Westgate House Newsletter November 2013 Westgate Years House Old Westgate House was opened on 23rd October 2003 It was built on the playing fields of the former Wallingford Grammar School. The school was built in 1877 at the bottom end of St Georges Road. The boys and girls of Wallingford amalgamated onto the site in 1904. In 1958 the girls were moved to Didcot Girls Grammar School, when Blackstone Secondary Modern School was built at the top end of St. Georges Road. In 1973 comprehensive education was introduced, and the Boys Grammar School became the upper school and Blackstone the lower school taking pupils from the age of 11-13. I remember this time very well, as being in the first group of girls to move from Blackstone to the former boys grammar school. This had huge amounts of benefits as there were only 30 of us girls in a school of 400 boys!!! Yeeehhaaaa!!

I remember the school as having enormous character. Class rooms with high ceilings, heavy wooden floors and desks with lids and ink pots. A far cry from the then modern building of Blackstone. To the left of this picture shows the science lab moving onto the library.

Although it was an interesting building, it also had a gloomy feel to it in places. I distinctly remember the part of the building shown in this picture. Next to the arch was Miss Millington’s office, she was the headmistress. The road Westgate is built on is named after her. It was a long, lonely dark walk to visit her in there when you knew you were in trouble!

This is what is left of the playing fields. Hockey, rugby and running were just some of the games played. It was an enormous area and there was no getting out of PE even when you pretended to forget your kit! The other half of the field is where Westgate has been built.

In 1998 the schools were centralised at the old secondary modern site and the former grammar school closed and converted into apartments. Work began on the new Westgate House care home. Building work complete Westgate House was born and officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra on 23rd October 2003 10 Years later……

Keeping Music Live, In the Heart of The Home, as we knew it; As you are all now aware, all the building work in the Heart of the Home will start on November 4th so, along with our 10 year party we had another event to help us close the Heart of the Home and ‘go out with a bang’

SG Productions entertained us with ‘Thank You Ladies’ We sang a long to all the favourite hits from Doris Day, Vera Lynn, Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich

Residents from Chilterns End enjoyed ‘Doris’ even found time the performance and afterwards to have photos taken joined us for lunch with our residents

Westgate House Millington Road, Wallingford, OX10 8FE Tel: 01491 836332 Web: www.osjct.co.uk

Dates for your November Diary

Manicures Arts & Crafts With Sharon With Sharon Nightingale Area Wednesday’s Wednesday’s afternoon afternoon 6th, 20th & 27th 6th, 20th & 27th

Coffee at Notcutts Space to Grow Friday 8th Thursday 14th Depart 10.30 Nightingale 1.30

Chatting with the Bingo students from Day Centre 10.45 Wallingford School Monday 4th All Lounges 1.45 Friday 15th Tuesday’s 5th & 12th Thursday 21st Tuesday 26th

Jackie Lunch Club Sings our Friday 22nd Favourite songs Depart 11.15 Monday 18th Venue to be Skylark 2.00 announced

Reminiscence St. Andrews Day World Thursday 28th Friday 29th Skylark Keep the Date!!!! 10.45

A Massive Welcome To Residents Sharon Birthdays As well as being one of our care staff, she will now be working along side me as an activities co-ordinator. Sharon, who has always enjoyed getting involved in the activities, Mary Heath - 8th will now work two days a week in a Edna Gregory - 23rd Red T Shirt! Mary Hardy - 25th Yeah! We just know she will be brilliant in her new role!