Families and Friends of Whitgift House, Wilhelmina House and the Whitgift Almshouses
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What’s inside? Founder’s Day 2014 From Regiment to Royalty A Child of the Thirties Backstage at the Fairfield Halls Autumn 2014 | Edition 2 Bowling for England A newsletter for all residents and staff; families and friends of Whitgift House, Wilhelmina House and the Whitgift Almshouses. What’s inside? Page 3 Whitgift Care Update Page 4 - 5 In the spotlight: Founder’s Day 2014 Page 6 - 7 Meet our residents: A message from Martin George and Sylvia Parsons Page 8 - 9 Welcome to the eagerly awaited second edition of Whitgift Care News. Looking Back: This year has certainly been a milestone year with celebrations taking place Margaret Dickens across The Whitgift Foundation. In March, the 400th Founder’s Day Service and Audrey West was an extremely momentous occasion welcoming HRH The Princess Royal Page 10 to Croydon Minster and Old Palace, and one that will be remembered for Meet Our Staff: years to come. There has also been plenty of opportunity for Whitgift House Pat Bourne staff and residents to bring out their pearls and dancing shoes to celebrate the Home’s 30th Birthday. The Carers’ Support Centre on George Street has Page 11 also celebrated its first birthday with 16,000 enquiries in the first year of Staff in the Know: opening. Desi Tomassi The endless variety of activities never ceases to amaze me. Entertainment Page 12 - 13 has included can-can dancers, artists and even a parliament of owls, Activities Focus: with communal areas being transformed into the Caribbean, Spain, Croydon Heritage Festival Commonwealth Games, the seaside and a traditional public house. Page 14 - 15 This edition features just a selection of these wonderful events, as well Events Gallery as your life stories, staff achievements and I welcome you to take part in Frankie’s quiz on the back page. Page 16 - 17 News from The Catherine (Head of Marketing and Communications) and her team are Whitgift Foundation always happy to spend time talking to you about your life experiences, recent events you have attended or any ideas for future articles. Please Page 18 contact her on 020 8256 1579. This newsletter is produced for you; I hope Significant Milestones: you enjoy this edition. Rene Hussey and Ina Wilson With the end of the year fast approaching, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families an enjoyable and prosperous M.Corney Page 19 festive season and New Year. Noticeboard Martin Corney Page 20 CEO, The Whitgift Foundation Quiz Time 2 Whitgift Care News Round-up Non-stop activities at Wilhelmina House Since the last newsletter, Wilhelmina House has seen an action packed diary of events. May kicked off with a VE ‘street party’ with patriotic flags being proudly flown around the dining room, followed by a trip to the theatre for a sing along to well known wartime songs. To get in the spirit of summer, June’s highlight was a Spanish Day where Whitgift House and Almshouses residents joined the Home for a memorable flamenco performance. Residents also took part in a variety of Croydon Heritage Festival in-house events. July and August saw a flower arranging workshop (with thanks to the skilful Harold at Whitgift House), a BBQ party, garden centre and Crystal Palace Park outing, topped off with a seaside themed day complete with an authentic Punch and Judy Show! Finally a Caribbean Day helped the Home to see out the summer before gearing up for Harvest Festival and Halloween. With Christmas fast approaching, residents will be eagerly awaiting what festive activities Frankie and Sally next have up their sleeves! Almshouses get sporty for Garden Party Party fever swept over the Whitgift Almshouses as residents and guests celebrated their annual Garden Party on Saturday 30th August. A live band entertained guests at the Commonwealth Games themed party with classic tunes whilst young and old mingled together. The courtyard was transformed into a hive of activity with stalls selling residents’ homemade jams, chutneys and knitwear, as well as, brick-a-brac, tombola, elephant racing and raffle stalls. This year, residents raised over £1,000 with funds going towards the British Heart Foundation and the residents’ own social fund. Margaret Dickens, Almshouses resident, commented: “Despite the rain clouds threatening, there was a real buzz in the Almshouses courtyard with good conversation across the generations. I would like to thank all who helped out to make the event a wonderful success, with a special thank you to our Wardens for their hard work, commitment and energy.” Pearls donned at Whitgift House This year, Whitgift House has enjoyed celebrating a special 30th ‘pearl’ birthday. On 3rd February, an evening party complete with a delicious buffet gave the ladies an opportunity to wear their finest pearls. Residents and staff wrote what Whitgift House means to them onto paper bunting used to decorate the room. All enjoyed lively music on the keyboard and many, including some in wheelchairs, were dancing. The celebrations continued at the Home’s Annual Garden Party in July where the lovely weather saw pretty summer outfits and pearls again. Music across the decades was played and a splendid 30th Birthday Cake was ‘cut’ by a former long standing member of staff, Ingrid Quartey, assisted by CEO, Martin Corney. Alison Symonds- Tayler, Activities Co-ordinator, said: “It has been such a privilege to celebrate 30 years in which Whitgift House has gone from strength to strength. We are grateful for the wonderful support by The Whitgift Foundation and look forward to the next 30 years.” 3 In the spotlight: feel aware of the deep roots best quality. Plus there had been A PERSONAL of John Whitgift stretching back no mishaps and I just knew that IMPRESSION OF in time like the sturdy roots of a the day would be perfect and there A SPECIAL DAY great oak whose wide trunk shows wouldn’t be any disasters small or BY LYNDA PESTELL, its age. Yet the branches reach large to mar the day. The Princess WHITGIFT HOUSE far into the air reaching out to us gave a speech, and we took her to and touching the lives of people our hearts because she seemed e all arrived at the Minster, today; the Foundation’s homes and so straight forward and without Wall thirty eight of us, in good schools, and people living their lives pretence. The youngest girls of time. All seated in our pews and now with their hopes and desires. Old Palace School sang a lovely bathed in the sunlight flooding I feel proud and lucky to be part of song about flying free and the through the beautiful arched something good which has purpose beautiful room was filled with stained glass glowing blue and red. and comes from something of so beautiful music. We could see what was going on long ago. at the Alter, the solemnness of the The Princess took her leave and we proceedings and the verger calmly In the Great Hall, we celebrated the moved into the buffet room which leading Canon Boswell and then the 400th Founders Day Service. The had the same air of elegance with Bishop of Croydon to where they high ceiled room with its vaulted its large oval table and large flower made their address. The choir sang; roof and panelled walls was set arrangement in yellow and blue. heavenly voices rang out. There was with elegant large round tables, We collected with residents, and a beauty in that church, the sound, each topped with a beautiful floral while waiting for our transport, we the atmosphere. The smartly arrangement. Every detail had been shared our experiences of the day. dressed congregation all seemed considered and tastefully arranged A wonderful end to this event was lifted. in honour of the celebration and yet to come - the Whitgift school our special guest, The Princess bus that had brought us, suddenly Through to Old Palace, via an Royal. Prawn cocktails, in their tall appeared, unarranged and returned ancient arch, helpful strong arms stemmed cocktail glasses, stood us back to Whitgift House. The assisted with wheelchairs and so like statues with toast soldiers timing could not have been better - our procession arrived. Before in the projecting from them at an angle thank you to driver Peter, it was the Minster, and now in the Great Hall, I and the crisp table linen was the ‘icing on the cake’! 4 Founder’s Day by Sheila Mason Whitgift Almshouses A gentleman called John Whitgift Laid in 1596, the foundation stones; Thoughts on a So characteristic are the buildings Which are found within the zones. Royal Founder’s Day To mark this special occasion by Wilhelmina A service in the Church, a must; We entered with great trepidation House Residents It’s here one gives thanks to the trust. The spoken lessons, expressed so much feeling The choirs with their singing excelled; This was a day to remember What a blessing, once a year it is held. “I’ve always admired Princess Ann because when she joins in Home once again to the Almshouses The swearing in, a mark of tradition; anything she always takes the The service was short, for next on the list trouble of learning beforehand A superb meal was held in addition. all about the event and the people involved in it, so when So now as we thank John Whitgift We also give thanks to our Lord, she meets people, she always To be mindful of others, help all we can knows what she’s talking about!” For peace you will find, rest assured.