ALMSHOUSE NEWS SPRING 2019 The quarterly newsletter for the Richmond Charities Almshouses ______Stories for the Soul by Stuart

Mrs Carmel Regan (2 Michel’s) and Mrs Cathy Widger (7 Hickey’s).

************************************** Chapel Diary (Special Services and Events) by Stuart

Wednesday 6th March at 11am: Eucharist with hymns for Ash Wednesday. During the period of Lent this Wednesday 13th, 20th, & 27th year we will be preparing for the March and 3rd, 10th April at 10am: celebrations of Easter with some Stories for the Soul (in the Green ‘Stories for the Soul’. Stuart will be Room). sharing these stories in the Green Room on Wednesday mornings with Thursday 18th April at 6pm: plenty of opportunity for reflective Eucharist of the Last Supper with wondering together, a chance for a hymns for Maundy Thursday. little craft activity and some delicious treats over coffee. Friday 19th April at 2pm: Liturgy of the Cross with hymns for Good Friday. The stories are drawn from the parables of Jesus, spiritually and Sunday 21st April at 10.30am: politically challenging stories which Celebration of the Resurrection and invite us to imagine a different sort of First Eucharist of Easter with hymns. world and a very different way of living. Dates and times appear in the diary. Nordic Walking by Stuart William Shakespeare by Richard Howard

Nordic Walking ... not just for Norwegians!

Over the last few months you may have seen groups of residents marching around with walking poles. This has been as part of a course of lessons by Nordic walking training instructor Rosie Cooke.

Nordic walking is a full-body exercise that is easy on the joints and William Shakespeare comes to suitable for all ages and fitness levels. the Chapel of St. Francis on It originated as a summer training Wednesday 27 March at 6pm. We regime for cross-country skiers. The present: use of poles harnesses the power of the upper body to propel you SHAKESPEARE’S POSTBAG. forwards. Nordic walking is a great An hour of entertainment followed by way to increase fitness, lose weight drinks. and tone the whole body. SHAKESPEARE'S POSTBAG, a Residents who participated in selection of momentous letters sent recent classes noticed how it helped and received by Shakespeare's everyday walking, improved balance immortal characters, was first and reduced falling and tripping. performed at the Henley Literary Classes began in the courtyard at Festival in 2016, the 400th Hickey's Almshouses and graduated anniversary of Shakespeare's death. It to some beautiful - but not too was seen again last year at the challenging - walks in Richmond Garrick Club in London. The cast Park. includes Jeremy Child (Judge John Deed, The Madness of George III), The next course of Nordic Richard Howard (Shakespeare in Walking starts on Thursday 14 Love, Jane Eyre), Sally Nesbitt (RSC, March; 1.45pm at Hickey’s and The Avengers), Emily Raymond continues for 5 further weeks (in (RSC, Pop-up Shakespeare 2018), Richmond Park by mutual Tam Williams (RSC, The Lottery of agreement). Love at the Orange Tree, Richmond). Writing for Your Life by Stuart Memoirs or Autobiography by

Stuart Beginning on Wednesday 1st May at 10am in the Green Room, If you plan to write your memoirs Stuart will be leading a or autobiography DO IT NOW! Guided Autobiography Group which Margaret Goddard shares her will last for up to 12 weeks. Using a experience of being part of the Guided tried and tested method, Autobiography Group in 2018: It’s developed over 25 years of beginning to happen more and more experiment, Stuart will guide us frequently – my brain says to my through a series of exercises (and set body, “Do this,” and my body says, homework!) that can help anyone “No.” Frustrating isn’t it? But in organise and write their compensation we’ve been given a own experiences and share them in great gift – a box, full to the brim and a group with others on the same running over – memories. There are journey. The method is particularly big ones, small ones, (some as big as helpful for those who like the idea of your head?), sparkling ones, perhaps writing their own story for family or dull ones. But all ours! friends (or simply for yourself) but don't know where to begin. By the I thought my life had been fairly end you will have a ‘collage’ of your mundane and ordinary – especially in life experiences which, if you wanted comparison with other members of the to, you could further work on to turn Guided Autobiography Group – no into a more polished autobiography. great achievements, no glamour, no However, experience shows that bling! But it opened the box and pulled going through this process together is out admittedly small memories, but, almost more important than worrying examined with hindsight, polished by about any finished product. sharing and further enhanced by the others’ interest and comments, they Last year’s participants acquired a lustre entirely their own. described the experiencing as ‘incredibly interesting’ and ‘absolutely It may be a small life; we may wonderful,’ with one person sharing not have done anything particularly that they had not done something they great or inspiring, but our memories had ‘so looked forward to every week make us what we are and those who for 60 years'. love us are interested in that.

Numbers will be limited for this Realistically I know that never course (and there will need to be a again am I going to climb a mountain minimum of 6 people for the course to in the Lake District or dance the night run), so please book with your away, but I did it once and have the scheme manager if you would like to memories – and I can do it in my head attend. whenever I want to!

Contact Stuart if you would like So, with Stuart’s help and further details or would like to reserve guidance, and the encouragement a place. and interest of others, open the box! The Craft Club – Yarn Bombing Seaside Outing 2019 by Juliet by Debbie

In the last edition of the Almshouse News, we asked for suggestions of where residents would like to go for the seaside trip in 2019. The Craft Club have worked Thank you to those of you who made hard for the last three months having suggestions via your Scheme such fun creating the wonderful yarn Manager or via the suggestion boxes. bomb that is now on display at Hickey’s. It will hang for one month The seaside locations which and will brighten the trees before they were requested by residents were bloom again. It hopefully will be a Clacton, Bognor Regis, Portsmouth, talking point and bring joy to Eastbourne, Southend and the wintery month ahead. Bournemouth. Scheme Managers and I have discussed this and we have A huge thank you to all those in decided that for 2019 the outing will the Craft Club for all their hard work, be to Southend-on-Sea. We can of creativity and love that they have put course think about outings to the other into this lovely piece of art. seaside towns suggested in future years. The Craft Club would love to welcome new members so if you are The outing will take place on free on a Wednesday morning at Wednesday 12 June 2019, so do put 10am please pop along. the date in your diaries. Seats are limited so residents wishing to go on the trip should let their Scheme Manager know by Friday 31st May. If you need to bring a carer for support, please inform your Scheme Manager

at the same time. As in previous years, there will be pick up points at Hickey’s Almshouses, Wakefield Road (bus station) and Lebanon Court, . Details of pick up times will be circulated nearer the date.

Summer Parties by Juliet 16 July – 1pm to 4pm Party by Lorraine

Every other year the charity hosts a summer party for residents For the residents of Benn’s from all estates. Memorably, we had Walk, Church Estate, Houblon’s the Queen’s 90th with the and Manning Place you are invited to marching band in 2016 and our 1940s a party on Tuesday 16 July at 1pm party in 2018. We will plan to hold to 4pm on the front lawn at Church another party for all residents in 2020 Estate. but this year, therefore, we will be holding three different parties for We will journey back to the “Days of residents from groups of estates. the Raj” – invites to follow but keep 16 Below are the dates for these parties July at 1pm date in your diary! – so please put the relevant date into your diary now so that you don’t miss ************************************** it! Hickey’s & Adelaide Road Summer Party by Gail ************************************** A bubbly afternoon tea party by Jo & Linda

An afternoon tea party with prosecco for the Vineyard and We will be hosting a garden Candler residents will be held on the party for Hickey’s and Adelaide Road lawn at Michel’s on Wednesday 10th July between 1pm and 4pm. residents on Tuesday 20 August at 2pm on the Hickey’s Green. More RSVP to Linda or Jo before information will follow but save the Friday 28th June. Transport will be date for now! arranged for Candler residents.

Christmas Lunch 2019 by Friends & Neighbours Christmas Juliet Party by Poppy Hillman

2018, my first Christmas at

Hickey’s, what a lovely friendly Thank you so much to all those atmosphere! There were many social of you who have given us feedback events. The Friends & Neighbours about the Christmas lunch which we Christmas Party held in St. Francis held at the Richmond Hill Hotel in Chapel for the residents of Richmond December, for the second time. Charities for one, Teas and Christmas Overwhelmingly, the feedback has goodies for all, beautifully laid out by been extremely positive with so many volunteers from Friends & of you telling us how much you Neighbours. enjoyed the lunch and letting us know that you would like to keep the venue Carol singing by the children the same for next time. Therefore, due from Marshgate School decked out to popular demand, I am delighted to and wearing tinsel crowns for confirm that we will hold our Christmas really uplifted our spirits, Christmas Lunch for 2019 at the and put smiles on all our faces, they Richmond Hill Hotel and, if you like, were wonderful and beautifully you can put the date in your diaries conducted. now! The lunch will be on Thursday

12th December 2019. Many thanks to the wonderful

Pat Platt and her team. We are all Looking forward to it already! looking forward to next Christmas.

Christmas Carols and Mulled Joy Sayles 90th Birthday by Wine at Michel’s by Jill Joan Skeats Davidson

I found the Christmas Carol singing at Michel’s on Sunday 9 December quite a magical experience.

The afternoon was cold but dry. Approximately 60 people gathered in the beautiful garden at Michel’s Almshouses for the most enjoyable Christmas, as ever came with festival of carols sung by the choir of the usual hustle and bustle and in St. Mary Magdalene Church. The some cases panic. However among choir were in fine voice and the all the glitter for the festivities was a alternative tune to “Away in a Manger” very bright star. The occasion of Joy was beautiful, as were all the carols. Sayles 90th Birthday, and it really was a truly lovely event; a luncheon party Jo and Linda were gracious organised and attended by all her hosts and provided generous supplies family and close friends. of mulled wine (good for warming our Approximately 26 of us enjoyed a hands) and mince pies (delicious) and superb 4 course meal in an of course the decorated Christmas appropriate private room at The tree added to the holiday ambience. Crown Hotel in Twickenham, who Despite the cold, as the afternoon gave excellent service. progressed, we had a really festive and jolly time. Joy is one of life’s very “Human” beings who has always maintained As a newcomer to the Richmond her calm composure in whatever Charities Almshouses, I felt quite at befalls her. She is very petite in frame home in the convivial atmosphere and but a giant in strength of character. hope that the tradition of Christmas Many Happy Returns! Carols, Mince pies and mulled wine at Michel’s garden continue in the years to come. Marshgate School Project by The Almshouses for Six Year Pat Platt Olds

8 Marshgate children and 2 or 3 teachers visited us for over a year. We had some really fun times with them during which one of the boys had to move away. When it finished the residents wanted to continue with the 7 remaining children. Our names our Tom, Zach, Charlie, Isla, Alize, Ciara and Viola After the parents and residents and we are all in Year 2 at Marshgate involved signed an agreement we met Primary School. Some of us are 6 and agreed to hold our first event on and some of us are 7 years old. For 23rd January, a party which was one whole year we were really lucky enjoyed by all participants. During the because we were allowed to come to party they gave suggestions for a the Hickey’s Almshouses to play name to call our group. At a meeting games, draw pictures and listen to in February with the parents we stories with our new friends Pat, Lena, agreed on MAPS (Marshgate, Mary, Sue, Suszie and Stuart. We Almshouses, Parents & Siblings). also got to have a biscuit and juice which was so yummy. The first time You may remember that one of we came we felt a little bit nervous but the Marshgate Choirs sang at the when we got to know everyone we Summer Party and another at the absolutely loved it. We enjoyed Friends & Neighbours Christmas listening to stories that our new friends party. told us and we even found out that during WW2 some people were We all get together for an event evacuated and had to leave their once a month on a Saturday and mummies and daddies. That must residents meet with parents every 2 have been quite scary for them but we months on a Tuesday afternoon to know it was a long time ago. We have discuss the next event. all enjoyed our project with the Almshouses and we are going to miss When we met on Tuesday 12th everything about it especially seeing February the parents told us that our new friends each week but we when the children came to our party in know we are going to keep in touch. January some of them had received We had an amazing time. We hope invites to their friends parties but had that some other children from school chosen to come to the Almshouses can come over and meet new people instead! just like we did. (See our drawing at the end of this edition!).

Photo & Sketch Competition Kate O’Brien works part-time as by Gail an administrator and bookkeeper at a school in Chiswick. Previously she worked for a software company. Her family moved to Richmond in 1981 and all four of her children attended local schools. Kate served as a Governor at The Vineyard School during this time. She has been a Samaritan and a Cruse Bereavement Volunteer in the past. In her spare time, as well as enjoying spending time with her grandchildren, she is a A reminder that we will be keen reader (she was the founder producing a Richmond Charities’ member of a book group which has calendar at the end of 2019 and want been running continuously since your contributions. So if you have 1984!), enjoys the cinema and walks photos, sketches, drawings or in the many green spaces in the paintings of any of our Almshouses or borough. estates please submit them to your Scheme Manager. Selected images Dr Alex Hall was born in North will win you a prize and get your name Kent and qualified in medicine and immortalised on the calendar! surgery from Leeds University in 1968. Having held post-graduate ************************************** posts in general medicine, thoracic New Trustees by Juliet surgery, accident & emergency, obstetrics, paediatrics and anaesthetics, he decided to devote the remainder of his career to general practice. He joined Dr Shearman’s practice at Cross Deep in Twickenham in 1973 and retired in 2011 having been senior partner for many years. Since retirement he has At the Christmas lunch, we said undertaken voluntary work as a farewell to Susan John, who had been classroom assistant and as a support a Trustee for eight years and was work for ‘Look and Plan’ which is an retiring from the Board, and to Dr Nick activity group for people with mental Ramscar, who has taken up an health issues. Alex’s hobbies are exciting new job opportunity in playing the piano and cooking. Switzerland and so had to step down from the Board. Both Kate and Alex have also joined the Welfare Committee and, as I am delighted to report that we members of that committee, they will have two new Trustees joining the undertake interviews with applicants Board; Kate O’Brien and Dr Alex Hall. for almshouse accommodation and follow-up visits to residents. New website for The Richmond Contacting residents by email Charities by Juliet by Juliet

During 2018 I spent a lot of time working with a website design company on designing a new website for The Richmond Charities and the new website was launched in November. If you have internet access, do go online and have a look. The website address is www.richmondcharities.org.uk Some residents have let us know that they would prefer us, where The website is primarily aimed possible, to contact them by email. Of at people who may be thinking of our circa 150 residents, we have 55 applying for accommodation with us, residents for whom we have email and on the website they can find a lot addresses but there may be more of information about our residents who have an email address. accommodation and our community. However, the website is also designed If you are on email but don’t for residents, staff and Trustees as think we have your email address, and well and as part of the website, we if you would like us to contact you by have a new ‘Community News’ email where possible, please can you section where we can post information let your Scheme Manager know. about events and activities which have been taking place within our Given that only about one third community and advertise forthcoming of our residents currently have an events. There are recent posts from email address, it is likely that we will various members of staff about the need to continue to send out letters by Christmas lunch, the Book Club, the hard copy when we are writing to Strength & Balance classes and about everyone, but we may be able to use upcoming films shown by the Film email more frequently when we need Club. If residents would like to post to contact individual residents. articles on the website, complete with photos if possible, please do email articles and photos through to me at [email protected]

Who’s That Knocking At The Mouldy clothes in our Door by Gerry wardrobes by Linda

On occasions recently there have been unwelcome visitors trying to sell assorted items door to door. They are usually quite young, in their twenties and travel down from the north east of the country claiming they are sponsored by a probation service The majority of us tend not to scheme or similar. As I am from the have the bedroom heating on same region and speak fluent “stotty because we get hot in bed and this cake” I have been able to dissuade can often lead to problems with mould them from their dubious commerce in our wardrobes. The first we notice and they have moved on with my there’s a problem is when we go to accented imprecations guiding their get items of clothing out that we might exit. not have used for a while only to They are sure to return at some discover they are ruined because of point and I won’t always be onsite or mould. at home. They can be quite intimidating and forcefully persuasive, There is a product on the market so it is worthwhile to remind you that if that I actually use myself and it’s you are not expecting a visitor or called a “Hanging Dehumidifier” As caller, sensible precautions can save you can see from the picture it’s really you from dealing with someone who cheap, only 69 pence and worth every won’t take no for an answer. penny. You literally just open the packet and hang it in your wardrobe. Always use your door chain You will be surprised at how much especially if it is late in the evening. water it collects in the bag. When the Before you open your door challenge bag’s full you just dispose of it and put the caller to reveal his identity and up another one. purpose and if you find yourself doubting his or her answer advise I buy mine from a shop in them to call another time or contact Hounslow called B&M which is the on-call Scheme Manager. Your situated in The Blenheim Centre next front door is your protection so stay to Asda. The H37 bus takes you right safe and if you want any yellow to the door, but I’m sure there are dusters at £5 a cloth I have hundreds other shops that sell the same or of them. similar product. It really works!!

Poetry Corner by Nigel Davis understanding of those traditions. Note, in this poem, the careful internal rhyming structure not only within each verse but as between the two verses. This contributes to its tightness and tautness. Why do poets, true poets, write poetry? Because they must. I imagine that most people leave school glad to say goodbye to poetry In my Craft or Sullen Art for good. After having the odd By Dylan Thomas Shakespeare sonnet or “Tyger! Tyger!” or “Daffodils” shoved down In my craft or sullen art their throats they want no more of it. Fair enough. For those of us who Exercised in the still night have continued to like and value When only the moon rages poetry, we will have to work out for ourselves why we have. But why do And the lovers lie abed poets write the stuff in the first place? With all their griefs in their arms,

Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953) I labour by singing light was born and brought up in Swansea. Not for ambition or bread Like many from Wales, he had a love of words and language: and that, Or the strut and trade of charms coupled with the then pervasive On the ivory stages influence of James Joyce and the “sprung rhythms” of Gerard Manley But for the common wages Hopkins, perhaps makes much of his Of their most secret heart. poetry seem, by contemporary standards, somewhat over written and over elaborate. But he wrote some Not for the proud man apart great poems (personally, I would not like to find myself on a desert island From the raging moon I write without a copy of Fern Hill close to hand); and notwithstanding his On these spindrift pages dissolute and boozy lifestyle he was a Nor for the towering dead true craftsman, spending hours each day in the Boathouse in Laugharne in With their nightingales and psalms West Wales working and reworking But for the lovers, their arms his poems (before heading off to the pub for a pint or four in the evening). Round the griefs of the ages, Who pay no praise or wages This one is in a rather simpler style, which suits its subject matter. Nor heed my craft or art. Dylan Thomas, who was in many ways trying to adapt, or even subvert, the “traditions” of poetry, in fact had a Published by: The Richmond Charities profound knowledge and Submit articles via Scheme Managers. Copy for Summer Issue by 16 May 2019.