Pensioners rejoice in war time memories at sheltered housing scheme

Elderly residents at a sheltered scheme in Preston brought wartime Britain back to life as part of a belated celebration to mark Remembrance Day.

The pensioners, who live at Windsor Court sheltered scheme in Brookfield, Preston, also took the opportunity to celebrate the end of major refurbishment works as part of the ‘wartime’ event.

The evening took place at Windsor Court community centre at Poole Road in Brookfield, Preston, and was organised by 80-year-old Connie Myerscough and Elsie McLeod, 79, of Windsor Court’s residents’ association.

Over 40 residents brought the evening to life by sharing their favourite war time memories, recalling famous speeches by Winston Churchill, watching a slide show and taking part in a sing-a-long.

Residents belted out a number of hits on the night including Dame Vera Lynn, Max Bygraves, Katherine Jenkins, Gracie Fields and Billy Cotton.

The evening was supported by Salford-based housing specialists Bramall Construction, part of the Keepmoat group, who supplied a hamper and a number of bottles of wine.

The community regeneration specialist is currently completing a £300,000 refurbishment scheme at Windsor Court which includes the provision of new kitchens and bathrooms, new ramps, railings, re-wiring and other disabled facilities to 40 flats.

Bramall Construction has been working with Community Gateway Association for the past four years on their £90 million Decent Homes programme to improve 6,000 homes.

Bramall’s Resident Liaison Officer Gill Shaw and Site Manager Mick Curwen helped out on the night by serving a hot pot supper and apple pie.

Gill said: “Connie and Elsie decided on an evening of wartime memories to celebrate Remembrance Day earlier this month, and it was such a fantastic idea of theirs.

“Everyone had a great evening and I was particularly moved by the Winston Churchill speeches that were read out and the wartime songs. The residents were also delighted with the refurbishment work Bramall Construction carried out to their flats so it was a great success.”

Elsie, a former nurse from Hulme in Greater Manchester, said: “We decided to carry out a musical evening as we’re all Second World War citizens and wanted to take part in our own celebrations in memory of our experiences.

“One of the residents at the party is 101 years old and she’s just moved into a nursing home. Her children are all in their 70s and she doesn’t want to be a burden to them any more.

“Another resident is 99 years old and he fought in the Second World War.

“Although I’m younger, I have many wartime memories myself. I was nine when the war broke out and I clearly remember Chamberlain’s speech. I was also evacuated from Hulme to Bolton during the war and passed my 11 plus to get into grammar school during this time.

“Evacuation was actually a good experience for me as it was the first time I’d seen a garden or experienced hot water and I was able to recount these stories during our musical evening.

“We also took the opportunity to celebrate refurbishment work carried out by Bramall Construction at Windsor Court and I’m very pleased with my adaptations. Moving to the sheltered housing scheme is the best decision I could have made, from a social point of view as well.”