed and then retired. The Treasurer handing over a healthy balance in the Fund of £333.
THE COMMON ROOM FUND
########################
At this point we may pause in the chronological story and consider the important role of the Common Room Fund, how it was gathered together and how it was used. Carefully and responsibly kept accounts exist from 1979 onwards and there are annual balance sheets back to 1971.
A great deal of income came from the profits of playing Bingo. There were also Jumble Sales, Coffee Mornings, Christmas Bazaars The Sale of Handmade toys, Tombola, Raffles, proceeds from whist Drives, donations from residents and supporters. A Coin collection was made into a huge great glass bottle and various socials and outings produced some surplus profits,
All of which underlines the debt of gratitude owed to Nora Cox, and the Committee for their valiant efforts, including Doreen Culver the Secretary and Eileen Spall, the Treasurer.
Throughout the years gifts of butter were given to residents at Christmas paid for from the funds, and 125g packets of 99 Tea donated by the Co-op. Cards and flowers were sent to residents in hospital, or for special birthdays. Christmas gifts were presented to visiting doctors who held surgery in the Common Room. Dustmen have been tipped and carol singers rewarded. Residents have benefited from a Common Room library and gifts of photographs for the Archive Albums, some photo albums from Jim Taylor, and slides from George Moore, Fred Cox, and John Maddams.
The FUND has paid for, buying the dart board. Christmas decorations, bingo tickets, regular tuning of pianos, lamp shades, laundry of table cloths, and putting new tyres on the wheel chair.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FABRIC
#############################
Across the years the Council ( from 1974 Uttlesford District ) have improved the property and facilities with gas fired central heating, a communal TV Aerial, some limited double glazing, peep holes in doors, chain bolts, stair rails, bathroom rails, front doorway rails, ramps, housing for motorised chairs and pathways to them, carpet squares and later carpeting for the Common Room, electric cookers, carpeted hall ways and stairways, fire blankets for kitchens, electrically operated smoke detectors, an intercom system linked to the Warden or Central Control. Hallways have modern ring lights and as with windows are. regularly cleaned.
In 1988 the District Council had flats and bungalows rewired and later the County Council upgraded Stanley Wilson Lodge.
Some flats have bird tables or bird boxes.
There is a marked absence of fire extinguishers and flats have only 1 external door. First floor flats have balconies, most of which have tubs, window boxes, and some have hanging baskets, all reflecting individual thought and inspiration. Stort Valley Gideons have supplied a Bible & 2 Large Print New Testaments to the Common Room.
CHANGES AT THE HELM
#######################
In 1984 with the arrival of the New Warden, Mrs Ethel Griffiths, and her zoo, cats, dogs, and budgies, a new Committee was needed to help. A meeting of Residents on March 22nd
1984 elected Andy Rulton as Chairman Peter Orrow as Secretary & John Maddams as Treasurer, assisted by Mrs Bea Howard, Miss Mary Smith and Miss Kathleen Emery
At their first meeting on March 29th Andy resigned from being Chairman for health reasons but remained on the committee and John Maddams was elected as Chairman.
The new committee determined to seek re-election annually by ballot of the residents using a two stage system seeking nominations in January and electing by ballot in March.. Annual accounts were to be published to the residents and at regular intervals the FOUR ACRES NEWS (FAN) was to be published.
Later residents who served on this committee included Mrs Molly Orrow, Mr Fred Drane, Mr George Sutton, Mr Jim Downham, Mr Bob Smith, Mrs Alice Sandford, Mrs Dot Loveday, Mrs Lillian Skillings , Mrs Wyn Buntins, Mr Jim Taylor, and Mrs Ellen Archer. When the Orrow’s moved to Dunmow, Dot Loveday then of No 19, took on the role of Secretary until 1988.
We presented a glass decanter to Mr & Mrs Liston , retiring Wardens of the Lodge. A Coffee morning was held on the May Day Bank Holiday. We held a Beetle Drive and organised a visit to Maldon
MONTHLY SERVICES RESUMED
###################
From 1984 monthly services were resumed by Brian Tucker the Baptist Minister who arranged for the Council of Churches to take charge of the operation with a different Church congregation taking it each month usually on the last Friday. Attended by 25-30 people. The offering collected at the services was devoted to the Help the Aged project to support grannies overseas and we gave £52 a year to sponsor a widow in Delhi, India, Mrs Ganga Devi.
MORE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
#######################
We held an Autumn Fayre. At one of the Evening Socials Eileen Spall played her keyboard for us while Warden Ethel Griffiths dressed up as a fairy. We decorated up and held a special social to mark the birth of Harry, Prince of Wales and sent a Greeting Card to the Palace and received a reply. John Maddams presented one of his regular slide shows entitled “ROOTS”.
A presentation was made to Jim Taylor for 9 years as Common Room Cleaner-Caretaker. New Christmas Decorations were bought for the Christmas Party. Mid-week, mid-morning Coffee Breaks were held as an opportunity to get together for a chat. Wool squares were knitted for a blanket for Oxfam. A collection was made to help Ethiopian Famine Sufferers.. we celebrated the Ruby Wedding of Mr & Mrs Kobleszko of one of the bungalows. We welcomed Mrs Deban as our new Deputy Warden.
In 1985 we said as we did each Spring “The ducks are back “as for years before, and since, a pair of ducks came to Four Acres, and occasionally additional suitors who were soon seen off, and very occasionally an additional pair. They were encouraged by Eileen Pettit, feeding them from her window. That year however they were harassed and chased off by some schoolchildren. As a result the R A Butler School head ran a project on them and letters and drawings from the children were given to us and added to our albums
Councillor Peter Paget donated us a piano for the lounge to replace the old one. which had died. Jack Turnbull supplied his trailer to transport it and members of the Lions moved it to us.
« Last Edit: Nov 29, 2005, 9:37pm by JEM » Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JEM
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS AND TRUE CHRISTIANITY TODAY?
access:- www.rejesus.co.uk
Don’t be afraid [ add your name here ] you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace. Take heart and be strong” God’s promise to Daniel and to us all”
Found In the Bible, book of Daniel chapter 10 v 19 New Living Translation
JEM
Administrator
member is online
Joined: Nov 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 227
Re: SILVER THREADS Part 2 1980 - 1989
« Reply #1 on Nov 29, 2005, 9:33pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORWARD DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE EIGHTIES
###################################
Early in 1985 the Common Room lounge was closed for redecoration and new curtains were hung and we re-opened it with a social. A successful Spring Fayre was held at Easter. Dot Loveday organised a series of evening mystery tours by a coach touring the villages and stopping at a local inn for refreshments. Dot, and Alice Sandford visited residents selling tickets for monthly meat raffles with a £2 prize of a joint of beef, pork or a chicken.
In September the Saffron Walden & District Military Band played on the Central Garden Patio during our Barbecue. A visit to Bury St Edmunds was much enjoyed. Russell Green and the Entertainers came to amuse and inspire us at our Sausage & Mash Supper. Residents supported outings organised by Newcroft and John Dane Player Court and their residents supported ours. A successful Autumn Sale was held. Brownies came to entertain us at Christmas. So did children from R A Butler School. we donated a book to their school library.
During Mrs Griffith’s term as Warden good relations were developed with local Primary schools, the High School and Bell School of Languages. Groups of students visited us on teaching training visits and some visited residents in their home. Parties of children came to entertain us.
Ethel Griffiths gave lectures on “The care of the elderly” to young people, and a First Aid course to Guides. Katherine Semar Infants School children brought their harvest gifts for us as did the children of R A Butler School. Residents attended parties at the High School organised by students there, and at the Town Hall and at Carver Barracks. Some also visited plays and festivals at local schools. John Maddams was appointed Four Acres Archivist in charge of the Albums.
During this period more ground floor residents developed flower beds either side of their. French windows or planted additional roses or flowering plants or clumps of bulbs in the “official” flower beds. Others planted bulbs on lawns.
In one great storm years ago one of the line of cedars between Farmadine and Four Acres was blown down just missing the authors bedroom and demolishing the garden shed at No 35. In one of the great summer droughts of the 1970’s ’ the weeping willow in the Lodge grounds must have cried itself to death, it died of dehydration. In the great storm of 1987 one tree on the central garden was partly demolished and had to be felled, and replaced.
Many residents have helped one another. Fred Drane , a former Fire Service officer retired here, frequently conveyed residents to out patient clinics in his car and there was our “paper” boy “young” Jim Taylor.
The Committee discussed and took action on residents complaints and suggestions raising matters such as blocked and damaged guttering, aerials bonfires, noisy neighbours, noisy revellers, vandalism, heating, litter, heap removal, rats, wasps, and ants with local authorities and organisations. Mark you the ants were here long before Four Acres and 37 years on they are still a summer nuisance in some ground floor flats and some are clever mountaineers and get into first floor too.
In 1986 residents between them raised £100 to buy 40 large print hymn books for the services dedicated to the memory of Dr Brouett and 23 relatives and friends of residents. Later a Methodist Hymn Book Music edition was donated in memory of Mrs Ethel Savill who frequently played the piano for our services.
At Nora Cox’s suggestion a Hobbies Exhibition was held featuring a wide range of interesting collections and handicrafts of residents.
A number of residents sponsored the Chairman in his Mini-marathon run in which his Boys’ Brigade Company team raised over £100 for SWAG. [ Saffron Walden Accident Group, which kept local doctors available as medics for motorway accidents]
A successful darts match was held in 1986 and an outing to Felixstowe. Some residents joined an evening tour of Norfolk with Newcroft and we had another mystery tour. Dress Shows and seasonal dress sales were introduced at the Common Room. A colour illustrated history of Four Acres Community was put in the Town’s Time Capsule buried in the Castle Grounds for the citizens of AD 2236 to dig up.
Jean Gumbrell, the local social history author, with thingy Harding as photographer visited Four Acres for their popular social history series in the Saffron Walden Weekly News entitled “Down your Street” parts of which later became a trilogy of books. They published interviews here of Eileen Pettit, Ethel Griffiths, Reuben Webb, Charlie Bacon, Joe Kobleszko, Dorothy Holttum, Dorothy Dixon, Rosie Barham. John and Alice Maddams, Elsie Bacon, and Lillian Skillings and published pictures from our albums. These press cuttings were also added to our albums.
David Wilson, Ethel’s grandson with friends produced “THE PEOPLE’S MONTHLY” magazine for some months and we allowed this to be freely distributed on site with Four Acres News embedded in it. Previously we had encouraged the free distribution of “YOURS” the paper for the elderly which eventually went commercial and sells on the bookstalls.
Video films were introduced to our socials and we had a coach visit to the Cotswolds. A knitted blanket was raffled in support of Help the Aged. St Mary’s Choristers visited at Christmas. £100 was raised for Cancer Research.
1987 arrived and there was another successful Spring Sale at Easter raising £123 and another visit from Money Spinners. During this year FAN published a number of poems by the resident poet Ted Howard who later in the year moved to Rickling. It was hoped that the Chiropody Service would become based at Four Acres and someone would reorganise window cleaning, but neither occurred.
During the year the Committee became much depleted as Fred Drane, George Sutton. Bob Smith, and Jim Downham retired, Bea Howard moved and Lillian Skillings died. Another coach visit to Felixstowe was well supported as were 2 good mystery tours. Mr Cliff Stacey brought his excellent local slides one evening following a salad tea, and on another evening John Maddams presented a slides tour of 16 countries.
The Methodist Guitar Group visited at Easter. Nora Cox ran another successful Whist Drive in aid of Cancer Research. The Darby & Joan Club visited Eastbourne.
£50 was collected and used to present Ethel Griffiths with some garden furniture when she retired and went to live initially at Wimbish. The Committee continued to operate and the site was well served by the team of Mobile Wardens, Ruth Fulton from Reynolds Court Newport, Miriam Hardwick from Walden Place, Annis Cove from John Dane Player Court and Sheila Peters from Newcroft. All led by Jack and Lynne Pitman. At a Fish & Chip supper Cliff Stacey presented another lively evening of slides of “Old Walden”, raising many questions and comments.
JOAN HOADLEY’S YEARS BEGIN
##############################
In the autumn Mrs Joan H Hoadley was welcomed as Four Acres Fourth Warden accompanied by her husband David, and Bonnie their alsation puppy. Joan with a keen interest in Guiding established a Ranger Guide unit meeting at the Common Room and the girls helped in some of the socials and gave £20 from their fund raising sale. The Christmas Party was again a great success. The Supper Service provide the refreshments and John and Gordon with accordion and drums led lively singsongs.
During the year several residents died and in their memory gifts were contributed to Cancer Research, the British Diabetes Association, and the British Heart Foundation. Dot Loveday injured her leg as a result of a fall while taking a plant as a thank you gift to Sheila Peters. John Ellis put on a Musical evening in aid if the British Red Cross. He also led a Carol Singing evening in support of the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
In January 1988 Russell Green and the Entertainers visited the Winter social evening. The
St Valentines Eve Social included ‘taters and cheese’ and a hilarious darts match. The Chairman wrote “SILVER THREADS” (from the line of a song “Silver threads among the gold”) the history of Four Acres to commemorate Four Acres Silver Jubilee which was due to occur on July 9th. Copies were distributed freely to all residents and number of other friends, and thereafter to all new residents moving in, until we ran out of copies in 1997.
19 residents were nominated for a new committee but only 5 were willing to serve and circumstances caused them to feel a sense of a lack of support and that it was a time to wind up so they resigned. The last event of the retiring committee was a St Patrick’s Social entertained by John Ellis and Company. It was agreed that Services and Bingo Sessions would continue and that the Fund should be transferred to the care of the Council. They replied by appointing Mr A Hay as Co-Trustee, with John Maddams as Treasurer and Archivist.
In September 1988 the cavity walls of all the homes were filled with foam to reduce heat loss John Ellis and the Entertainers held a Social raising more money for the British Red Cross. In December 1988 a new Committee was formed to work with Joan Hoadley, comprising Nora Cox, May Moore, Mrs Bowers, and Eileen Spall who resumed as Treasurer.
In Feb 1989 the new Committee held a Rummage Sale in partnership with 2 other groups dividing the spoils. The 40th Birthday of Kath Bateman was celebrated in April. Quickly followed by Stan Mallyon’s 90th birthday. Cliff Stacey donated £100 which was used to pay the Communal T V Licence, which is levied at £5 per household. Gerry and Mary Elsom arrived from Audley End to No.34 with 9 stone gnomes and beautified the end block with frontal flower beds. A policy that continues to spread, as does the planting of bulbs in the rose beds, and tubs and hanging baskets on balconies and tubs in doorways to the blocks.
During the Summer residents joined in various coach tours with their friends at Newcroft and John Dane Player Court. The local Boys’ Brigade Battalion Parade paraded to church from here. Workman installed new lockable doors on landing sheds and cupboards and fireproof doors to flats. Jim Taylor’s 80th Birthday was observed. Katherine Semar Infant’s School distributed Harvest produce to residents.
A joint Christmas Party was held with and at Stanley Wilson Lodge. As the Cambridge & District Co-operative Society could no longer afford to supply further packets of tea free as Christmas gifts, these were paid for from the Fund, but it was no longer possible to distribute butter as well.
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JEM
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS AND TRUE CHRISTIANITY TODAY?
access:- www.rejesus.co.uk
Don’t be afraid [ add your name here ] you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace. Take heart and be strong” God’s promise to Daniel and to us all”
Found In the Bible, book of Daniel chapter 10 v 19 New Living Translation
Read 31 times before being moved to this new board
SO WE ROLLED INTO THE EIGHTIES
##################################
In 1980 in April a celebration was held of the Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs Saines. Also that year the road was resurfaced. (see Albums page 155). A party was held marking the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother. A presentation was made to Mrs Hudson the retiring Deputy Warden and to Dr Sills on the occasion of his marriage.
Molly Orrow came as Deputy Warden with her husband Dave and her son Graeme. There were coach outings to Wells and to Milton Keynes. In June £57 raised by a Whist
Drive was donated to the Saffron Walden Accident Group to help our doctors who race to the aid of motorway accident victims.
On July 29th 1981 Four Acres shared in the national euphoria in celebration of the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, and his bride the Princess Diana Flats, gardens, and lawns were festooned with flags and bunting , while a Guards Band played in the resident’s parking lot layby to a combined audience of residents of Four Acres and Stanley Wilson Lodge having tea on the Lodge terrace. The Mayor visited the celebration
To commemorate the occasion the Four Acres Committee presented each resident with one of the special minted Crown coins and in the The Albums were placed the letters and notes of response from all the residents.
Mrs Ruby Emery (93) of flat 33 opened the new Methodist Church Hall Extension, and Baptist Minister Revd Dennis Horwood began regular monthly services at the Common Room Some residents held whist and bridge parties in their flats, while Ethel Swan at Number 28 held Prayer & Bible Study Meetings in hers.
In 1982 residents visited the Cabaret Club at Newmarket for a Lunch. Ruby Emery died.
Feb.1983. Ken Spall died.
On May 26th 1983 we celebrated the Ruby wedding of Mr & Mrs Andy Rulton.
During the summer of 1983 a visit was paid to Glazenwood Gardens. The great occasion of that year was the Retirement Party for Nora Cox on her retirement as Warden. It included a Presentation being made to Nora and the cutting of a beautiful cake. Counc. Russell Green brought along his group The Entertainers who over many years have entertained residents with music song and much good humour, though sometimes for some people a little too coarse. Russell’s local dialect sketches were most amusing and along with some of their dance routines silence anything we get on TV, for their humour and costumes. (Dustbin liners on one occasion)
Nora retired to a ground flat on site and so ended a long successful chapter.. Worship services ceased following the retirement of Dennis Horwood in 1982 and his premature death in 1983. The “old” committee held together until the new Warden was appointed and then retired. The Treasurer handing over a healthy balance in the Fund of £333.
THE COMMON ROOM FUND
########################
At this point we may pause in the chronological story and consider the important role of the Common Room Fund, how it was gathered together and how it was used. Carefully and responsibly kept accounts exist from 1979 onwards and there are annual balance sheets back to 1971.
A great deal of income came from the profits of playing Bingo. There were also Jumble Sales, Coffee Mornings, Christmas Bazaars The Sale of Handmade toys, Tombola, Raffles, proceeds from whist Drives, donations from residents and supporters. A Coin collection was made into a huge great glass bottle and various socials and outings produced some surplus profits,
All of which underlines the debt of gratitude owed to Nora Cox, and the Committee for their valiant efforts, including Doreen Culver the Secretary and Eileen Spall, the Treasurer.
Throughout the years gifts of butter were given to residents at Christmas paid for from the funds, and 125g packets of 99 Tea donated by the Co-op. Cards and flowers were sent to residents in hospital, or for special birthdays. Christmas gifts were presented to visiting doctors who held surgery in the Common Room. Dustmen have been tipped and carol singers rewarded. Residents have benefited from a Common Room library and gifts of photographs for the Archive Albums, some photo albums from Jim Taylor, and slides from George Moore, Fred Cox, and John Maddams.
The FUND has paid for, buying the dart board. Christmas decorations, bingo tickets, regular tuning of pianos, lamp shades, laundry of table cloths, and putting new tyres on the wheel chair.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FABRIC
#############################
Across the years the Council ( from 1974 Uttlesford District ) have improved the property and facilities with gas fired central heating, a communal TV Aerial, some limited double glazing, peep holes in doors, chain bolts, stair rails, bathroom rails, front doorway rails, ramps, housing for motorised chairs and pathways to them, carpet squares and later carpeting for the Common Room, electric cookers, carpeted hall ways and stairways, fire blankets for kitchens, electrically operated smoke detectors, an intercom system linked to the Warden or Central Control. Hallways have modern ring lights and as with windows are. regularly cleaned.
In 1988 the District Council had flats and bungalows rewired and later the County Council upgraded Stanley Wilson Lodge.
Some flats have bird tables or bird boxes.
There is a marked absence of fire extinguishers and flats have only 1 external door. First floor flats have balconies, most of which have tubs, window boxes, and some have hanging baskets, all reflecting individual thought and inspiration. Stort Valley Gideons have supplied a Bible & 2 Large Print New Testaments to the Common Room.
CHANGES AT THE HELM
#######################
In 1984 with the arrival of the New Warden, Mrs Ethel Griffiths, and her zoo, cats, dogs, and budgies, a new Committee was needed to help. A meeting of Residents on March 22nd
1984 elected Andy Rulton as Chairman Peter Orrow as Secretary & John Maddams as Treasurer, assisted by Mrs Bea Howard, Miss Mary Smith and Miss Kathleen Emery
At their first meeting on March 29th Andy resigned from being Chairman for health reasons but remained on the committee and John Maddams was elected as Chairman.
The new committee determined to seek re-election annually by ballot of the residents using a two stage system seeking nominations in January and electing by ballot in March.. Annual accounts were to be published to the residents and at regular intervals the FOUR ACRES NEWS (FAN) was to be published.
Later residents who served on this committee included Mrs Molly Orrow, Mr Fred Drane, Mr George Sutton, Mr Jim Downham, Mr Bob Smith, Mrs Alice Sandford, Mrs Dot Loveday, Mrs Lillian Skillings , Mrs Wyn Buntins, Mr Jim Taylor, and Mrs Ellen Archer. When the Orrow’s moved to Dunmow, Dot Loveday then of No 19, took on the role of Secretary until 1988.
We presented a glass decanter to Mr & Mrs Liston , retiring Wardens of the Lodge. A Coffee morning was held on the May Day Bank Holiday. We held a Beetle Drive and organised a visit to Maldon
MONTHLY SERVICES RESUMED
###################
From 1984 monthly services were resumed by Brian Tucker the Baptist Minister who arranged for the Council of Churches to take charge of the operation with a different Church congregation taking it each month usually on the last Friday. Attended by 25-30 people. The offering collected at the services was devoted to the Help the Aged project to support grannies overseas and we gave £52 a year to sponsor a widow in Delhi, India, Mrs Ganga Devi.
MORE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
#######################
We held an Autumn Fayre. At one of the Evening Socials Eileen Spall played her keyboard for us while Warden Ethel Griffiths dressed up as a fairy. We decorated up and held a special social to mark the birth of Harry, Prince of Wales and sent a Greeting Card to the Palace and received a reply. John Maddams presented one of his regular slide shows entitled “ROOTS”.
A presentation was made to Jim Taylor for 9 years as Common Room Cleaner-Caretaker. New Christmas Decorations were bought for the Christmas Party. Mid-week, mid-morning Coffee Breaks were held as an opportunity to get together for a chat. Wool squares were knitted for a blanket for Oxfam. A collection was made to help Ethiopian Famine Sufferers.. we celebrated the Ruby Wedding of Mr & Mrs Kobleszko of one of the bungalows. We welcomed Mrs Deban as our new Deputy Warden.
In 1985 we said as we did each Spring “The ducks are back “as for years before, and since, a pair of ducks came to Four Acres, and occasionally additional suitors who were soon seen off, and very occasionally an additional pair. They were encouraged by Eileen Pettit, feeding them from her window. That year however they were harassed and chased off by some schoolchildren. As a result the R A Butler School head ran a project on them and letters and drawings from the children were given to us and added to our albums
Councillor Peter Paget donated us a piano for the lounge to replace the old one. which had died. Jack Turnbull supplied his trailer to transport it and members of the Lions moved it to us.
« Last Edit: Nov 29, 2005, 9:37pm by JEM » Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JEM
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS AND TRUE CHRISTIANITY TODAY?
access:- www.rejesus.co.uk
Don’t be afraid [ add your name here ] you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace. Take heart and be strong” God’s promise to Daniel and to us all”
Found In the Bible, book of Daniel chapter 10 v 19 New Living Translation
JEM
Administrator
member is online
Joined: Nov 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 227
Re: SILVER THREADS Part 2 1980 - 1989
« Reply #1 on Nov 29, 2005, 9:33pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORWARD DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE EIGHTIES
###################################
Early in 1985 the Common Room lounge was closed for redecoration and new curtains were hung and we re-opened it with a social. A successful Spring Fayre was held at Easter. Dot Loveday organised a series of evening mystery tours by a coach touring the villages and stopping at a local inn for refreshments. Dot, and Alice Sandford visited residents selling tickets for monthly meat raffles with a £2 prize of a joint of beef, pork or a chicken.
In September the Saffron Walden & District Military Band played on the Central Garden Patio during our Barbecue. A visit to Bury St Edmunds was much enjoyed. Russell Green and the Entertainers came to amuse and inspire us at our Sausage & Mash Supper. Residents supported outings organised by Newcroft and John Dane Player Court and their residents supported ours. A successful Autumn Sale was held. Brownies came to entertain us at Christmas. So did children from R A Butler School. we donated a book to their school library.
During Mrs Griffith’s term as Warden good relations were developed with local Primary schools, the High School and Bell School of Languages. Groups of students visited us on teaching training visits and some visited residents in their home. Parties of children came to entertain us.
Ethel Griffiths gave lectures on “The care of the elderly” to young people, and a First Aid course to Guides. Katherine Semar Infants School children brought their harvest gifts for us as did the children of R A Butler School. Residents attended parties at the High School organised by students there, and at the Town Hall and at Carver Barracks. Some also visited plays and festivals at local schools. John Maddams was appointed Four Acres Archivist in charge of the Albums.
During this period more ground floor residents developed flower beds either side of their. French windows or planted additional roses or flowering plants or clumps of bulbs in the “official” flower beds. Others planted bulbs on lawns.
In one great storm years ago one of the line of cedars between Farmadine and Four Acres was blown down just missing the authors bedroom and demolishing the garden shed at No 35. In one of the great summer droughts of the 1970’s ’ the weeping willow in the Lodge grounds must have cried itself to death, it died of dehydration. In the great storm of 1987 one tree on the central garden was partly demolished and had to be felled, and replaced.
Many residents have helped one another. Fred Drane , a former Fire Service officer retired here, frequently conveyed residents to out patient clinics in his car and there was our “paper” boy “young” Jim Taylor.
The Committee discussed and took action on residents complaints and suggestions raising matters such as blocked and damaged guttering, aerials bonfires, noisy neighbours, noisy revellers, vandalism, heating, litter, heap removal, rats, wasps, and ants with local authorities and organisations. Mark you the ants were here long before Four Acres and 37 years on they are still a summer nuisance in some ground floor flats and some are clever mountaineers and get into first floor too.
In 1986 residents between them raised £100 to buy 40 large print hymn books for the services dedicated to the memory of Dr Brouett and 23 relatives and friends of residents. Later a Methodist Hymn Book Music edition was donated in memory of Mrs Ethel Savill who frequently played the piano for our services.
At Nora Cox’s suggestion a Hobbies Exhibition was held featuring a wide range of interesting collections and handicrafts of residents.
A number of residents sponsored the Chairman in his Mini-marathon run in which his Boys’ Brigade Company team raised over £100 for SWAG. [ Saffron Walden Accident Group, which kept local doctors available as medics for motorway accidents]
A successful darts match was held in 1986 and an outing to Felixstowe. Some residents joined an evening tour of Norfolk with Newcroft and we had another mystery tour. Dress Shows and seasonal dress sales were introduced at the Common Room. A colour illustrated history of Four Acres Community was put in the Town’s Time Capsule buried in the Castle Grounds for the citizens of AD 2236 to dig up.
Jean Gumbrell, the local social history author, with thingy Harding as photographer visited Four Acres for their popular social history series in the Saffron Walden Weekly News entitled “Down your Street” parts of which later became a trilogy of books. They published interviews here of Eileen Pettit, Ethel Griffiths, Reuben Webb, Charlie Bacon, Joe Kobleszko, Dorothy Holttum, Dorothy Dixon, Rosie Barham. John and Alice Maddams, Elsie Bacon, and Lillian Skillings and published pictures from our albums. These press cuttings were also added to our albums.
David Wilson, Ethel’s grandson with friends produced “THE PEOPLE’S MONTHLY” magazine for some months and we allowed this to be freely distributed on site with Four Acres News embedded in it. Previously we had encouraged the free distribution of “YOURS” the paper for the elderly which eventually went commercial and sells on the bookstalls.
Video films were introduced to our socials and we had a coach visit to the Cotswolds. A knitted blanket was raffled in support of Help the Aged. St Mary’s Choristers visited at Christmas. £100 was raised for Cancer Research.
1987 arrived and there was another successful Spring Sale at Easter raising £123 and another visit from Money Spinners. During this year FAN published a number of poems by the resident poet Ted Howard who later in the year moved to Rickling. It was hoped that the Chiropody Service would become based at Four Acres and someone would reorganise window cleaning, but neither occurred.
During the year the Committee became much depleted as Fred Drane, George Sutton. Bob Smith, and Jim Downham retired, Bea Howard moved and Lillian Skillings died. Another coach visit to Felixstowe was well supported as were 2 good mystery tours. Mr Cliff Stacey brought his excellent local slides one evening following a salad tea, and on another evening John Maddams presented a slides tour of 16 countries.
The Methodist Guitar Group visited at Easter. Nora Cox ran another successful Whist Drive in aid of Cancer Research. The Darby & Joan Club visited Eastbourne.
£50 was collected and used to present Ethel Griffiths with some garden furniture when she retired and went to live initially at Wimbish. The Committee continued to operate and the site was well served by the team of Mobile Wardens, Ruth Fulton from Reynolds Court Newport, Miriam Hardwick from Walden Place, Annis Cove from John Dane Player Court and Sheila Peters from Newcroft. All led by Jack and Lynne Pitman. At a Fish & Chip supper Cliff Stacey presented another lively evening of slides of “Old Walden”, raising many questions and comments.
JOAN HOADLEY’S YEARS BEGIN
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In the autumn Mrs Joan H Hoadley was welcomed as Four Acres Fourth Warden accompanied by her husband David, and Bonnie their alsation puppy. Joan with a keen interest in Guiding established a Ranger Guide unit meeting at the Common Room and the girls helped in some of the socials and gave £20 from their fund raising sale. The Christmas Party was again a great success. The Supper Service provide the refreshments and John and Gordon with accordion and drums led lively singsongs.
During the year several residents died and in their memory gifts were contributed to Cancer Research, the British Diabetes Association, and the British Heart Foundation. Dot Loveday injured her leg as a result of a fall while taking a plant as a thank you gift to Sheila Peters. John Ellis put on a Musical evening in aid if the British Red Cross. He also led a Carol Singing evening in support of the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
In January 1988 Russell Green and the Entertainers visited the Winter social evening. The
St Valentines Eve Social included ‘taters and cheese’ and a hilarious darts match. The Chairman wrote “SILVER THREADS” (from the line of a song “Silver threads among the gold”) the history of Four Acres to commemorate Four Acres Silver Jubilee which was due to occur on July 9th. Copies were distributed freely to all residents and number of other friends, and thereafter to all new residents moving in, until we ran out of copies in 1997.
19 residents were nominated for a new committee but only 5 were willing to serve and circumstances caused them to feel a sense of a lack of support and that it was a time to wind up so they resigned. The last event of the retiring committee was a St Patrick’s Social entertained by John Ellis and Company. It was agreed that Services and Bingo Sessions would continue and that the Fund should be transferred to the care of the Council. They replied by appointing Mr A Hay as Co-Trustee, with John Maddams as Treasurer and Archivist.
In September 1988 the cavity walls of all the homes were filled with foam to reduce heat loss John Ellis and the Entertainers held a Social raising more money for the British Red Cross. In December 1988 a new Committee was formed to work with Joan Hoadley, comprising Nora Cox, May Moore, Mrs Bowers, and Eileen Spall who resumed as Treasurer.
In Feb 1989 the new Committee held a Rummage Sale in partnership with 2 other groups dividing the spoils. The 40th Birthday of Kath Bateman was celebrated in April. Quickly followed by Stan Mallyon’s 90th birthday. Cliff Stacey donated £100 which was used to pay the Communal T V Licence, which is levied at £5 per household. Gerry and Mary Elsom arrived from Audley End to No.34 with 9 stone gnomes and beautified the end block with frontal flower beds. A policy that continues to spread, as does the planting of bulbs in the rose beds, and tubs and hanging baskets on balconies and tubs in doorways to the blocks.
During the Summer residents joined in various coach tours with their friends at Newcroft and John Dane Player Court. The local Boys’ Brigade Battalion Parade paraded to church from here. Workman installed new lockable doors on landing sheds and cupboards and fireproof doors to flats. Jim Taylor’s 80th Birthday was observed. Katherine Semar Infant’s School distributed Harvest produce to residents.
A joint Christmas Party was held with and at Stanley Wilson Lodge. As the Cambridge & District Co-operative Society could no longer afford to supply further packets of tea free as Christmas gifts, these were paid for from the Fund, but it was no longer possible to distribute butter as well.
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