Post by JEM on Dec 12, 2007 0:13:26 GMT
SILVER THREADS Part 4
//////////////////////////////
Read by 34 people previously before being moved to this new board.
THE MILLENIUM YEAR, the 21st Century AD BEGINS
###################################
During 2001 the flower beds were returfed and new beds cut out and planted with shrubs. A hedge was planted up to the school rear entrance and a lavender hedge was planted on the pathway towards Audley Road. after months of difficulty in our getting the free Paper The Reporter. John arranged to deliver it and the Saffron Walden Weekly News, and The Voice, a Christian leaflet every Friday morning.( the latter terminated after 70 weeks after lack of interest).
Edie Joskow and Eileen Carter took on collecting the Christmas contributions. In March we began a campaign to reduce crime. In March we had a quiz evening. Later in the year we had a meeting about windows security.
Work got underway in easing congestion by widening the road 5 feet and a new paved zig-zag path set out from patio to the east side road nick named Jenny’s Walk commemorating Jenny Warren the UDC Tenants Participation officer who worked tirelessly for 2 years to get the improvements done. In September we had the Albums on display.
OUR RUBY ANNIVERSARY YEAR BEGINS
###################################
In 2002 the last 2 ramps were constructed. The Bingo Club bought a calling machine paying half the cost while the other half was paid by former Warden Joan Hoadley and her sister Molly in memory of their mother Ena..
The Residents Meeting extended an invitation to Coffee mornings, Bingo, the Services and use of the Tesco bus to Newcroft Residents but no one accepted the offer.
Although only a few yards down the hill folk are very territorial. Some of them came up once for a joint meeting arranged by the Housing Department but socialising does no work. It is an uphill struggle just on this site alone. New Croft really need their own Meeting Room.
Tom Start retired as our Deputy-Chairman and Fred Auger was elected
2002 included our decorating up to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, our survey on who would like to retain a bath or have a shower unit which led to the refits carried out in 2003,and our celebration together on
SUNDAY AUGUST 4th 2002 OUR RUBY ANNIVERSARY AFTERNOON
After two years of planning and preparation by mid morning various folk were out and about putting up flags on poles and bunting, Frank and Joyce Saich and Daphne Cullup put up their special greeting decorations on their windows in cut out shiny letters.
Volunteers from the Ladies Circle and Round Table put up the gazebo. Corinne swept the patio and Sam bagged it in black sack clearing up what overnight wind and rain had moved about after Len, Seymour and Sheila had cleared the whole patio area on Saturday.
From Friday through to Sunday and probably earlier various people had been busy preparing cakes and sandwiches and other delights.
The Loop road was closed and cables were laid and carpet covered to donors of electricity for the musician and the urns.
About 2.15 the musician Ian Goddard using a variety of instruments started playing and people were gathering on the seats, John was distributing numbered programmes. Jim Ketteridge Chairman of the UDC and his wife Marilyn , and the Mayor of Saffron Walden Town Councillor Daphne Cornell, and her Mayoress Faye Holdsworth arrived and Sheila Peters former warden of New Croft.
The photographers of the WALDEN LOCAL and the SAFFRON WALDEN REPORTER wandered about using up loads of film. Eileen Carter’s daughter also played her saxophone. The weather was dry, cloudy with sunny intervals until about 3pm.
Then a huge dark cloud blew across our area and for the next 3 hours it rained and rained and rained, and thundered with much lightning. Jan and helpers put the albums in the laundry room and the food in the form of a T junction in the centre of the Common Room and Jan ferried people in the St Raphael Club minibus , while people scurried to their homes or the Common Room.
Eventually about 60 crammed in the lounge room and the hallway. Mrs Ivy Swan was there in a wheel chair. We started the programme a little late but did most of it.
Jan welcomed everyone, John gave a speech, mainly of thanksgiving, Jim and Daphne made speeches,. We had a mock cutting of the cake (made by Jan’s sister Susan, for the photographers who were busy again, One kept saying “lean over a just a bit more” and John thought if I go any further I’ll land on top of the sandwiches. After Grace was said, we all tucked in.
Food was ferried to people unable to come to the Common Room. We had a singsong with a soloist as well, and a free raffle, and we all filled up doggy bags to take refreshments home.
Then the volunteers got on with the clearing up of Room and site completed some days later when the bunting had dried out.
As far as could be told everyone had a great time and it was a good dress rehearsal for our Golden Jubilee in 2012.
Our Chairman Jan recorded a big thank you to every one who helped. To which we add too to Jan a big thank you for organising it. We much appreciate how everyone brought their front gardens and balconies up to such a high standard of display Several donations were given towards the event.
The Council provided us with a shelf in the Common room so the albums could be available permanently for the use of residents and visitors.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
#####################
During the early part of 2003 4 residents died, Alice Maddams in her 99th year, Bertha Wilson, Alice Sandford and suddenly while abroad, Marion Barnes. In July Eileen Spall died
In March we had another Fish, Fowl & Chips evening with a Quiz We welcomed to our company at No 19 George and Jean Barrow from Blackpool, at No 12, Ruby Williams who lived a long time in Clacton and at No 31 Brad Ingram from Little Waltham.
During the year work began on the Decent Living development to be completed during 2004 proving upgraded kitchens and shower units Water Tanks in the lofts of the blocks of flats were drained, cleaned and upgraded, The final ramps were completed and some upgraded.
At Christmas 22 household united to set lights, coloured or white, or candelabra or lighted trees in the windows, in a celebration of light in the winter darkness,
2004 began with the sudden death of Doris Bibby and announcement of the 5 yearly redecoration of stair wells in two shades, and of the external paint work of the buildings, with doors in varied colours to help us avoid getting lost.
The Games Afternoon resumed on Mondays between 2.00pm and 5.30pm usually for about 3 hours attracting from 8-10 Residents playing a selection of Dominoes. Triominoes, Scrabble, Ludo, Upwords or Rummy with a cuppa nd biscuits mid afternoon.
Jean and Tom start celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary
The Darts group held a couple of Saturday Buffet Suppers “Message in a Bottle” kits were issued to a lot of residents to keep in their fridges where medics could find them in any emergency.
A four paged summary history of FOUR ACRES replaced the 28 page “SILVER THREADS” history available to newcomers and visitors.
A Baked Potatoes in their jackets evening with a quiz was enjoyed as was the Fish or Fowl and Chips Supper with Quiz on St Andrew’s Day.
A booklet “MUM REMEMBERED was added to the Archives marking the centenary of the birth of the late Alice Maddams. A Buffet with the Race Game with side betting to help our funds was enjoyed.
Jan was provided with hard standing for her car next to the Common room. Mary Smith at No 13 and Edna Bird at No 32 both clocked 80 years of age and Edna Mummery reached 90. We collected tooth brushes to send to Nicaragua.
We raised £65 for the General Fund by a Grand Raffle.
Brad Ingram at No 31 became Minutes Secretary to the Residents Meeting,
Sheila and Maurice Robinson moved into No 39 after Doreen Luckings moved to No,14. They came from Harlow, stayed a week and moved back to Harlow.
Tesco Ltd cancelled the free bus service but Beryl Searle of No 16 and Edie Joskow of No 41 organised an alternative service with Rent a Ride, the Uttlesford Community Travel charity and from then on the two of them also organised lots of minibus outings much appreciated by a small group of residents.
Jerry Elsom moved to Highfields and we welcomed Peggy and Derek Salmon to No 34. George Fox, Beattie Grocott and Bertha Maloney died. 17 of us attended the Christmas Luncheon.
SO WE CAME TO 2005
###################
George Sutton moved to Highfields Home. Christine still lives at No 27..
Edna Bird moved home after a long stay in hospital. Peter and Margaret Axworthy with their dog Max moved into No 10. But later Margaret had to move on and was found a place at a home in Thaxted.
We raised £67 for Audiology in memory of Jerry Elsom who died this year. We collected for the Day Centre in memory of Gladys Muir formerly of No 23 before Olga and Maurice (Bunny} Moore moved in, and £39 for Cancer Research UK in memory of Doris Smith who died this year.
Bill Farquharson died and in his memory we raised £92 for Gold Street Practice Surgery.
We welcomed Joan Page to No 39, and Joyce Lyddiatt to No 37 after Fred Auger moved to Newcroft, and Mr and Mrs Owen Jones to No 20 after Andy and his crew stopped using it as a contractors base and left after completing the installation of new kitchens and shower units and creating a new kitchen for the Common Room.
Early on in the year during the food scare we posted at the Common Room a list of suspect foods not to be eaten, We took part in the survey meeting regarding Housing Stock appraisal and aspirational ideas.
Brad Ingram became Secretary of the Residents Meeting and Quiz Master. John Maddams continued as Treasurer, Co-ordinator, Archivist, Editor, Darts scorer and became Bingo caller.
We celebrated St Patrick’s eve with a Quiz Evening and the Wednesday before St George’s Day we celebrated with a Buffet and Race Game evening
The Darts Group celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a buffet and singsong, and we had an exhibition of artefacts of the period for a week.
The monthly worship services begun in 1962 and renewed in 1983 finally ceased to operate have reached a level of 1 or 2 attending
Some of us got caught in the Phoenix Mobility scam when their demonstrators came her with equipment for disabled people, the two directors ran off to France with the money leaving 800 mainly elderly people the worse off.
We had an afternoon strawberry Tea, and May Moore assisted by her sister won the Fleet’s in Port Quiz, and was awarded a couple of house plants.
There was quite a saga for several months trying to get the company concerned to do the gas fire checks.
Beryl Searle and Marjorie Start received a local Royal British Legion award as our regular poppy sellers and over £60 was raise here this year. Wendy the weekend warden held a special coffee morning here for the Macmillan Nurses and raised over £100.
Helen Andrews went mobile with a buggy that she calls her “horse”. Beryl led some of us on an interesting visit to Ashdon Museum. John was re-elected on to the Tenants Forum. Jan has donated to us a table with extensions idle for us to use as a games table.
As the year draws to an end we are about to have another St Andrews Day evening with a baked potato supper and a quiz organised by Brad and our small Christmas Luncheon gathering.
John has placed our history on the Lighthouse Prayer Ministry Web Board
.
In 2006, we had the Common Room re-roofed and externally redecorated and double glazing installed to all our homes.
The Games Afternoon resumed on Mondays between 2.00pm and 5.30pm usually for about 3 hours attracting from 8-10 Residents playing a selection of Dominoes. Triominoes, Scrabble, Ludo, Upwords or Rummy with a cuppa and biscuits mid afternoon. The Darts group held a couple of Saturday Buffet Suppers.
Beryl Searle and Marjorie Start received a local Royal British Legion award as our regular poppy sellers and over £60 was raise here that year. Wendy the weekend warden held a special coffee morning here for the Macmillan Nurses and raised over £100. We later continued to observe this annually.
Our history was placed on the Lighthouse Prayer Ministry Web Board the address of which is www.lthopm.proboards.com.
In 2008 residents learned that Stanley Wilson Lodge was to be demolished so a larger building could replace it. So began an interesting project to watch but noisy dirty and often frustrating for some living nearest to it that protested against it but now enjoy the benefit of living in it. An album of photographs of each stage of the demolishing to the completion of the new building was created and residents were invited to look around before it opened.
In 2009 Four Acres became a Neighbourhood Watch Site. That year one of the residents Jackie Reed was awarded the new Land Army Badge awarded to those who served in that during the Second World War. Jackie had worked at Pounce Hall Farm helping to supply Walden with milk. In June that year an Armchair Exercises Group was begun in the Common Room once a week which lasted 3 years and was useful to some residents.
From Dec 2009 the patio are on the central green was taped off as a danger area due to the paving stones being raised by tree roots 5 months later plans were laid before a residents meeting to destroy the old paved patio walled garden with surrounding hedge and create an open space seated area with ground beds, new rose beds and a figure 8 shaped tarmac path with was completed in June 2010 In July that year some tenants began to celebrate the Annual Big Lunch Day in early summer with a picnic
In 2010 some 845 days after a promise by a couple of district councillors to do it soon the one way signs erected to control traffic flow but some car drivers still cannot read.
In 2011 Sonia Gordon of No 13 introduced pensioners to the idea of getting about further and further using their bus passes and set out to reach Cambridge, 15 miles away by the longer 65 mile route via Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds. After that the group had many other adventures to the coast and inland.
By January 2012 all the homes had lost their gas fires as back boilers were replaced by more efficient wall boilers. Four Ares Community's online history had been read by over 1000 people. Project 2012 got under way to celebrate the Community's 50th anniversary by creating a new patio area next to the Common Room, to a design organised by resident Anna Stanton. A working party emptied and demolished the old storage shed, cleaned up the concrete and set out the garden furniture. The plan having been submitted to a UDC Community
Garden Competition it won second prize was of £800 which eventually was used for a fence, shrubs in tubs, potted bedding plants and an awning.
A small group of 10 residents sought to have public parking banned and replaced by a Resident Permit Parking Scheme but it was voted down in a ballot of residents by 26 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions and 7 residents did not reply.
CELEBRATING OUR GOLDEN JUBILEE in 2012
The Community's Golden Jubilee celebrations were merged with the Annual Big Lunch Picnic and the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. A Hog Roast meal was arranged using the Common Room [ and a large gazebo that was bought with stuffing, salads, sauces, fruit and 2 iced cakes[ . Entertainment was provided by the Nightingales Trio playing cello, violin and keyboard piano with lively dance music and lots of sing a long songs.
A beautiful Jubilee Apron donated and here modelled was raffled All residents were given an inscribed Biro pen and 4 awards were presented for the best decorated fronts which 32 homes participated in. A 4 page Commemorative Edition of FAN was published afterwards with 53 illustrations of the Jubilee events.
We sent a Special Card to Her Majesty the Queen and had one back a couple of months later.
The Central Garden seats were cleaned and repainted. Both the Darts Club and the Bingo Club had Cod and Chip suppers.
In the Autumn we celebrated Big Coffee Morning with tombola and a cake stall to raise money for MacMillan Nurses and in November we raised about £100 for Children in Need. We held our Christmas Lunch for 34 people organised by Jan and members of her wider family assisted by Joyce Lyddiate and Pat Davison, with a 90 minute humour song and dance programme led by Mick Ryan
We ended one year and began another with a Supper Party attended by 10. Seven, who had been expected to attend were prevented by illness, by the death of a relative, by a family event turning upon and sheer fatigue. This was disappointing seeing all the effort that went into the occasion but those able to be present thoroughly enjoyed it, and for such a modest outlay of £3 each paid in advance we were provided with an excellent buffet involving tastes of duck, chicken, prawn, cheese and pineapple on sticks, .sausage rolls, and other delicacies savouries, an assortment of cakes and Christmas Cake and an assortment of drinks
. Several people dressed up for the occasion though we did say casual dress to cover a wide range. We played, pass the parcel, pass the hooter, “Guess who you are?”game, pin the tail on the donkey, hunt where the broken glass went, and charades. and much fun was had by all.
If the snow forecasted did not prevent us we aimed to have a Free Fish and Chip Supper on Jan 26th 2013 with a slides Show and Quiz for Members of the Darts and Bingo Clubs
We started the first week of the new year with a large hole in the road replacing a broken sewage pipe with a tanker pumping the sewage off, and we had running water down the road from Christmas eve to January from a burst water main
On Feb 19th we hope to have a Mustard Day Quiz which is really related to a certain saint's Day the day before.
Only about half the tenants were enrolled as subscribers for FAN for 2013 During the end of 2012 three new residents arrived and two more were leaving.
The illustrated history of Four Acres is in the Common Room on a shelf with the Albums, Minutes, and coloured illustrated copies of FOUR ACRES NEWS (FAN) in folders on the Archives Shelf over the Piano. The Archivist holds a second set of FAN, and of the Minutes, . (C) JEM 2013
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JEM
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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 by 34 people previously before being moved to this new board.
THE MILLENIUM YEAR, the 21st Century AD BEGINS
###################################
During 2001 the flower beds were returfed and new beds cut out and planted with shrubs. A hedge was planted up to the school rear entrance and a lavender hedge was planted on the pathway towards Audley Road. after months of difficulty in our getting the free Paper The Reporter. John arranged to deliver it and the Saffron Walden Weekly News, and The Voice, a Christian leaflet every Friday morning.( the latter terminated after 70 weeks after lack of interest).
Edie Joskow and Eileen Carter took on collecting the Christmas contributions. In March we began a campaign to reduce crime. In March we had a quiz evening. Later in the year we had a meeting about windows security.
Work got underway in easing congestion by widening the road 5 feet and a new paved zig-zag path set out from patio to the east side road nick named Jenny’s Walk commemorating Jenny Warren the UDC Tenants Participation officer who worked tirelessly for 2 years to get the improvements done. In September we had the Albums on display.
OUR RUBY ANNIVERSARY YEAR BEGINS
###################################
In 2002 the last 2 ramps were constructed. The Bingo Club bought a calling machine paying half the cost while the other half was paid by former Warden Joan Hoadley and her sister Molly in memory of their mother Ena..
The Residents Meeting extended an invitation to Coffee mornings, Bingo, the Services and use of the Tesco bus to Newcroft Residents but no one accepted the offer.
Although only a few yards down the hill folk are very territorial. Some of them came up once for a joint meeting arranged by the Housing Department but socialising does no work. It is an uphill struggle just on this site alone. New Croft really need their own Meeting Room.
Tom Start retired as our Deputy-Chairman and Fred Auger was elected
2002 included our decorating up to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, our survey on who would like to retain a bath or have a shower unit which led to the refits carried out in 2003,and our celebration together on
SUNDAY AUGUST 4th 2002 OUR RUBY ANNIVERSARY AFTERNOON
After two years of planning and preparation by mid morning various folk were out and about putting up flags on poles and bunting, Frank and Joyce Saich and Daphne Cullup put up their special greeting decorations on their windows in cut out shiny letters.
Volunteers from the Ladies Circle and Round Table put up the gazebo. Corinne swept the patio and Sam bagged it in black sack clearing up what overnight wind and rain had moved about after Len, Seymour and Sheila had cleared the whole patio area on Saturday.
From Friday through to Sunday and probably earlier various people had been busy preparing cakes and sandwiches and other delights.
The Loop road was closed and cables were laid and carpet covered to donors of electricity for the musician and the urns.
About 2.15 the musician Ian Goddard using a variety of instruments started playing and people were gathering on the seats, John was distributing numbered programmes. Jim Ketteridge Chairman of the UDC and his wife Marilyn , and the Mayor of Saffron Walden Town Councillor Daphne Cornell, and her Mayoress Faye Holdsworth arrived and Sheila Peters former warden of New Croft.
The photographers of the WALDEN LOCAL and the SAFFRON WALDEN REPORTER wandered about using up loads of film. Eileen Carter’s daughter also played her saxophone. The weather was dry, cloudy with sunny intervals until about 3pm.
Then a huge dark cloud blew across our area and for the next 3 hours it rained and rained and rained, and thundered with much lightning. Jan and helpers put the albums in the laundry room and the food in the form of a T junction in the centre of the Common Room and Jan ferried people in the St Raphael Club minibus , while people scurried to their homes or the Common Room.
Eventually about 60 crammed in the lounge room and the hallway. Mrs Ivy Swan was there in a wheel chair. We started the programme a little late but did most of it.
Jan welcomed everyone, John gave a speech, mainly of thanksgiving, Jim and Daphne made speeches,. We had a mock cutting of the cake (made by Jan’s sister Susan, for the photographers who were busy again, One kept saying “lean over a just a bit more” and John thought if I go any further I’ll land on top of the sandwiches. After Grace was said, we all tucked in.
Food was ferried to people unable to come to the Common Room. We had a singsong with a soloist as well, and a free raffle, and we all filled up doggy bags to take refreshments home.
Then the volunteers got on with the clearing up of Room and site completed some days later when the bunting had dried out.
As far as could be told everyone had a great time and it was a good dress rehearsal for our Golden Jubilee in 2012.
Our Chairman Jan recorded a big thank you to every one who helped. To which we add too to Jan a big thank you for organising it. We much appreciate how everyone brought their front gardens and balconies up to such a high standard of display Several donations were given towards the event.
The Council provided us with a shelf in the Common room so the albums could be available permanently for the use of residents and visitors.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
#####################
During the early part of 2003 4 residents died, Alice Maddams in her 99th year, Bertha Wilson, Alice Sandford and suddenly while abroad, Marion Barnes. In July Eileen Spall died
In March we had another Fish, Fowl & Chips evening with a Quiz We welcomed to our company at No 19 George and Jean Barrow from Blackpool, at No 12, Ruby Williams who lived a long time in Clacton and at No 31 Brad Ingram from Little Waltham.
During the year work began on the Decent Living development to be completed during 2004 proving upgraded kitchens and shower units Water Tanks in the lofts of the blocks of flats were drained, cleaned and upgraded, The final ramps were completed and some upgraded.
At Christmas 22 household united to set lights, coloured or white, or candelabra or lighted trees in the windows, in a celebration of light in the winter darkness,
2004 began with the sudden death of Doris Bibby and announcement of the 5 yearly redecoration of stair wells in two shades, and of the external paint work of the buildings, with doors in varied colours to help us avoid getting lost.
The Games Afternoon resumed on Mondays between 2.00pm and 5.30pm usually for about 3 hours attracting from 8-10 Residents playing a selection of Dominoes. Triominoes, Scrabble, Ludo, Upwords or Rummy with a cuppa nd biscuits mid afternoon.
Jean and Tom start celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary
The Darts group held a couple of Saturday Buffet Suppers “Message in a Bottle” kits were issued to a lot of residents to keep in their fridges where medics could find them in any emergency.
A four paged summary history of FOUR ACRES replaced the 28 page “SILVER THREADS” history available to newcomers and visitors.
A Baked Potatoes in their jackets evening with a quiz was enjoyed as was the Fish or Fowl and Chips Supper with Quiz on St Andrew’s Day.
A booklet “MUM REMEMBERED was added to the Archives marking the centenary of the birth of the late Alice Maddams. A Buffet with the Race Game with side betting to help our funds was enjoyed.
Jan was provided with hard standing for her car next to the Common room. Mary Smith at No 13 and Edna Bird at No 32 both clocked 80 years of age and Edna Mummery reached 90. We collected tooth brushes to send to Nicaragua.
We raised £65 for the General Fund by a Grand Raffle.
Brad Ingram at No 31 became Minutes Secretary to the Residents Meeting,
Sheila and Maurice Robinson moved into No 39 after Doreen Luckings moved to No,14. They came from Harlow, stayed a week and moved back to Harlow.
Tesco Ltd cancelled the free bus service but Beryl Searle of No 16 and Edie Joskow of No 41 organised an alternative service with Rent a Ride, the Uttlesford Community Travel charity and from then on the two of them also organised lots of minibus outings much appreciated by a small group of residents.
Jerry Elsom moved to Highfields and we welcomed Peggy and Derek Salmon to No 34. George Fox, Beattie Grocott and Bertha Maloney died. 17 of us attended the Christmas Luncheon.
SO WE CAME TO 2005
###################
George Sutton moved to Highfields Home. Christine still lives at No 27..
Edna Bird moved home after a long stay in hospital. Peter and Margaret Axworthy with their dog Max moved into No 10. But later Margaret had to move on and was found a place at a home in Thaxted.
We raised £67 for Audiology in memory of Jerry Elsom who died this year. We collected for the Day Centre in memory of Gladys Muir formerly of No 23 before Olga and Maurice (Bunny} Moore moved in, and £39 for Cancer Research UK in memory of Doris Smith who died this year.
Bill Farquharson died and in his memory we raised £92 for Gold Street Practice Surgery.
We welcomed Joan Page to No 39, and Joyce Lyddiatt to No 37 after Fred Auger moved to Newcroft, and Mr and Mrs Owen Jones to No 20 after Andy and his crew stopped using it as a contractors base and left after completing the installation of new kitchens and shower units and creating a new kitchen for the Common Room.
Early on in the year during the food scare we posted at the Common Room a list of suspect foods not to be eaten, We took part in the survey meeting regarding Housing Stock appraisal and aspirational ideas.
Brad Ingram became Secretary of the Residents Meeting and Quiz Master. John Maddams continued as Treasurer, Co-ordinator, Archivist, Editor, Darts scorer and became Bingo caller.
We celebrated St Patrick’s eve with a Quiz Evening and the Wednesday before St George’s Day we celebrated with a Buffet and Race Game evening
The Darts Group celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a buffet and singsong, and we had an exhibition of artefacts of the period for a week.
The monthly worship services begun in 1962 and renewed in 1983 finally ceased to operate have reached a level of 1 or 2 attending
Some of us got caught in the Phoenix Mobility scam when their demonstrators came her with equipment for disabled people, the two directors ran off to France with the money leaving 800 mainly elderly people the worse off.
We had an afternoon strawberry Tea, and May Moore assisted by her sister won the Fleet’s in Port Quiz, and was awarded a couple of house plants.
There was quite a saga for several months trying to get the company concerned to do the gas fire checks.
Beryl Searle and Marjorie Start received a local Royal British Legion award as our regular poppy sellers and over £60 was raise here this year. Wendy the weekend warden held a special coffee morning here for the Macmillan Nurses and raised over £100.
Helen Andrews went mobile with a buggy that she calls her “horse”. Beryl led some of us on an interesting visit to Ashdon Museum. John was re-elected on to the Tenants Forum. Jan has donated to us a table with extensions idle for us to use as a games table.
As the year draws to an end we are about to have another St Andrews Day evening with a baked potato supper and a quiz organised by Brad and our small Christmas Luncheon gathering.
John has placed our history on the Lighthouse Prayer Ministry Web Board
.
In 2006, we had the Common Room re-roofed and externally redecorated and double glazing installed to all our homes.
The Games Afternoon resumed on Mondays between 2.00pm and 5.30pm usually for about 3 hours attracting from 8-10 Residents playing a selection of Dominoes. Triominoes, Scrabble, Ludo, Upwords or Rummy with a cuppa and biscuits mid afternoon. The Darts group held a couple of Saturday Buffet Suppers.
Beryl Searle and Marjorie Start received a local Royal British Legion award as our regular poppy sellers and over £60 was raise here that year. Wendy the weekend warden held a special coffee morning here for the Macmillan Nurses and raised over £100. We later continued to observe this annually.
Our history was placed on the Lighthouse Prayer Ministry Web Board the address of which is www.lthopm.proboards.com.
In 2008 residents learned that Stanley Wilson Lodge was to be demolished so a larger building could replace it. So began an interesting project to watch but noisy dirty and often frustrating for some living nearest to it that protested against it but now enjoy the benefit of living in it. An album of photographs of each stage of the demolishing to the completion of the new building was created and residents were invited to look around before it opened.
In 2009 Four Acres became a Neighbourhood Watch Site. That year one of the residents Jackie Reed was awarded the new Land Army Badge awarded to those who served in that during the Second World War. Jackie had worked at Pounce Hall Farm helping to supply Walden with milk. In June that year an Armchair Exercises Group was begun in the Common Room once a week which lasted 3 years and was useful to some residents.
From Dec 2009 the patio are on the central green was taped off as a danger area due to the paving stones being raised by tree roots 5 months later plans were laid before a residents meeting to destroy the old paved patio walled garden with surrounding hedge and create an open space seated area with ground beds, new rose beds and a figure 8 shaped tarmac path with was completed in June 2010 In July that year some tenants began to celebrate the Annual Big Lunch Day in early summer with a picnic
In 2010 some 845 days after a promise by a couple of district councillors to do it soon the one way signs erected to control traffic flow but some car drivers still cannot read.
In 2011 Sonia Gordon of No 13 introduced pensioners to the idea of getting about further and further using their bus passes and set out to reach Cambridge, 15 miles away by the longer 65 mile route via Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds. After that the group had many other adventures to the coast and inland.
By January 2012 all the homes had lost their gas fires as back boilers were replaced by more efficient wall boilers. Four Ares Community's online history had been read by over 1000 people. Project 2012 got under way to celebrate the Community's 50th anniversary by creating a new patio area next to the Common Room, to a design organised by resident Anna Stanton. A working party emptied and demolished the old storage shed, cleaned up the concrete and set out the garden furniture. The plan having been submitted to a UDC Community
Garden Competition it won second prize was of £800 which eventually was used for a fence, shrubs in tubs, potted bedding plants and an awning.
A small group of 10 residents sought to have public parking banned and replaced by a Resident Permit Parking Scheme but it was voted down in a ballot of residents by 26 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions and 7 residents did not reply.
CELEBRATING OUR GOLDEN JUBILEE in 2012
The Community's Golden Jubilee celebrations were merged with the Annual Big Lunch Picnic and the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. A Hog Roast meal was arranged using the Common Room [ and a large gazebo that was bought with stuffing, salads, sauces, fruit and 2 iced cakes[ . Entertainment was provided by the Nightingales Trio playing cello, violin and keyboard piano with lively dance music and lots of sing a long songs.
A beautiful Jubilee Apron donated and here modelled was raffled All residents were given an inscribed Biro pen and 4 awards were presented for the best decorated fronts which 32 homes participated in. A 4 page Commemorative Edition of FAN was published afterwards with 53 illustrations of the Jubilee events.
We sent a Special Card to Her Majesty the Queen and had one back a couple of months later.
The Central Garden seats were cleaned and repainted. Both the Darts Club and the Bingo Club had Cod and Chip suppers.
In the Autumn we celebrated Big Coffee Morning with tombola and a cake stall to raise money for MacMillan Nurses and in November we raised about £100 for Children in Need. We held our Christmas Lunch for 34 people organised by Jan and members of her wider family assisted by Joyce Lyddiate and Pat Davison, with a 90 minute humour song and dance programme led by Mick Ryan
We ended one year and began another with a Supper Party attended by 10. Seven, who had been expected to attend were prevented by illness, by the death of a relative, by a family event turning upon and sheer fatigue. This was disappointing seeing all the effort that went into the occasion but those able to be present thoroughly enjoyed it, and for such a modest outlay of £3 each paid in advance we were provided with an excellent buffet involving tastes of duck, chicken, prawn, cheese and pineapple on sticks, .sausage rolls, and other delicacies savouries, an assortment of cakes and Christmas Cake and an assortment of drinks
. Several people dressed up for the occasion though we did say casual dress to cover a wide range. We played, pass the parcel, pass the hooter, “Guess who you are?”game, pin the tail on the donkey, hunt where the broken glass went, and charades. and much fun was had by all.
If the snow forecasted did not prevent us we aimed to have a Free Fish and Chip Supper on Jan 26th 2013 with a slides Show and Quiz for Members of the Darts and Bingo Clubs
We started the first week of the new year with a large hole in the road replacing a broken sewage pipe with a tanker pumping the sewage off, and we had running water down the road from Christmas eve to January from a burst water main
On Feb 19th we hope to have a Mustard Day Quiz which is really related to a certain saint's Day the day before.
Only about half the tenants were enrolled as subscribers for FAN for 2013 During the end of 2012 three new residents arrived and two more were leaving.
The illustrated history of Four Acres is in the Common Room on a shelf with the Albums, Minutes, and coloured illustrated copies of FOUR ACRES NEWS (FAN) in folders on the Archives Shelf over the Piano. The Archivist holds a second set of FAN, and of the Minutes, . (C) JEM 2013
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