Community-Matters-Newsletter-Winter-2025-final - Flipbook - Page 10
A trip down memory lane
with Margaret
Margaret lives at Shawhurst Lane and has
seen lots of changes over the years. Here,
she re昀氀ects on some of the things that
have changed:
We had to be 60-years-old to be in
sheltered accommodation and the TV
licence cost us £5. There was a warden
on-site, who helped everyone. Laundry
opened at 10.30am and closed at 5pm.
On Sundays, washing wasn’t allowed on the line, and the laundry room
was closed. There were no vans on the car park. Nothing happened in the
daytime, there weren’t any activities, etc. The kitchen was sta昀昀ed by a lady
who lived on Forest Way. This was later taken over by a Meals on Wheels
service. When Meals on Wheels ended, myself and a few other residents
started organising daytime activities, such as Bingo. I took over and started
holding sit-down meals for around 65 people. I later started a Lottery,
residents could win half the money, and the other half was used for day
trips. We even hired a chef from Bromsgrove Council once!
Twice a year, I organise events in the
community room. I hire a singer, put on a ra昀툀e,
prepare a bu昀昀et and charge residents a small
fee to attend. The money that’s raised is used
to buy plants for the gardens for everybody to
enjoy.
I’ve really enjoyed my time here; some things
have changed for the better and some things
will remain in ‘the good old days.’ I look forward
to seeing what the future holds.
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