Page 9 - HGS Suburb News 136 - Autumn 2018

Hidden Suburb – Abbeyfield House

Nestling off Erskine Hill in the London in the docks area. He was Our local Society was and it was 1983 before the first know how she gave unstintingly Homesfield. It is our Housekeepers
cul-de-sac called Homesfield is known as ‘the scrubbing major’. founded in 1977 but it was resident moved in. The first of her time – as in anything she who make it a home rather than
one of the Suburb’s best-kept Finding so much desperate some time before suitable Open Day was held in 1985. committed herself to. Since her a house.
secrets. For the past thirty-five loneliness amongst those he premises could be found in the The house has been updated death last year Mike has retired We have Coffee mornings
years Abbeyfield House has visited, he hit upon the idea of Suburb. It turned out to be ‘St. through the years – a lift was from the Committee but still twice a year – amongst other
provided sheltered housing for buying a house, which he would Catherine’s’ in Homesfield – installed, and more recently all gives his good advice. activities – and anyone who
many elderly women and, more live in but would also provide originally two houses (‘Emma’ the rooms were altered to include Abbeyfield UK was created would like to visit the House or
recently, men. Each resident rentable rooms for a variety of and ‘Rosemary’ Cottages) – en-suite showers. There are now to help struggling societies and who may be looking for a place
has their own room with their people – with common house- designed by Raymond Unwin eleven rooms plus a bedsitter, a rationalise unsuitable housing for a friend or relative can come
own furniture and an en-suite keeping and thus the advantages and built by William Moss in small flat and a guest room. stock (some of the original housing along to one of these or contact
with shower. Meals are taken of companionship. The first house 1912. St. Catherine’s had Locally there has always been was too small to be practical) and Abbeyfield House on 8455 2607.
together and there are common was purchased in Abbeyfield originally been used to house a Friends Committee – initially particularly to give advice with There is still a committee of
rooms. This sense of communal Road, Bermondsey, and in 1956 Poor Law children and then responsible for raising funds to the now more complicated rules Friends of Abbeyfield, which
living is in keeping with the the Society was formed and ‘tired young servants’ where they help purchase the house and make and regulations surrounding helps to arrange outings for the
core values of the founder of named after it. By this time could go between one situation it suitable. It was necessarily sheltered housing and nursing residents and supports both the
the Abbeyfield Society, Richard Carr-Gomm had been joined by and another – though they were rather more active in the early home care. Our local Society staff and the residents.
Carr-Gomm. his friend Christopher Buxton, not considered too tired to work years when Abbeyfield House decided to come under the ANTHEA DAVIDSON
Carr-Gomm was a regular who had banking connections. when a money-earning laundry was independent of the main umbrella of Abbeyfield UK –now
Guards officer – he had been The Society was able to buy a was added to the building at Society in St. Albans. In recent run from its head office at St.
amongst the first troops into second house, became a more the back. Thereafter it was used years Mike and Norma Milner of Albans. We answer to St. Albans
the Belsen camp – who came professional venture, and there- by the Church of England’s North Square worked tirelessly and benefit from specialist staff
from a family with a history of after grew rapidly. Often local Children’s Society (at that time for the House – Mike indeed and regional house managers
charitable work. Dissatisfied with church and Rotary groups took bluntly named The Waifs and became Chairman of the Regional who support our housekeepers.
peace-time soldiering he made up the idea and used the Strays Society). When they left, Council and Trustee of the Greater One of the great strengths
the dramatic decision to become experience and name provided finally we had Abbeyfield House. London Abbeyfield Society. All of the House is our staff. There
a home help in the south east of by the Society. It took some time to renovate those who knew Norma will is a rota of housekeepers – Lin
Kenny, Laura Morgan, Chichi
Habiba, Thelma Robinson, and
Elaine Kenny, the general assistant.
This year Lin celebrates thirty
years with Abbeyfield and (Above) Lin Kenny, housekeeper of thirty
sixteen of those have been at years, and (below) residents enjoying
the late summer sun

Letters to the editor

NW11 Aviva buses kept breaking down with walking problems or carrying than leaving it under the plants
About the new H2 and the new Metro buses were not heavy bags, I fear this will be a where we’d placed it. I replaced the
Dear Sir, ready, so they ran irregularly. Since difficult procedure. water yesterday.
As I have not noticed any e-mails September however, the new buses I wonder if the designers realised About a month ago, or perhaps
on the HGS List, our e-mail forum, have taken over completely and they that many of the passengers are more, a neighbour found a hedgehog
about the new H2 buses which are keeping more or less to time. elderly and may have difficulty in on the pavement on our street during
Metroline fully took over from Howecver, I should like to reaching these other seats. The six the day. She asked my advice about
Aviva in September, I wonder what complain about the design of the seats on the first level fill up first moving it and I suggested she
proportion of residents use them buses, which provides seats on two so elderly passengers will have to didn’t, hoping that it would move
and what they think about them? I levels. Having climbed up a step to rely on others giving up their seats, under a hedge when it was quiet (I
am a frequent bus passenger and get on the bus, where there are which they often do. didn’t want it to be traumatised).
my road is on its route. only six seats, one is then faced As far as I know, it found its way
During the summer the service with a further double step to get to Yours, to safety.
was very poor as some of the old the other 13 seats. For anyone Mrs W. Stick We have had hedgehogs in our
(nom de plume – name & address garden previously – we only know
withheld) they are there when our dog starts
MATHS TUITION a commotion, and in fact we don’t

PRIVATE COACHING IN HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB NW11 usually let him into the garden at
night, so it is likely they are there
More about Hedgehogs regularly, undetected.
✩ Common Entrance and 11+ ✩ Dear Sir, We live in Greenhalgh Walk, so
✩ A level, Further Maths or GCSE ✩ I just read with interest your hedgehog quite a distance from the Heath – I
article (SN135, p3) which has just don’t think they’re crossing the A1!
✩ STEP and Oxbridge interview preparation ✩ arrived – I understand ZSL want
information about sightings for Yours
Highly experienced former Head of Maths with B.Sc. Maths, their Heath survey. Two nights ago Dani Solomon
1st Class hons. degree from top UK university and experience we found a hedgehog in our garden
in writing 11+ materials. (or rather our dog did, but he was (Dani has told us hedgehogs
quickly put into the house!). We
One-to-one supportive and challenging sessions that googled about feeding them, and continued to visit over the
will really help you to get those A*s, grade 9s, top university, took the advice to put out a little summer and so perhaps are
Independent or selective school places. wet dog food and some water, less rare than most people
which had been taken by the think. I live not far away in
Contact: 07811 254061 morning. We think not by a fox, Brim Hill and never see any in
who would probably have picked my garden. Perhaps I need to
up the container we left, rather get a dog! Ed)
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