SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD

[John]

History of Four Acres Community 1962-2005
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This is a words only edition of the official history of this community
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The original can be printed off and sent to you by post for £8 it contains 33 pages with 82 illustrations many coloured. It lists the residents who have lived at Four Acres, Outings, special birthdays and anniversaries and several poems by residents.

First published 1988. Rewritten and re published 2000 Updated 2013

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED
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A front page report in the Saffron Walden Weekly News of November 20 1959  declared £65,000 FOR ELDERLY FOLK'S HOME, Borough and County Schemes For South Road Site. 
The newspaper  stated that a few days earlier the Borough Council had before them a proposal from their  Housing Committee  to build in a meadow in South Road opposite the Mayors House [ Councillor A L Godfrey] for local elderly people, 21 bungalows, six 2 story houses, and  a Warden's house. An invited guest at that Committee  Meeting was Stanley Wilson,  Chairman of the County Council's Welfare Committee, who explained that  grants could be obtained for such a scheme, provided they included a Common Room and a Guest Room.  It was agreed that the two Council's should obtain loans and buy as much land as they would need to fulfill their aims.

FOUR ACRES COMMUNITY Sheltered Housing at Saffron Walden was built by Saffron Walden Borough Council in 1962 on a T shaped corner of land on a site at the back of Audley Road with South Road which was actually 3½ acres and for some years had been used by a Nursery which was located between East Street and Audley Road known in it’s later years as VERTS. It is now located as New Croft. They used the T shaped site for growing fruit trees and roses. The site’s earlier inhabitants included ants which years later still plague the ground floor flats each summer.

The impetus for this experiment which has since been followed and improved upon by other local authorities was the been to clear slum dwellings, an provided improved basic accommodation for elderly and infirm people.

It rose also out of the Christian heart and conscience of a number of Christian Borough Councillors of all parties to create a community where the elderly would be properly cared for and looked after. .Christian Ministers Eric Raynor, David Monkton, Horace Webb and Dennis Horwood were often at social events in the early years and from 1962 onwards for over 40 years there was a monthly worship service at the Common Room, for a long time a Prayer Meeting was held at Ethel Swan’s home at 28, and various Christians have served as Wardens or on social committees and that continues to be so although services ceased in 2005 when attendance had dropped to 2 or 3.-

The complex included a Warden’s house, a Common room with kitchen, toilets. storage rooms and a guest room, which in later years served as a Warden’s Office, 2 semi-detached houses, 4 bungalows, 9 blocks of 4 flats, some single bedroom and some double, 2 at ground floor, 2 at first floor, and on the South West corner of the site was built under the auspices of the Essex County Council, a home for Elderly People called Stanley Wilson Lodge, named after Sidney Stanley Wilson, Alderman, Mayor, Justice of the Peace and County Councillor, a life long Christian Socialist.

At the centre of the complex was laid out a spacious patio terrace with paved floor, flower beds, a fish pond with a fountain and a stork like stone statue, surrounded by a hedge, beyond which was a large lawn in which were planted various plain trees, flowering trees, and conifers, and a paved path crossed the site.
This garden was laid out at the expense of Saffron Walden & District Co-operative Society, to mark their Diamond Jubilee in 1962.

The credit for the building of this complex goes largely to the Borough Engineer and Surveyor Mr T W Cloughton, M. I. Mun. E.
Invitations were issued to residents and guests for an official opening on July 5th 1963, for which a large marquee was erected for refreshments along with use of Stanley Wilson Lodge and the Common Room and it was expected that our local Member of Parliament Richard Austen Butler would perform the task. In the event Parliamentary business made it impossible for him to attend, and the complex, home and garden was opened by the Rt. Hon. Bernard Brain, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, accompanied by Ald.
Joy Hawkins, at that time Mayor.

The first residents had occupied the flats on the South side, the first to be completed, from 1962 onwards. Amongst the very first to arrive were neighbours Mrs. C A Reed and Miss D Holttum. Mrs Reed died in 1987 and Miss Holttum died in 1994.

Twelve seats were presented by members and former members of the Council, some in the patio gardens, and others around the site, made from Burma Teak as was the name board. The seats were made by R W Osborne who charged only for the materials. The Countryside Association presented 8 dozen rose trees. The Rt. Hon R A Butler MP presented shrubs (which were rooted out in 1986 and replaced with more rose trees). “Men of the Trees” of Cambridge donated trees.

Mr John Jossaume donated the grass turf. The Rotary Club and Toc H made special donations. Saffron Walden Round Table presented a television set for the Common Room and paid the licence

Clayden Ltd presented the name board. Mrs H M Bruno of Hadstock presented a piano to the Common Room.
Also present at the official opening was Sir George Chaplin, Chairman of the Essex County Council.

When first built there was no footpath alongside the roadway as it was thought that only delivery vans would use the road. The path was added later after residents complained that drivers of cars refused to make way for them. This explains why the roadway today is so narrow.

THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE COMMUNITY
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The post of Warden was advertised, and offered at £200 a year, plus rent-rates-free accommodation, and extra payments for Night Duty to Mrs Ceinwen Duckhouse SRN, CM...who declined it. The post was readvertised and 13 applications were received but only one applicant turned up for the interview and proved to be unsuitable. Eventually in December 1963 Mrs Margurerite.H. Walker, (50) of London Road, was appointed, having served 6 years in Jamaica and India looking after Forces families and having taken courses in home nursing and first aid.

The first committee of residents formed included Mrs A M MacMeekan, Mrs Ethel D Swan, Miss A Banks, Miss F A Jones, and Mr W S Palmer. That committee organised the first of many outings, this was in the summer of 1964 to Finchingfield. Also in 1964 Mrs Walker, with her husband and family organised the first of what became for many years the Annual Christmas Party. Her daughter, a nurse in London, made all the decorations and came down especially to help.
This and most subsequent Christmas Parties were recorded in photographs along with outings and other events down the years by a continuous group of professional and amateur photographers including David Campbell, Gordon Ridgewell, Jim Taylor, Fred Cox, George Moore, Fred Woodley, Sydney Maddams, and John Maddams, and donated to the Four Acres Albums which by 2000AD numbered ten. These were first organised by Nora Cox and after her retirement by John Maddams.

Many groups have visited Four Acres to entertain the residents and one of the first, in 1965 were the Moderna Dancers organised by Mrs Joyce MacElroy of Audley Road, which was formed in 1964. They presented a programme of ballet dancing
Another first of many celebrations was the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of Emily and William Parrish , both 82, although at the time Emily was in hospital at Cambridge. Both were natives of Walden. William in 1965 was a part time Engineer’s porter and they had 3 daughters, 6 sons, 21 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

THE BEGINNING OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
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In 1965 Residents were entertained by a visit of the Women’s Institute Choir
accompanied by Mr John Dyer, with a duet on recorders by Miss Celia Pitstow and Miss Heather Dyer. Some 30 residents attended and the W.I, served them with refreshments.
The 1965 Christmas Party was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress, The Town Clerk-Mr H C Stacey, the Vicar- Eric Raynor, and his wife, Mrs Kitty Wilson, and 40 of the 58 residents. Entertainment included songs by a resident and by visiting guitarists.
During the Summer of 1965 team members of Saffron Walden Crusade held at the Town Hall visited the residents. Our records record little in 1966 apart from general pictures of the grounds, but the annual Christmas Party took place. In 1967 a troop of Morris Men came a dancing around the circle of the roadway.

UNDER THE WATCH OF NORA COX
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By 1967 a new face appears in the Albums, that of Mrs Nora Cox the second Warden who diligently served the residents until her retirement in 1983.
After her retirement she became a Resident in one of the flats and continued serving actively in the Darby and Joan Club, running Whist Drives, and caring for various residents, until her death.

Nora was assisted over the years by her husband, Fred, her son Robert, a series of Deputy Wardens, her committee and a band of willing helpers.
Amongst the men active on the site in those early years were Mr Jack Ling, Mr John Negus, Mr Albert Cornell, and the long irrepressible Mr Jim Taylor.
In 1968 the residents visited the new home of their first and now retired warden and also visited Felixstowe. Mr Gerald Walker of Moores Coaches took them on a tour of Clacton and Walton. Mr George Moore, for 30 years Town Hall keeper and Mace bearer , and an active member of Toc H became a resident. Members of Toc H visited Four Acres and organised a Social Evening in 1968. Guests of honour at the 1968 Christmas Party were the Mayor Brig. Wakeford and the Mayoress Mrs M Miller. The Christmas presents were concealed in an artificial Snowman In 1969, Jack and Mabel Ling went to the Common Room lounge thinking that they were going to a Bring and Buy stall, but it turned out to be a party to celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary when Alderman David Miller presented them with a Coffee Table bought by their fellow residents.
During 1969 a coach party visited Wells Cathedral

For 1970 we have a picture of some residents clad for the Tramps Supper and the picture directly below was taken during that year too and sometimes as senior Anglican Clergymen
For many years a popular annual event was the Easter Bonnets parade party on Easter Saturday with the men attired as well as the ladies with a wide variety of fanciful creations the best of which received prizes.
Our albums record many such groups some of which got into the local newspapers Jim Taylor, Fred Cox and George Moore could often be mistaken for Jin, Freda, and Georgina attired in ‘ drag ‘ as beautifully attired ladies
On one occasion Jim appeared in a night-shirt and night-cap, carrying a po.
The Common Room was well used mid-week for cards, and alternating weeks for bingo or whist.

GREEN FINGERS AND NATURAL HABITAT
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Some residents participated in Best Kept Garden Competitions. One or two newcomers set the trend for flower boxes on balconies and now it is rare not to have balconies aflame with colour most of the year from tubs, pots, bowls, and hanging baskets. At least two tenants have successively grown tomatoes on their balconies

Similarly downstairs from one originator tenants
have extended bedding strips or set up pots or tubs while some have added bulbs to the community flower beds.

A variety of wild life has visited the site pheasants, ducks, hedgehogs, frogs, doves, magpies, pigeons, a growing colony of grey squirrels, and a not so wild wide assortment of cats. Throughout the year a wide range of small birds come and go. Thrushes, starlings, blackbirds, sparrows, wrens, blue tits, great tits, yellowhammers, green finch, bullfinch, robins. Quite an assortment of butterflies have been seen here, plus ladybirds, spiders, ants, bees, wasps, and a wider range of insects. Many of their ancestors were here before humans took over the site.
Public and private gardens provide a feast of colour from Spring through to Autumn.

LINKS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS
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The closeness of R A Butler Infants and Junior Schools, and links of a couple of residents with Katherine Semar Infant’s School brought regular visits from children bearing gifts of harvest produce, or to perform Nativity plays or to sing carols, together with invitations and opportunities to visit school fetes, plays, concerts, sports events and galas. It has always been a joy to see children and parents back and forth twice a day during term time to the two schools. Although at times the congestion of cars bringing and collecting children has caused difficulties..


INTO THE 1970’s
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In 1971 residents enjoyed an outing to Hunstanton and Mari Miller the Mayoress cut the beautiful Christmas Cake. The old TV set from the Common Room was sold for £5.
The Silver Wedding anniversary of Jim & Mabel Taylor was celebrated, 32 residents visited the Wembley Ice Show, there was a mini-bus outing to Birdbrooke and the Ickleton Women’s Institute Concert Party entertained
In 1972 several residents took part in a Four Acres entry into the Carnival Procession and there were outings to Clacton and Weymouth.
The Golden wedding of Mr & Mrs Gunter was celebrated and Miss Bowtle’s 90th Birthday, and residents paid a visit to the local Scout Gang Show, and received a visit from the Ickleton Handbell. Ringers. During 1972 the Borough Council had gas fired central heating installed to all the households from two main power boilers.

In April 1973 Dorothy & Horace Braybrooke’s Golden Wedding was celebrated and an outing to Hunstanton took place. From the Common Room Fund was purchased 42 Alex Alarms and batteries to operate them.

In 1974 a visit was made by some to Gretna Green, but we don’t think they all went for marriage. Mr Sydney Maddams died in March. He had been a mechanic, lorry driver & tool maker for many years at Acrow Engineers Ltd. He used to make excellent wooden toys.
Later in the year a dual Golden Wedding Anniversary party was held for Tom & Lily Hillman and Stan and Elsie Mallyon In 1975 some residents visited Virginia Water and an enjoyable Fish & Chip Supper was held.
1976 included Summer outings to Totham & Maldon, a weekend in Wales, and instead of the traditional Christmas Tree, we had a old rugged branch with a partridge in it, referring to the “partridge in a pear tree” from the carol “

The 12 Days of Christmas”. Guests included Mayor Stephen Neville and Rev Denis Horwood, Baptist Minister. Residents donated £20 to Arthritis & Rheumatism Council for Research and £120 to the Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases’

THE QUEEN’S SILVER JUBILEE

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In 1977 Four Acres joined in the National Celebrations of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee
This was marked by the planting by George Moore, Nora Cox, Rev Dennis Horwood and Mr R F Scaife ,for the District Council, of 2 rhododendron bushes in tubs outside the Common Room in front of an assemblage of residents. The bushes subsequently died in the severe frosts of the winter of 1985 and
were replaced by small conifers .by Bob Smith. Celebrations were continued by residents of Four Acres and Stanley Wilson Lodge being seated on chairs on the grass verge by South Road pavement to watch the passing of the Carnival Procession gaily waving their German national flags as the shop had run out of Union Jacks. Four Acres was well decorated for the occasion and tea was provided in the Common Room after the procession. This year there had been an outing to the Bulb Fields l at Spalding Lincs.

THE SEVENTIES DRAW TO A CLOSE.
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In 1978 a day coach tour of London was enjoyed, with a picnic tea inside the coach parked on the Victoria Embankment by the Thames.
On June 24th the first wedding at Four Acres
took place when Ken Spall married Eileen
Nickolson , Sadly Four Acres’ great friend, George Moore, died on July 27th. In August the deputy warden, Doreen Culver from Thaxted Road retired and a presentation was made to her. She continued serving for years more in the Darby & Joan Club.
Later in the year a Halloween Supper was held & £39 was donated to the Addenbrooks Kidney Patients Association. Some friends visited Hatherley House to celebrate with Minnie Rushforth her 100th birthday while at Four Acres . Mrs Ruby Emery’s 90th birthday was celebrated.

In 1979 residents toured Constable Country visiting Flatford Mill and in October one of our old original residents, Dorothy Holttum presented us with a copy of the hymn she had composed entitled “ON THE WAY” which was framed & placed, on the Common Room mantle piece..

On October 18th 1979 the funeral took place of Mr Fred Cox who had lost both his legs, and at the service the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” was sung. He had sung it himself not long before he died. In his memory the residents contributed a special chair in the Common Room which bears a plate inscribed “Presented by the Residents of Four Acres in memory of Frederick Cox October 1979”

SO WE ROLLED INTO THE EIGHTIES
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In 1980 in April a celebration was held of the Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs Saines. Also that year the road was resurfaced. (see Albums page 155). A party was held marking the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother. A presentation was made to Mrs Hudson the retiring Deputy Warden and to Dr Sills on the occasion of his marriage.
Molly Orrow came as Deputy Warden with her husband Dave and her son Graeme. There were coach outings to Wells and to Milton Keynes. In June £57 raised by a Whist
Drive was donated to the Saffron Walden Accident Group to help our doctors who race to the aid of motorway accident victims.

On July 29th 1981 Four Acres shared in the national euphoria in celebration of the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, and his bride the Princess Diana Flats, gardens, and lawns were festooned with flags and bunting , while a Guards Band played in the resident’s parking lot layby to a combined audience of residents of Four Acres and Stanley Wilson Lodge having tea on the Lodge terrace. The Mayor visited the celebration

To commemorate the occasion the Four Acres Committee presented each resident with one of the special minted Crown coins and in the The Albums were placed the letters and notes of response from all the residents.

Mrs Ruby Emery (93) of flat 33 opened the new Methodist Church Hall Extension, and Baptist Minister Revd Dennis Horwood began regular monthly services at the Common Room Some residents held whist and bridge parties in their flats, while Ethel Swan at Number 28 held Prayer & Bible Study Meetings in hers.

In 1982 residents visited the Cabaret Club at Newmarket for a Lunch. Ruby Emery died.
Feb.1983. Ken Spall died.
On May 26th 1983 we celebrated the Ruby wedding of Mr & Mrs Andy Rulton.
During the summer of 1983 a visit was paid to Glazenwood Gardens. The great occasion of that year was the Retirement Party for Nora Cox on her retirement as Warden. It included a Presentation being made to Nora and the cutting of a beautiful cake. Counc. Russell Green brought along his group The Entertainers who over many years have entertained residents with music song and much good humour, though sometimes for some people a little too coarse. Russell’s local dialect sketches were most amusing and along with some of their dance routines silence anything we get on TV, for their humour and costumes. (Dustbin liners on one occasion)
Nora retired to a ground flat on site and so ended a long successful chapter.. Worship services ceased following the retirement of Dennis Horwood in 1982 and his premature death in 1983. The “old” committee held together until the new Warden was appointed and then retired. The Treasurer handing over a healthy balance in the Fund of £333.

THE COMMON ROOM FUND
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At this point we may pause in the chronological story and consider the important role of the Common Room Fund, how it was gathered together and how it was used. Carefully and responsibly kept accounts exist from 1979 onwards and there are annual balance sheets back to 1971.

A great deal of income came from the profits of playing Bingo. There were also Jumble Sales, Coffee Mornings, Christmas Bazaars The Sale of Handmade toys, Tombola, Raffles, proceeds from whist Drives, donations from residents and supporters. A Coin collection was made into a huge great glass bottle and various socials and outings produced some surplus profits,

All of which underlines the debt of gratitude owed to Nora Cox, and the Committee for their valiant efforts, including Doreen Culver the Secretary and Eileen Spall, the Treasurer.

Throughout the years gifts of butter were given to residents at Christmas paid for from the funds, and 125g packets of 99 Tea donated by the Co-op. Cards and flowers were sent to residents in hospital, or for special birthdays. Christmas gifts were presented to visiting doctors who held surgery in the Common Room. Dustmen have been tipped and carol singers rewarded. Residents have benefited from a Common Room library and gifts of photographs for the Archive Albums, some photo albums from Jim Taylor, and slides from George Moore, Fred Cox, and John Maddams.

The FUND has paid for, buying the dart board. Christmas decorations, bingo tickets, regular tuning of pianos, lamp shades, laundry of table cloths, and putting new tyres on the wheel chair.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FABRIC
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Across the years the Council ( from 1974 Uttlesford District ) have improved the property and facilities with gas fired central heating, a communal TV Aerial, some limited double glazing, peep holes in doors, chain bolts, stair rails, bathroom rails, front doorway rails, ramps, housing for motorised chairs and pathways to them, carpet squares and later carpeting for the Common Room, electric cookers, carpeted hall ways and stairways, fire blankets for kitchens, electrically operated smoke detectors, an intercom system linked to the Warden or Central Control. Hallways have modern ring lights and as with windows are. regularly cleaned.

In 1988 the District Council had flats and bungalows rewired and later the County Council upgraded Stanley Wilson Lodge.

Some flats have bird tables or bird boxes.
There is a marked absence of fire extinguishers and flats have only 1 external door. First floor flats have balconies, most of which have tubs, window boxes, and some have hanging baskets, all reflecting individual thought and inspiration. Stort Valley Gideons have supplied a Bible & 2 Large Print New Testaments to the Common Room.


CHANGES AT THE HELM
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In 1984 with the arrival of the New Warden, Mrs Ethel Griffiths, and her zoo, cats, dogs, and budgies, a new Committee was needed to help. A meeting of Residents on March 22nd
1984 elected Andy Rulton as Chairman
Peter Orrow as Secretary & John Maddams as Treasurer, assisted by Mrs Bea Howard, Miss Mary Smith and Miss Kathleen Emery
At their first meeting on March 29th Andy resigned from being Chairman for health reasons but remained on the committee and John Maddams was elected as Chairman.

The new committee determined to seek re-election annually by ballot of the residents using a two stage system seeking nominations in January and electing by ballot in March.. Annual accounts were to be published to the residents and at regular intervals the FOUR ACRES NEWS (FAN) was to be published.

Later residents who served on this committee included Mrs Molly Orrow, Mr Fred Drane, Mr George Sutton, Mr Jim Downham, Mr Bob Smith, Mrs Alice Sandford, Mrs Dot Loveday, Mrs Lillian Skillings , Mrs Wyn Buntins, Mr Jim Taylor, and Mrs Ellen Archer. When the Orrow’s moved to Dunmow, Dot Loveday then of No 19, took on the role of Secretary until 1988.
We presented a glass decanter to Mr & Mrs Liston , retiring Wardens of the Lodge
A Coffee morning was held on the May Day Bank Holiday. We held a Beetle Drive and organised a visit to Maldon

MONTHLY SERVICES RESUMED
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From 1984 monthly services were resumed by Brian Tucker the Baptist Minister who arranged for the Council of Churches to take charge of the operation with a different Church congregation taking it each month usually on the last Friday. Attended by 25-30 people. The offering collected at the services was devoted to the Help the Aged project to support grannies overseas and we gave £52 a year to sponsor a widow in Delhi, India, Mrs Ganga Devi.

MORE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
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We held an Autumn Fayre. At one of the Evening Socials Eileen Spall played her keyboard for us while Warden Ethel Griffiths dressed up as a fairy. We decorated up and held a special social to mark the birth of Harry, Prince of Wales and sent a Greeting Card to the Palace and received a reply. John Maddams presented one of his regular slide shows entitled “ROOTS”.
A presentation was made to Jim Taylor for 9 years as Common Room Cleaner-Caretaker. New Christmas Decorations were bought for the Christmas Party. Mid-week, mid-morning Coffee Breaks were held as an opportunity to get together for a chat. Wool squares were knitted for a blanket for Oxfam. A collection was made to help Ethiopian Famine Sufferers.. we celebrated the Ruby Wedding of Mr & Mrs Kobleszko of one of the bungalows. We welcomed Mrs Deban as our new Deputy Warden.

In 1985 we said as we did each Spring “The ducks are back “as for years before, and since, a pair of ducks came to Four Acres, and occasionally additional suitors who were soon seen off, and very occasionally an additional pair. They were encouraged by Eileen Pettit, feeding them from her window. That year however they were harassed and chased off by some schoolchildren. As a result the R A Butler School head ran a project on them and letters and drawings from the children were given to us and added to our albums

Councillor Peter Paget donated us a piano for the lounge to replace the old one. which had died. Jack Turnbull supplied his trailer to transport it and members of the Lions moved it to us.

FORWARD DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE EIGHTIES
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Early in 1985 the Common Room lounge was closed for redecoration and new curtains were hung and we re-opened it with a social. A successful Spring Fayre was held at Easter. Dot Loveday organised a series of evening mystery tours by a coach touring the villages and stopping at a local inn for refreshments. Dot, and Alice Sandford visited residents selling tickets for monthly meat raffles with a £2 prize of a joint of beef, pork or a chicken. In September the Saffron Walden & District Military Band played on the Central Garden Patio during our Barbecue. A visit to Bury St Edmunds was much enjoyed. Russell Green and the Entertainers came to amuse and inspire us at our Sausage & Mash Supper. Residents supported outings organised by Newcroft and John Dane Player Court and their residents supported ours. A successful Autumn Sale was held. Brownies came to entertain us at Christmas. So did children from R A Butler School. we donated a book to their school library.

During Mrs Griffith’s term as Warden good relations were developed with local Primary schools, the High School and Bell School of Languages. Groups of students visited us on teaching training visits and some visited residents in their home. Parties of children came to entertain us. Ethel Griffiths gave lectures on “The care of the elderly” to young people, and a First Aid course to Guides. Katherine Semar Infants School children brought their harvest gifts for us as did the children of R A Butler School. Residents attended parties at the High School organised by students there, and at the Town Hall and at Carver Barracks. Some also visited plays and festivals at local schools. John Maddams was appointed Four Acres Archivist in charge of the Albums.

During this period more ground floor residents developed flower beds either side of their. French windows or planted additional roses or flowering plants or clumps of bulbs in the “official” flower beds. Others planted bulbs on lawns.

In one great storm years ago one of the line of cedars between Farmadine and Four Acres was blown down just missing the authors bedroom and demolishing the garden shed at No 35. In one of the great summer droughts of the 1970’s ’ the weeping willow in the Lodge grounds must have cried itself to death, it died of dehydration. In the great storm of 1987 one tree on the central garden was partly demolished and had to be felled, and replaced.

Many residents have helped one another. Fred Drane , a former Fire Service officer retired here, frequently conveyed residents to out patient clinics in his car and there was our “paper” boy “young” Jim Taylor.

The Committee discussed and took action on residents complaints and suggestions raising matters such as blocked and damaged guttering, aerials bonfires, noisy neighbours, noisy revellers, vandalism, heating, litter, heap removal, rats, wasps, and ants with local authorities and organisations. Mark you the ants were here long before Four Acres and 37 years on they are still a summer nuisance in some ground floor flats and some are clever mountaineers and get into first floor too.

In 1986 residents between them raised £100 to buy 40 large print hymn books for the services dedicated to the memory of Dr Brouett and 23 relatives and friends of residents. Later a Methodist Hymn Book Music edition was donated in memory of Mrs Ethel Savill who frequently played the piano for our services.

At Nora Cox’s suggestion a Hobbies Exhibition was held featuring a wide range of interesting collections and handicrafts of residents.
A number of residents sponsored the Chairman in his Mini-marathon run in which his Boys’ Brigade Company team raised over £100 for SWAG. [ Saffron Walden Accident Group, which kept local doctors available as medics for motorway accidents]
A successful darts match was held in 1986 and an outing to Felixstowe. Some residents joined an evening tour of Norfolk with Newcroft and we had another mystery tour. Dress Shows and seasonal dress sales were introduced at the Common Room. A colour illustrated history of Four Acres Community was put in the Town’s Time Capsule buried in the Castle Grounds for the citizens of AD 2236 to dig up.

Jean Gumbrell, the local social history author, with thingy Harding as photographer visited Four Acres for their popular social history series in the Saffron Walden Weekly News entitled “Down your Street” parts of which later became a trilogy of books. They published interviews here of Eileen Pettit, Ethel Griffiths, Reuben Webb, Charlie Bacon, Joe Kobleszko, Dorothy Holttum, Dorothy Dixon, Rosie Barham. John and Alice Maddams, Elsie Bacon, and Lillian Skillings and published pictures from our albums. These press cuttings were also added to our albums.

David Wilson, Ethel’s grandson with friends produced “THE PEOPLE’S MONTHLY” magazine for some months and we allowed this to be freely distributed on site with Four Acres News embedded in it. Previously we had encouraged the free distribution of “YOURS” the paper for the elderly which eventually went commercial and sells on the bookstalls.

Video films were introduced to our socials and we had a coach visit to the Cotswolds. A knitted blanket was raffled in support of Help the Aged. St Mary’s Choristers visited at Christmas. £100 was raised for Cancer Research.

1987 arrived and there was another successful Spring Sale at Easter raising £123 and another visit from Money Spinners. During this year FAN published a number of poems by the resident poet Ted Howard who later in the year moved to Rickling. It was hoped that the Chiropody Service would become based at Four Acres and someone would reorganise window cleaning, but neither occurred. During the year the Committee became much depleted as Fred Drane, George Sutton. Bob Smith, and Jim Downham retired, Bea Howard moved and Lillian Skillings died. Another coach visit to Felixstowe was well supported as were 2 good mystery tours. Mr Cliff Stacey brought his excellent local slides one evening following a salad tea, and on another evening John Maddams presented a slides tour of 16 countries. The Methodist Guitar Group visited at Easter. Nora Cox ran another successful Whist Drive in aid of Cancer Research. The Darby & Joan Club visited Eastbourne.

£50 was collected and used to present Ethel Griffiths with some garden furniture when she retired and went to live initially at Wimbish. The Committee continued to operate and the site was well served by the team of Mobile Wardens, Ruth Fulton from Reynolds Court Newport, Miriam Hardwick from Walden Place, Annis Cove from John Dane Player Court and Sheila Peters from Newcroft. All led by Jack and Lynne Pitman. At a Fish & Chip supper Cliff Stacey presented another lively evening of slides of “Old Walden”, raising many questions and comments.

JOAN HOADLEY’S YEARS BEGIN
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In the autumn Mrs Joan H Hoadley was welcomed as Four Acres Fourth Warden accompanied by her husband David, and Bonnie their alsation puppy. Joan with a keen interest in Guiding established a Ranger Guide unit meeting at the Common Room and the girls helped in some of the socials and gave £20 from their fund raising sale. The Christmas Party was again a great success. The Supper Service provide the refreshments and John and Gordon with accordion and drums led lively singsongs.
During the year several residents died and in their memory gifts were contributed to Cancer Research, the British Diabetes Association, and the British Heart Foundation. Dot Loveday injured her leg as a result of a fall while taking a plant as a thank you gift to Sheila Peters. John Ellis put on a Musical evening in aid if the British Red Cross. He also led a Carol Singing evening in support of the BBC Children in Need Appeal.

In January 1988 Russell Green and the Entertainers visited the Winter social evening. The
St Valentines Eve Social included ‘taters and cheese’ and a hilarious darts match. The Chairman wrote “SILVER THREADS” (from the line of a song “Silver threads among the gold”) the history of Four Acres to commemorate Four Acres Silver Jubilee which was due to occur on July 9th. Copies were distributed freely to all residents and number of other friends, and thereafter to all new residents moving in, until we ran out of copies in 1997.

19 residents were nominated for a new committee but only 5 were willing to serve and circumstances caused them to feel a sense of a lack of support and that it was a time to wind up so they resigned. The last event of the retiring committee was a St Patrick’s Social entertained by John Ellis and Company. It was agreed that Services and Bingo Sessions would continue and that the Fund should be transferred to the care of the Council. They replied by appointing Mr A Hay as Co-Trustee, with John Maddams as Treasurer and Archivist.

In September 1988 the cavity walls of all the homes were filled with foam to reduce heat loss John Ellis and the Entertainers held a Social raising more money for the British Red Cross. In December 1988 a new Committee was formed to work with Joan Hoadley, comprising Nora Cox, May Moore, Mrs Bowers, and Eileen Spall who resumed as Treasurer.

In Feb 1989 the new Committee held a Rummage Sale in partnership with 2 other groups dividing the spoils. The 40th Birthday of Kath Bateman was celebrated in April. Quickly followed by Stan Mallyon’s 90th birthday. Cliff Stacey donated £100 which was used to pay the Communal T V Licence, which is levied at £5 per household. Gerry and Mary Elsom arrived from Audley End to No.34 with 9 stone gnomes and beautified the end block with frontal flower beds. A policy that continues to spread, as does the planting of bulbs in the rose beds, and tubs and hanging baskets on balconies and tubs in doorways to the blocks.
During the Summer residents joined in various coach tours with their friends at Newcroft and John Dane Player Court. The local Boys’ Brigade Battalion Parade paraded to church from here. Workman installed new lockable doors on landing sheds and cupboards and fireproof doors to flats. Jim Taylor’s 80th Birthday was observed. Katherine Semar Infant’s School distributed Harvest produce to residents. A joint Christmas Party was held with and at Stanley Wilson Lodge. As the Cambridge & District Co-operative Society could no longer afford to supply further packets of tea free as Christmas gifts, these were paid for from the Fund, but it was no longer possible to distribute butter as well.

[John]

PART TWO

INTO THE 1990’s
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In Feb 1990 Students from Bell College were welcome at the monthly service. and in May a white magnolia tree was planted on the lawns of the Lodge in memory of former resident Lily Drane. The Dress Shop began visiting this estate regularly. Sales of Christmas Cards assisted the Funds. In April a Social Evening was held, and on several occasions residents visited social evenings at the Lodge. In August a collection in memory of Beatrice Whitmore formerly of Crawley End Chrishall was collected for the Arthritis & Rheumatism Council for Research.

In the June the new Washing Room with washer - dryers was built onto the Common Room. In November residents were able to enjoy the barbecue and fireworks of the Lodge Residents. The Committee gave a Boots Token to every resident for Christmas and paid the Communal TV Aerial Licence..

In February 1991 The Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs Bob Smith was observed. THE LODGE became a Day Centre to which some of our residents have since gone regularly and the Lodge organised a number of events including a Fun Day and an out of doors sale in the drive. The European Economic Community’s Food Surplus Council provided a free hand out to the elderly of a can of steak or a pound of butter. Joan managed to get
R G Jeffery and Son, to begin a regular service door to door for residents selling fresh fruit and vegetables. She also managed to get a window cleaner to call regularly. The Town Band played one afternoon on the Patio. Some residents went with Walden Place residents to shop at the Arndale Centre at Luton where Mary Elsom collapsed and spent the day in Luton hospital. Joan organised what became an annual service of delivering Christmas Greeting Cards from Residents using a box in the Common Room to fellow residents .Alice Wright’s 90th birthday was observed.

In January 1992 ten students from Bell College attended the Monthly Service. They included a young Jew from Tel Aviv in Israel, and the others were from Argentina., Brazil, Taiwan, Japan, Belgium and Turkey. In March the hair dressing service at the Common Room was introduced. The Labour Party candidate for the general election, John Kotz visited the residents. Mobile library facilities have been introduced for some residents. The Gift shop continues to visit from time to time. In June the Darby and Joan Club visited Felixstowe. In July workmen cleared the guttering of all the flats.

On July 31st a meeting of residents was advised that all loose mats and carpets in hallways and landings being considered dangerous under the Health and Safety legislation must be removed. This caused some annoyance as some residents had beautiful decorated wall to wall carpets in these areas A skip was provided during August to put mats and other old junk in. Residents all had a general tidy up of their flats and sheds and got rid of a lot of rubbish. Later hallways, stairways and landings were painted dark blue. Towards the end of the year and into 1993 all these areas were provided with hard wearing fitted carpets in various shades as provided for other sheltered housing areas and Radwinter Road Community Hospital.

Three Jumble Sales and 2 visits of Dress Shows profited the Fund. Stanley Wilson had a fine display of red tulips this year around their lawn border and have planted a lot of Rose bushes for next year onwards. In May a group of artists sat about the site sketching. During the year lots of helmeted children from RAB School had cycling proficiency courses and tests around the site road. This was repeated in following years. we have also had more than our fair share of teenage skate boarders, young courting couples, and beer swilling youths. In May the Lodge had a fete including a bouncy castle, a clown and donkey rides around four acres. Our residents were not seen riding or bouncing.

YOUTH AND AGE REMEMBERED
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From September Joan welcomed a group of County High School students to regular community work on site, visiting residents, sweeping up leaves, tidying up gardens, and putting up the Christmas decorations. They included Beverley , Katherine, Claire and Alex. They helped organise the Residents Christmas Party and circulated greetings cards. The roses on the small power shed have been particularly plenteous and beautiful thus year and indeed it was a very good year for all the roses. In October was celebrated Maggie Butcher’s 90th Birthday and in November similarly celebrated Nelly Potts 90th Birthday in both cases with a large Greeting Card signed by all residents. Residents enjoyed the Fireworks Display on the lawns of the Lodge on Bonfire Night. Also during November the Rev Brian Tucker who had reorganised our monthly worship services led his last before moving on to Bradford. Four hen pheasants walked across the gardens of our Eastern boundary. Residents heard a talk at the Common Room about Dealing with Deafness.
Joan assisted with the emergency to help a plane load of refugees from Kosova who arrived at Stansted Airport. The Lodge cooked meals for some of them. In December some residents visited Harlow together on a shopping expedition. At Christmas the Fund again paid the Community TV Licence.

1993 marked the Pearl Anniversary of Four Acres. (30 years). The long running Bingo Sessions ceased as the Caller having reached 80 felt it was time to call it a day. The year began on a sombre note with the sudden death of Miss Kathleen Emery, of Number 33. Eight residents including Joan, Nora, and John, attended the funeral service. Kathleen, who was almost 78, had been born in Shooter’s Hill in London and had lived with her parents, brother and sister in Landscape View. Remaining single she had served as a nursery nanny in South Africa, New Zealand, and the USA. At one time she looked after the children of screen star Frank Sinatra. She returned to England to Four Acres to look after her mother Ruby. Kathleen had a lifelong love of children, animals, birds and flowers. She was a great conversationalist, with a good sense of humour, an ability to listen, and was a much appreciated visitor and expert in embroidery, and a prolific writer of letters. She also made mouth watering cheese scones.

February brought the completion of the fitting of the hall and landing carpets and the regular visits of Jackie the cleaner with her hoover began. A new pay phone was installed at the common room, and new high protective wooden fencing was erected on our north Eastern approaches.

CHANGES, REMOVALS AND FRESH BEGINNINGS
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In April Cambridge Cables contractors dug up pathways to install their green cable pipes for telephones and cable TV A grey green car long parked on the Residents parking lay-by and used by it’s owner as a storage facility was finally confiscated and dragged away in May. Several schools used the road for cycling training . St John Ambulance Brigade cadets meeting on the Lodge drive way’ used the roadway for drill practice. This summer was clearly “The Year of the Daisy” with a carpet of daisies all over the grass areas of our site and defying the new council hoover-mower.

Four Acres lost a great friend in May in the person of Stan Mallyon of No 11 who died peacefully but suddenly on his 94th birthday . 15 residents represented his neighbours and friends at the funeral service. The Baptist Minister, Tricia Troughton, described him as “a gentleman and a gentle man and said that “Stan was a rock, who knew the Rock...Jesus Christ and Stan relied upon Him as others relied upon Stan.” He left a message “Don’t grieve for me. I’ve had a wonderful life. Thank you.” In May a seat was delivered to the Baptist Church in memory of our former resident Ethel Swan. Joan Hoadley had a long painful illness and was off duty many weeks.

Florence Ward and her cat Will who had been the cat of her late neighbour Doris Drane Some residents were offered to buy the leasehold of their flat. Rents rose to £44.45 for a 2 bed roomed flat and £7.10 for heating, and this compared with £2 and £1.20p, 20 years ago. A 30 yearold silver birch on site presented by relatives of a resident was felled in May and removed. Folk at a social evening in June were entertained by the Finchingfield Singers. Residents went on several outings with people from other sites. The Darby and Joan Club celebrated their 21st Anniversary. Deaths and removals brought attendances at the monthly services from a peak of 30, down to a regular attendance of 8. But 26 attended the July service which was associated with a Bring & Buy Stall which alone raised £26 and with the offering was donated to the Vacation Bible School when 570 children were registered for a week in August of fun and study, about the Bible. This included 65 in the Teddy Bear Tent for 5-yearolds and 65 Seniors 12-15 year olds. Mrs Ward embarked upon her gardening project looking after the garden outside the Common Room window, and around the small boiler shed. Bogus Caller Awareness signs were installed. Miss Dorothy Holltum moved out of No 37 into the Lodge the last of the original tenants, and Maria Helwig moved in. Council paid external window cleaning began..

Jim Taylor died and lots of residents attended his funeral Memorial Service which was led by Methodist Minister Rev Michael Giles. This included an exhibition of photos from the Albums. The High School girls helped Joan decorate the common room for Christmas and organised Christmas Party. The infants from Katherine Semar School came in their Nativity costumes and sang carols at the Common Room. Residents presented a card with their signatures on it to Eileen Spall on the occasion of her 80th Birthday. and a similar signed card to John & Ivy Swan to mark their 50tth Wedding Anniversary. The folks at 9, 11, 24 and 33 lit Four Acres up for Christmas with coloured lights around their windows or lighted trees in them while others decorated their stairways. By the end of December Christian Worship service attendances were back to 18 or 19. Bertha Maloney of No 10 collected cards after Christmas and used them to make up Scrapbooks for children in hospitals.

1994 saw the laying of a new carpet in the Common Room and the provision of new tops to the card tables. 22 residents took part in a Council run evacuation exercise to an emergency centre set up at the County High School. Garden contracts were privatised and the lawns got mowed more frequently. An acacia tree between number 31 and 33 was felled and turned into saw dust on site. Much minor repair work to guttering, balconies, and windows was carried out and the whole site externally redecorated, some parts with 4 coatings. Number 28 and 32 had shower units installed. The residences were regraded for higher Council Tax and later residents were informed that this had been cancelled and then it was imposed again. Guttering and balcony base cladding was repaired Bingo sessions recommenced in April a new caller having come forward.

In May was celebrated the 90th Birthday of Alice Maddams of No 35,who had arrived here 22 years earlier. She was born in Walden and lived at Walden for all but 5 years in London. She had nursed her parents and husband and brought up 2 sons. She was an ex-Sunday School teacher and Baptist Choir member and had been a member of the Baptist Church since 1961.

On July 1st John Diggons was awakened by a stone thrown by a youth that broke his window and a treasured vase. The youth was caught, cautioned and made to pay for criminal damage. He apologised. In July 22 attended the service and £31 was raised for VBS by Dutch Auctioning a Bring and Buy Stall. Tricia Troughton led the Harvest Thanksgiving Service and Joan distributed the Harvest produce in carrier bags. At Christmas the High School girls again organised the Christmas Party and “Post Mistress Pat” Hoadley in her little red car again delivered the Christmas Mail that had been posted in the Common Room Red Pillar box. Workmen removed the large Garden Refuse Heap and constructed a small wire fenced area into which future rubbish should be placed. Joan ran a survey of residents to determine a proposal to put one water meter in each block, on the argument that this would save us all money. Eventually they were installed but on the basis of one to each flat and we did save money. 33 people attended the Christmas Carol service.

In February.1995 another Jumble Sale was held. Sliding doors were fitted inside the bungalows replacing the curtains previously used and new heating systems were added following the breakdown of the small pump house. On March 12th Uttlesford Council staged another evacuation exercise and some tenants had a nice day out as a result. On April 6th a hedgehog crossed our S .E .perimeter Many residents, life long Co-op customers were stunned when the last Co-op shop in town closed on May 20th ending John Maddams’s 31 years career with them.

The V E Day Anniversary Weekend brought out the flags and bunting at several flats and in the afternoon John Diggons of No 42 with his medals clinking on his pullover was seen chasing a white balloon about the site that had escaped in the high winds from the decorations at the Lodge. From May 12-16 workmen laid a concrete path at No 34 to enable Jerry Elsom to have access to his little green storage shed for his battery operated motor carriage.

Following the successful Jumble Sale in May surplus blankets were given to the local Boys’ Brigade collection for the Whitechapel Mission in London. The Rat Catcher had to call at 38 to deal with problems arising from feeding the birds. We have a pair of magpies living here and lots of young thrushes and blackboards, and a pair of toads. Many people put out water for the birds during the drought. In May with the Community Fund standing at £800, it was decided to invest in an external Dutch blind on the south end of the Common Room,. 27 residents attended a service in June led by Ray Mitson and Joan and John dutch auctioned a sale of goods raising £42 for VBS.

During the year meetings were held at the Common Room at which Church Music tapes were played, someone from CAMTAD spoke about deafness aids and how to use them, and a Mr Stevens talked about how to use the Library Service. Whist, Bingo and Darby and Joan Club all continued along with visits from Jenny’s, Bettaboot, Carnies Dresses and Yvonnes dresses. There were also some coffee mornings. Twenty people welcomed the new Baptist Minister Malcolm Brown to his first visit here. Visits by Rev Laurie Bond the curate were much appreciated. The Animal Warden called in august to catch Sooty a stray cat and find him a new home. Arthur Jerry & Eliza Mary Elsom celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. The flags and bunting came out again for VJ Day anniversary when a number of residents attended a special rally in Jubilee Gardens. Bonnie, Joan and David’s much loved pregnant dog died.

The Council issued warnings to residents about security but this did not stop 3 ground floor flats being burgled in October. Thirty people attended a meeting with the police afterwards. The Water Company after many days located and mended 3 serious water leaks. Joan and David acquired a new dog, Zack.

The County High School girls again helped Joan organise another Christmas Party and designed their own decor and sent each resident a Christmas Card. Several Christmas Santas appeared on poles stuck in the ground or tied to balconies. Six flats used coloured lights, and several landings were decorated. Snow fell at Christmas but many residents managed to get away to enjoy the festival with friends or family. John Maddams slipped on the icy road opposite number 40 and slid round to number 35 on his back
Feb 4th 1996 saw a party at the Common Room marking Doris Smith’s 80th Birthday

TO PARK OR NOT TO PARK
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A meeting was held with council officers to protest over plans to create 12 more parking spaces directly in front of Numbers 24-30. About 40 residents attended some of the men rescheduling working time to do so. Mrs Edna Bird spoke up boldly concerning one two-car flat which used police cones when absent from the site impeding other residents and visitors. She was loudly applauded. A petition was raised against the proposal and letters of complaints appeared in local newspapers. The proposal was withdrawn and the County Council decided to make no changes in the status quo. During

GETTING HOT UNDER THE COLLAR
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March the second phase of the Central Heating Plan was carried out against the opposition of most residents. Perhaps they did not realise that the Boiler sheds were on the point of not working at all and could no longer be repaired so an alternative system was urgently required. Also the boiler shed chimneys polluted the atmosphere. There really was no choice. With Newcroft, Hatherley House and Hatherley Court £156 was raised in sponsorship of Dr Alsos and Dr Paul running in the London Marathon.. 5 volumes of photographs taken by Jim Taylor were added to the archive albums and all catalogued, with a copy to the Essex County Archives.. Six of the seats on the site were this year cleaned. In August a raffle raised £50 equally divided between the funds of Four Acres and Newcroft. A rummage sale helped to bring the Community Funds back above £470. Mrs Margaret Peggy Todd became treasurer. The instances of art adorning the walls of landings and hallways continued to increase varying from a framed 1910 bus at No 22, to oval shaped framed village scenes outside No 36. Others had water coloured paintings, prints or drawings. On November 15th the Common Room lounge was rededicated, after redecoration, by Methodist Minister Rev Michael Giles with Xenia Messenger at the organ and 12 residents, 5 friends, Joan and Zack present. Michael’s theme was “Special Places” and the hymns sung were “Lead us Heavenly Father lead us”, ”What a friend we have in Jesus”, “ Dear LORD and Father of Mankind” and “Fight the Good Fight” over the mantelpiece is an impressive picture of a blossom framed Lakeland scene.

FORMING THE 1997 COMMITTEE
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Early in 1997 a Meeting of Residents was called to consider various matters. Peggy Todd was confirmed as Treasurer with Len Chapman and Albert George Fox as second signatories. The Whist Drive Evening begun by Nora Cox had had to close down as only 2 members now lived at Four Acres and players came from 6 other sheltered housing sites including one group with a car, yet they could not be bothered to drive the 2 elderly on site members round to their flats. Elm was
Grove who have the a Common Room was only too happy to have a Whist Evening.

The Heap removed again and it was then decided that there would be no further rubbish heap in the South East corner but that it would be levelled and the grass extended. Wild flowers from the heap still grow there. Garden rubbish was to go in green bags purchasable from the Warden at 50p each. The council had been operating a pilot scheme for collecting newspapers for recycling purposes with householders putting them in their paper carriers, From 1997 black plastic boxes were supplied to each tenant to put them in, although in practice 1 per block was sufficient. Residents were also supplied monthly with free plastic bin bags.

Another chair with a plaque was added to the lounge in memory of Nora Cox who died in May last year, next to the one in memory of her late husband Fred. This was paid for from money from the Darby and Joan Club that had closed down because there were only 5 remaining members who lived at Four Acres and they felt wisely it was time to retire. . In March we watched a hot air balloon with basket float over the site. It was one of 3 that had taken off at ware. One of the others crash landed at Newport. 28 households now use the Washing Room so the hairdresser was asked to stop using it as several of her clients were from off site,

On Tuesday April 8th. The new Residents and Friends Games Afternoon was launched from 2 pm-4pm with a 10p cuppa of tea with Scrabble, Dominoes., Draughts, etc, Two local GP’s held monthly surgeries in the Common Room.

The Council organised another Evacuation Exercise which this time ended up at Great Sampford ‘s well appointed Village Hall for refreshments Gladys Muir went with Dot Loveday and May Moore. Tea & Biscuits were served first and then later they had lunch with filled cheese or ham rolls handed round followed by soup followed by tarts or apple pies and later apples or bananas. Then the message was put up “The Fire is out and you can return home” where upon they had tea or coffee again before the journey home. Mrs Anita Harris of Carver Barracks Wimbish donated an Electric organ to Ernie Swann who played it in the Common Room to give pleasure to his fellow residents. After his death it passed to the Music School. His bungalow gardens were a riot of colour in 1996 and 1997 and he filled the Common Room flower bed with daisies in the Spring, and perfumed tobacco plants in the summer with white bowls of petunias or of begonias. Another Bring & Buy stall was held in support of VBS and a record £70 was handed over. While at the Lodge they had a car boot sale.

THE R A BUTLER SCHOOL FIRE
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There was a scare one evening as thick acrid smoke billowed up from RAB School that was on fire. John Diggons of No 42 alerted Joan who rang for the Fire brigade. It was the only call they had! Residents were called out of their homes to the safety of the Common Room but most sat on the seats outside and watched the firemen. Later on August 28th we watched a huge crane parked in Four Acres lift from lorries and lower into the school grounds a new prefabricated class room. 8 flats were fitted with new electricity meters. During the autumn the Gas Company installed new external gas meters and gas cables to the flats for the last stage of the Central Heating Plan. When it came to the contractors installing the radiators in cold November the cables had not been extended into the flats. Residents complained via the local newspaper and emergency heaters were supplied by the Council. Tipped off by a resident that all the flats already had a piped gas supply though not used for years, all the new cables and meters were removed and the old system tapped.. In November a Channel 5 Dish was added to the Communal Aerial.

At Christmas Ernie Swann had a woven wicker wood reindeer outside his bungalow as well as a Christmas tree with lights.11 people had lights this year. Beccy, Emma, Melissa and Michelle the High School girls sent everyone a Christmas Card. Will the timid tabby cat who came here with Mrs Flo Ward and was adopted at her death by Kath Bateman died in December aged 22.

[John]

SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD Part 3

In January 1998. On Feb 12th the Funeral of Ernest Swann [ Ernie) took place from his bungalow with minimal flowers since he requested donations to Four Acres Common Room Fund. Refreshments were served at the Common Room after the visit to Cambridge Crematorium. It was a beautiful sunny mild day with temperatures well above average for February. A large crowd attended both at the Church and at the Crematorium including all his work mates from Audley End Village, and Lord & Lady Braybrooke. His greenhouse was re-erected near the Common Room store shed, and Joan hoped to start a gardening Club. Later in the year a paved patio was set out in his memory near the Common Room shed with garden furniture. The Greenhouse was later demolished and the gardening club did not develop.

Charlie Bacon acquired Ernie’s invalid carriage. Joan had an all day sale of Ernie’s clothing and effects not wanted by the family proceeds to the Common Room fund. All for a few pence each. One person bought 2 raincoats, an overcoat, 3 jackets, 3 pairs of trousers, 2 suits, and 3 shirts all for a total of £5 though some moved on to the Salvation Army. The funeral receipts £159 had been contributed to the Common Room Fund. A memorial service at the Parish Church at 3pm to the memory of Ernie Swann conducted by Rev Duncan Green. Quite a lot of residents went, and to the reception afterwards.

Spring 1998 brought masses of golden celandines “alight” at the South Road approach to the site. The Common Room gardens were full of tulips and pots of multicoloured primroses. Joan made a collection of used spectacles to pass on for recycling to help people who need them. May Moore’s 90th birthday was celebrated. Doreen Luckings, Hilda Clark and Fred Auger enjoyed warm summer days seated outside the front doing crosswords, knitting, eating, and chatting. The ducks were back for several weeks. we think they had a nest nearby.
There was a hen and 3 handsome drakes. The summer of 1998 saw the installation of new gas pipes in the roadway.

Used to often seeing the Police Helicopters overhead, and airliners from Stansted Airport over flying us, this summer the Essex Air Ambulance landed and took off from RAB School field. Joan continued a regular Fish and Chip Run for several residents on Fridays. She also often got people’s prescriptions for them, all beyond her normal duties. Jerry Elsom was riding his automatic vehicle on the estate when a car driven by a woman moved out of parking spot and hit and damaged his machine. He was all shook up and had to be pushed home in a wheelchair by Joan with David riding the machine back. Mary too was much agitated. The woman’s mother tried too appeal against the charge of her negligence but there were several witnesses.. John Maddams foiled a jazz group making a lot of row in the RAB School field by excessive volume of amplification. An authorised concert or session had been planned for 6.30-730 but fortunately for us all it was rained off by a heavy downpour.
In November Joan’s mother Ena Arnold much loved at Four Acres who lived at Hatherley Court died aged 82. A new intercom system with booster aerials was installed. Joan and the students organised another Christmas Tea Party on Dec 9th. A choir of Guides & Brownies visited the site to sing carols at the Common Room. The wooden seats were all painted

AS THE 20thCENTURY NEARS IT’S END
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In January 1999 work got underway redecorating the outside of the Common Room
May Moore, Kath Chapman, Hilda Clark and Doreen Luckings helped Joan prepare a Table Top Sale and 11 residents met together to run it and were pleased at what they had been able to do together. A Meeting of residents was held to appoint a new committee to run Common Room activities. 26 residents attended. They discussed the Bingo meeting and 2 agreed to take turns alternate weeks to serve as caller. The need to widen the road and get rid of the unsightly ruts on the green verge caused by cars mainly of parents bringing children to school was discussed but the council cannot afford to do anything. As to cars being parked in front of residents homes, they are allowed to go out and protest but there is little else can be done. Appointing a new Residents Committee was discussed with if possible one representative from each block but no committee was appointed.

In February Joan was suddenly suspended from work on full pay but cut off from speaking to anyone at Four Acres .Even her rear exit access to the Common Room was locked. Complaints against her had surfaced somewhere and caused an investigation. All residents were visited by Mr Peter Godden-Kent and Mrs Jo Ware of Essex County Social Services and had an opportunity to speak freely. Meetings in connection with this investigation went on across about 6 months. The Electricity Company installed new street lamps at Four Acres. They were not so bright and did not give such good light but they may be more vandal proof. Throughout 1999 no further fund raising was done, and no social activity took place.
Hilda Clark distributed to all residents the lock Code for admission to the Wash Room and the Common Room now that the locks have been changed. In July a House to House collection was organised to raise our annual gift to VBS.

Finally Joan was completely exonerated and many hoped to see her back at work soon. Unfortunately her health had worsened and she was professionally advised not to continue in full time work. Three retired wardens Mrs Hilda Gray, Mrs Pam Romaine, and Mr Len White. were brought back for the summer and Len carried on afterwards. Joan retired on August 22nd and she David and Zack moved to Hempstead in November.

During 1999 the painters came on site painting external doors, gutters, window frames and hallways and doing repairs. The monthly services continued though dropping mid year to attendances of 6 or 7 and that included friends from Hatherley Court. From September the services were publicised afresh by posters in each block and directly distributed invitation leaflets. Average attendances rose to 13-17 during the rest of the year.
In September a young student aged about 14-15 cycled round Four Acres for long periods maybe he was training for something. Young Sam from Number 3 has a bike now too and rides it repeatedly round and round the estate on the pavement. Still he can be seen coming. In late September work began on digging out a bed, creating hard surface for the garage for Charlie Bacon’s motorised vehicle, and drive-in pathway between the North side blocks of flats. We wonder whether the wild primroses that came up there regularly for years will survive.

In September initial steps were taken to appoint John Maddams to care for the Fund again and improve communications. . With the approval of the Housing Department and members of the last committee he became Secretary/Treasurer in December 1999 with Len Chapman of Number 30 as second signatory. The concessionary communal TV aerial licence was paid for the last time leaving the Fund with a balance of £55. The lowest for many years. On Nov 11th several residents went on a shopping trip to Harlow. On Nov 15th The Common Room heating broke down. Electrical fans and convectors were supplied as a temporary measure. Repairs were completed on Dec 23rd. Following a successful Jumble Sale for the Salvation Army in the Common Room in October supported by Four Acres and Newcroft residents which raised £92, the local Salvation Army laid on a Christmas Programme of readings, jokes, stories and carols and a tambourine demonstration on Dec 15th and this was attended by 15 people from each site, and concluded with mince pies, pastries and cakes. An offering was collected on the spur of the moment thought by Peggy Barker which raised £23 for their Christmas Appeal for the destitute. Emily Stokes of Number 40 died in hospital missing by a month her 100th birthday. She was a faithful member of the Church of England. She used to be a Companion for Lady Warwick at Great Easton Hall, where she had to make sure the coal cellar was not dusty, amongst other things. This then made Mrs Alice Maddams at No 35, aged 95½, our oldest resident.
To improve communication John reintroduced Four Acres News (FAN) last published in 1988 and a lot of people expressed appreciation, about two thirds of the residents indicating their support for him. In order to ensure everyone got a greeting and to commemorate the year 2000, Gospel Gem Calendars were distributed to every household, and the Council of Churches distributed a Millennium Gospel of Luke to each household too. We had all the roofs swept for the first time for years. 13 households had Christmas window lights or lighted Christmas trees and 4 displayed decorations welcoming the year 2000. Some slight storm damage to trees on site was sustained on Christmas Day.
Reminiscing over the years that have passed turned up a couple of original poems written by residents.

AD2000 arrived at Four Acres quietly. Well, to be exact from 6.pm on Dec 31st - 1am on Jan lst we were in the centre of “a wall of fire and detonations” from fireworks parties all over town, and at midnight it looked and sounded as if we were being shelled. Len Chapman and John Maddams stood outside their flats in wonder and at midnight a nearby trumpeter played Auld Lang Syne.

In January Len, John and Peggy Barker became members of the Uttlesford District Council Northern Tenants Participation Panel. They were pleased to learn that earlier complaints and suggestions made by Peggy 18 months earlier were coming to fruition soon with electronic locks on the main doors of each block. We raised the matter of traffic congestion and put forward a plan for more road level signs outside the Warden’s house and the Common Room, and double yellow lines round the centre side of the circular road and from the school rear entrance to the Lodge driveway to deter parking. This was passed onto to Essex Highways Authority for consideration. The Council distributed to us all green plastic containers so we can salvage plastic bottles, cans, and textiles to be collected alternate weeks to the present papers salvage collection.

In January Sheila Peters Warden of Newcroft retired. She had become a close friend to many at Four Acres.

This history is based on the 1988 Edition, and supplement pages, plus the Archive Albums and the Four Acres Chronicle, a sort of diary kept since 1988, It was published in February to mark the year 2000 by the Ministry of Christian Communication Prayer Fellowship and a shorter edition distributed to those who had arrived since 1997 and had not received the original edition which went out of print. This edition is also available on CD ROM and the albums pictures are we hope over a period of time to be recorded onto CD ROM so they will be preserved longer and made available to local archive points and school libraries. MCCPF founded in Saffron Walden in 1956 has operated from Four Acres since 1972 reaching out to people in many parts of the world.

Interviews took place during January leading to the appointment as from St Valentine’s Day, February 14th 2000 of Four Acre’s Fifth Warden Janice Cousins and so we stand on the threshold of a new chapter in the story of Four Acres Community.

THE LAST YEAR OF THE 20th CENTURY
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AD 2000 was designated for redevelopment work to provide us larger washing and drying equipment, a new Common Room Kitchen, creation of a built-in storage cupboard redecoration of the lounge and new electric light fittings. In March organisation of social activities was reconstituted with election by the Residents Meeting of an Executive to be elected annually in March and approval of a system of quarterly residents meetings increasing democracy and participation these meetings to take the decisions. Agreed FAN to be published regularly and many people subscribed £1.20 annually for it. A monthly contributions scheme was approved and launched for every resident to give £1 a month towards the Christmas Celebration and other activities to be collected by Peggy Barker. Alternate weekly Coffee mornings & Afternoon teas were established, a Thursday Evening Bingo Club and Friday Games Evening, Janice was elected Chairperson, Tom Start as Deputy Chairperson, & John Maddams as Secretary /Treasurer. These form an executive. Len Chapman, Peggy Barker and John Maddams represented us, and Saffron Walden on the District Council Tenants Panel.

During 2000 the new electronic security system was installed controlling the doors to the 9 blocks of flats
The twin towers of the old boiler house were removed. The seats around the grounds were raised in to concrete plinths.
We had an enjoyable Fish or Chicken and Chip supper and the Darts Group organised a birthday party, and a trophies presentation evening. The Bingo group had a refreshments evening, We collected £48 for VBS house to house. Several meat raffles were held. A survey was carried out of Hall way art. Shoe Fitters mobile services did a demonstration in the Common Room. In July the Tesco bus service was introduced picking residents up on Fridays from the South Road edge of our site at 10 and returning from block to block after 12. The old flower beds were turfed over and then it was left unwatered and died. A fund raising “T” Fayre in September was a great success and money was used for another Fish Supper. In the autumn a special residents Meeting was called to consider the state of the grounds, and what shrubs to plant. A successful Christmas dinner was organised. 19 households had illuminations in their front windows. Several trees pruned or felled.

THE MILLENIUM YEAR, the 21st Century AD BEGINS
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During 2001 the flower beds were returfed and new beds cut out and planted with shrubs. A hedge was planted up to the school rear entrance and a lavender hedge was planted on the pathway towards Audley Road. after months of difficulty in our getting the free Paper The Reporter. John arranged to deliver it and the Saffron Walden Weekly News, and The Voice, a Christian leaflet every Friday morning.( the latter terminated after 70 weeks after lack of interest).

Edie Joskow and Eileen Carter took on collecting the Christmas contributions. In March we began a campaign to reduce crime. In March we had a quiz evening. Later in the year we had a meeting about windows security. Work got underway in easing congestion by widening the road 5 feet and a new paved zig-zag path set out from patio to the east side road nick named Jenny’s Walk commemorating Jenny Warren the UDC Tenants Participation officer who worked tirelessly for 2 years to get the improvements done. In September we had the Albums on display.

OUR RUBY ANNIVERSARY YEAR BEGINS
####################################

In 2002 the last 2 ramps were constructed. The Bingo Club bought a calling machine paying half the cost while the other half was paid by former Warden Joan Hoadley and her sister Molly in memory of their mother Ena.. the Residents Meeting extended an invitation to Coffee mornings, Bingo, the services and use of the Tesco bus to Newcroft Residents. Tom Start retired as deputy-Chairman and Fred Auger was elected

2002 included our decorating up to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, our survey on who would like to retain a bath or have a shower unit which led to the refits carried out in 2003,and our celebration together on
SUNDAY AUGUST 4th 2002 OUR RUBY ANNIVERSARY AFTERNOON
After two years of planning and preparation by mid morning various folk were out and about putting up flags on poles and bunting, Frank and Joyce Saich and Daphne Cullup put up their special greeting decorations on their windows in cut out shiny letters, Volunteers from the Ladies Circle and Round Table put up the gazebo. Corinne swept the patio and Sam bagged it in black sack clearing up what overnight wind and rain had moved about after Len, Seymour and Sheila had cleared the whole patio are on Saturday. From Friday through to Sunday and probably earlier various people had been busy preparing cakes and sandwiches and other delights. The Loop road was closed and cables were laid and carpet covered to donors of electricity for the musician and the urns. .
About 2.15 the musician Ian Goddard using a variety of instruments started playing and people were gathering on the seats, John was distributing numbered programmes. Jim Ketteridge Chairman of the UDC and his wife Marilyn , and the Mayor of Saffron Walden Town Councillor Daphne Cornell, and her Mayoress Faye Holdsworth arrived and Sheila Peters former warden of New Croft. The photographers of the WALDEN LOCAL and the SAFFRON WALDEN REPORTER wandered about using up loads of film. Eileen Carter’s daughter also played her saxophone. The weather was dry, cloudy with sunny intervals until about 3pm.
Then a huge dark cloud blew across our area and for the next 3 hours it rained and rained and rained, and thundered with much lightning. Jan and helpers put the albums in the laundry room and the food in the form of a T junction in the centre of the Common Room and Jan ferried people in the St Raphael Club minibus , while people scurried to their homes or the Common Room.

Eventually about 60 crammed in there in the lounge room and the hallway. Mrs Ivy Swan was there in a wheel chair. We started the programme a little late but did most of it. Jan welcomed everyone John gave a speech, mainly of thanksgiving, Jim and Daphne made speeches,. We had a mock cutting of the cake (made by Jan’s sister Susan, for the photographers who were busy again, One kept saying “lean over a just a bit more” and John thought if I go any further I’ll land on top of the sandwiches. After Grace was said, we all tucked in.

Food was ferried to people unable to come to the Common Room. We had a singsong with a soloist as well, and a free raffle, and we all filled up doggy bags to take refreshments home. Then the volunteers got on with the clearing up of Room and site completed some days later when the bunting had dried out. as far as could be told everyone had a great time and it was a good dress rehearsal for our Golden Jubilee in 2012. Our Chairman Jan records a big thank you to every one who helped. To which we add too to Jan a big thank you for organising it. We much appreciate how everyone brought their front gardens and balconies up to such a high standard of display Several donations were given towards the event.

The Council provided us with a shelf in the Common room so the albums could be available permanently for the use of residents and visitors.

COMINGS AND GOINGS
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During the early part of 2003 4 residents died, Alice Maddams in her 99th year, Bertha Wilson, Alice Sandford and suddenly while abroad, Marion Barnes. In July Eileen Spall died
In March we had another Fish, Fowl & Chips evening with a Quiz We welcomed to our company at No 19 George and Jean Barrow from Blackpool, at No 12, Ruby Williams who lived a long time in Clacton and at No 31 Brad Ingram.
During the year work began on the Decent Living development to be completed during 2004 proving upgraded kitchens and shower units Water Tanks in the lofts of the blocks of flats were drained, cleaned and upgraded, The final ramps were completed and some upgraded. At Christmas 22 household united to set lights, coloured or white, or candelabra or lighted trees in the windows, in a celebration of light in the winter darkness,

2004 began with the sudden death of Doris Bibby and announcement of the 5 yearly redecoration of stair wells in two shades, and of the external paint work of the buildings, with doors in varied colours to help us avoid getting lost.

The Games Afternoon resumed on Mondays between 2.00pm and 5.30pm usually for about 3 hours attracting from 8-10 Residents playing a selection of Dominoes. Triominoes, Scrabble, Ludo, Upwords or Rummy with a cuppa nd biscuits mid afternoon. Jean and Tom start celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary
The Darts group held a couple of Saturday Buffet Suppers “Message in a Bottle” kits were issued to a lot of residents to keep in their fridges where medics could find them in any emergency.

A four paged summary history of FOUR ACRES replaced the 28 page “SILVER THREADS” history available to newcomers and visitors.
A Baked Potatoes in their jackets evening with a quiz was enjoyed as was the Fish or Fowl and Chips Supper with Quiz on St Andrew’s Day. A booklet “MUM REMEMBERED was added to the Archives marking the centenary of the birth of the late Alice Maddams. A Buffet with the Race Game with side betting to help our funds was enjoyed.

Jan was provided with hard standing for her car next to the Common room. Mary Smith at No 13 and Edna Bird at No 32 both clocked 80 years of age and Edna Mummery reached 90. We collected tooth brushes to send to Nicaragua. We raised £65 for the Funds by a Grand Raffle.
Brad Ingram at No 31 became Minutes Secretary to the Residents Meeting,
Sheila and Maurice Robinson moved into No 39 after Doreen Luckings moved to No,14. They came from Harlow, stayed a week and moved back to Harlow. .
Tesco Ltd cancelled the free bus service but Beryl Searle of No 16 and Edie Joskow of No 41 organised an alternative service with Rent a Ride, the Uttlesford Community Travel charity and from then on the two of them also organised lots of minibus outings much appreciated by a small group of residents.
Jerry Elsom moved to Highfields and we welcomed Peggy and Derek Salmon to No 34. George Fox, Beatie Grocott and Bertha Maloney died. 17 of us attended the Christmas Luncheon.

SO WE CAME TO 2005
###################
George Sutton moved to Highfields Home. Christine still lives at No 27..
Edna Bird moved home after a long stay in hospital. Peter and Margaret Axworthy with their dog Max moved into No 10. But later Margaret had to move on and was found a place at a home in Thaxted. We raised £67 for Audiology in memory of Jerry Elsom who died this year. We collected for the Day Centre in memory of Gladys Muir formerly of No 23 before Olga and Maurice (Bunny} Moore moved in, and £39 for Cancer Research UK in memory of Doris Smith who died this year.
Bill Farquharson died and in his memory we raised £92 for Gold Street Practice Surgery.
We welcomed Joan Page to No 39, and Joyce Lyddiatt to No 37 after Fred Auger moved to Newcroft, and Mr and Mrs Owen Jones to No 20 after Andy and his crew stopped using it as a contractors base and left after completing the installation of new kitchens and shower units and creating a new kitchen for the Common Room.

Early on in the year during the food scare we posted at the Common Room a list of suspect foods not to be eaten, We took part in the survey meeting regarding Housing Stock appraisal and aspirational ideas. Brad Ingram became Secretary of the Residents Meeting and Quiz Master. John Maddams continued as Treasurer, Co-ordinator, Archivist, Editor, Darts scorer and became Bingo caller.

We celebrated St Patrick’s eve with a Quiz Evening and the Wednesday before St George’s Day we celebrated with a Buffet and Race Game evening The Darts Group celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a buffet and singsong, and we had an exhibition of artefacts of the period for a week.
The monthly worship services begun in 1962 and renewed in 1983 finally ceased to operate have reached a level of 1 or 2 attending
Some of us got caught in the Phoenix Mobility scam when their demonstrators came her with equipment for disabled people, the two directors ran off t France with the money leaving 800 mainly elderly people the worse off.

We had an afternoon strawberry Tea, and May Moore assisted by her sister won the Fleet’s in Port Quiz, and was awarded a couple of house plants.
There was quite a saga for several months trying to get the company concerned to do the gas fire checks. Beryl Searle and Marjorie start received a local Royal British Legion award as our regular poppy sellers and over £60 was raise here this year. Wendy the weekend warden held a special coffee morning here for the Macmillan Nurses and raised over £100. Helen Andrews went mobile with a buggy that she calls her “horse”. Beryl led some of us on an interesting visit to Ashdon Museum. John was re-elected on to the Tenants Forum. Jan has donated to us a table with extensions idle for us to use as a games table.


John placed our history on the Lighthouse Prayer Ministry Web Board the address of which is lthopm.proboards.com.

In 2010 after much consultation the central island being since 1974 a Public Open Space and having fallen into disprepair with 17 paving stones moved up by tree roots it was agreed to remove everything apart from the existing trees and begin again with turf replacing the paved patio, the old rose beds turfed , the raised flower beds and the hedge removed, the perimeter shrub beds severely pruned and the lavender hedge both sides of the twitchel path towards Audley Road removed and turfed.

In March it was agreed to have a paved pathway linking the car park with rose beds at that end on either side, linked on the other side to the zig zag path In the middle would be a groun level flower bed for seasonal bedding and the path would encircle it and have on either side of if a planting of Sarcocca Confusa, known as Sweet Box, which blooms from Jan - March with a small white flower under dark leathery ever green leaves and from april - July displays black berries, While flowering it emits a pleasent scent

Along the line of the former hedge would be an oval tarmac path with the 4 benches outside it facing inwards as previously and 7 new ground level flower beds for seasonal bedding.

At this same time the loop road was created one way. The former cherry tree being disased was replaced with a new one

From April 7th 2010 the Sheltered Housing support cover was changed to a 3 tier options system for those not wishing to have a daily call.

From October 2011 new wall boilers replaced back boilers

In January 2012 we had a Quiz and supper and raffle raising £131 and obtained a Digital Radio and DVD Player for the Common Room

By January 2012 all the homes had lost their gas fires as back boilers were replaced by more efficient wall boilers. Four Ares Community's online history had been read by over 1000 people. Project 2012 got under way to celebrate the Community's 50th anniversary by creating a new patio area next to the Common Room, to a design organised by resident Anna Stanton. A working party emptied and demolished the old storage shed, cleaned up the concrete and set out the garden furniture. The plan having been submitted to a UDC Community
Garden Competition it won second prize was of £800 which eventually was used for a fence, shrubs in tubs, potted bedding plants and an awning.

A small group of 10 residents sought to have public parking banned and replaced by a Resident Permit Parking Scheme but it was voted down in a ballot of residents by 26 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions and 7 residents did not reply.

The Community's Golden Jubilee celebrations were merged with the Annual Big Lunch Picnic and the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. A Hog Roast meal was arranged using the Common Room [ and a large gazebo that was bought with stuffing, salads, sauces, fruit and 2 iced cakes[ . Entertainment was provided by the Nightingales Trio playing cello, violin and keyboard piano with lively dance music and lots of sing a long songs. A beautiful Jubilee Apron donated and here modelled was raffled

All residents were given an inscribed Biro pen and 4 awards were presented for the best decorated fronts which 32 homes participated in. A 4 page Commemorative Edition of FAN was published afterwards with 53 illustrations of the Jubilee events. The Central Garden seats were cleaned and repainted. Both the Darts Club and the Bingo Club had Cod and Chip suppers.

In the Autumn we celebrated Big Coffee Morning with tombola and a cake stall to raise money for MacMillan Nurses and in November we raised about £100 for Children in Need. We held our Christmas Lunch for 34 people organised by Jan and members of her wider family assisted by Joyce Lyddiate and Pat Davison, with a 90 minute humour song and dance programme led by Mick Ryan

We ended one year and began another with a Supper Party attended by 10. Seven, who had been expected to attend were prevented by illness, by the death of a relative, by a family event turning upon and sheer fatigue.

This was disappointing seeing all the effort that went into the occasion but those able to be present thoroughly enjoyed it, and for such a modest outlay of £3 each paid in advance we were provided with an excellent buffet involving tastes of duck, chicken, prawn, cheese and pineapple on sticks, .sausage rolls, and other delicacies savouries, an assortment of cakes and Christmas Cake and an assortment of drinks.

Several people dressed up for the occasion though we did say casual dress to cover a wide range. We played, pass the parcel, pass the hooter, “Guess who you are?”game, pin the tail on the donkey, hunt where the broken glass went, and charades. and much fun was had by all..

If the snow forecasted did not prevent us we aimed to have a Free Fish and Chip Supper on Jan 26th 2013 with a slides Show and Quiz for Members of the Darts and Bingo Clubs

We started the first week of the new year with a large hole in the road replacing a broken sewage pipe with a tanker pumping the sewage off, and we had running water down the road from Christmas eve to January from a burst water main

Later in the year we had Stair lifts installed in all 9 blocks of flats, and the road surface relaid.

We continued to have near monthly Quizzes and in May we tool a party by coach to the RHS Gardens at Wisely in Surrey.

THE OPENING OF THE 2012 PROJECT PATIO in June 2013
Some of us missed the cutting of the tape which occurred before the advertised time but some 28 people were present and a more than ample supply of cakes, buns and jam tarts and the weather was brilliant but with a gentle cooling breeze. Then and Now photographs of the work carried out over the last 2 years by the Site action Team and the UDC were displayed on the windows. Nicole cut the tape for us supported from UDC London Road by Mary, the housing Officer and Fergus, Head of the Sheltered Housing Team. A jolly and convivial afternoon was spent by all.

THE BIG PICNIC LUNCH ON THE NEW PATIO ON THE CORONATION 60th ANNIVERSARY
23 were present, of whom 21 stayed to eat a variety of sandwiches, rolls, cakes, and plates of food, and consume wine, beer, brandy, and soft drinks. In consequence a few secrets may have been shared, certainly some interesting tales were told, whether truth or fiction..A jolly interesting tale, one of several shared. Some from around here and over there. Some appeared to be doing charades or role play but a good time was held by all. Jan's date cake was as delicious as ever, and she provided fruit and icecream, and fresh fruit, and Jan and Joyce served us with tea and coffee. Well done.
THE BIG “O” PARTY The 130 Birthday Party. Tired of waiting for someone to reach 100 we joined a 70 and a 60 together and celebrated 130 years. 40-50 people enjoyed what began as a cloudy 9th of June and cool but the sunshine came out to allow some to bask in it on the patio. We enjoyed a fine spread of buttered bread chunks, a variety of cheeses, sausage rolls, quiches, salads, etc followed by trifles and gateaux and a lovely Joint-birthday cake washed down with a variety of coloured water and a lot of humour, banter and goodwill. The do-it-yourself cabaret did well too. Well done everyone. We also did well at Coffee and Bingo from Kate's birthday. As the relative of one of our residents remarked “My word you do live well at Four Acres” and why not?

BIG COFFEE MORNING 2013 We worked together The Tombola last year raised £113 and this year it raised £184. Florence's Guess the Number of Sweets in a Jar raised £21.60 and Anna won with the answer:- 81. The Bric a Brac stall was loaded but in the wrong place. We just did not have enough people in to buy what was for sale.

In November 2013 we held another successful collection and raffle for BBC Annual appeal for Children in Need
in the UK raising £130. Bob Saunders of No 37 took over delivering the Free newspapers We invested in a new Radio/CD Player for the Common Room. We had the Lounge Carpet cleaned . We prepared for Christmas with our annual luncheon on Dec 14th and a record 42 expected to sit down together and so we go on into the future

THE CHRISTMAS RAFFLE raised £66 for General Fund. There were 15 Prize Winners who shared 25 Prizes. Which included 3 bottles of drinks, a tin of ham, headphones, 2 watches. Royal Jelly, various soaps and beauty lotions, a wallet, an organiser, pineapple jam, and a framed picture.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH PARTY The pictures show a glimpse of this fab event, organised so well by Jan and her hand picked team of helpers. I think there were 43 of us in all. A well cooked well served delicious meal with alternative sweets. I recall someone saying “John, Custard or cream? I said “Yes” and got both. We enjoyed the singing, least ways most of us did. We cannot always please everyone. Same goes for the jokes but we had plenty of laughter. Then there was the dancing, or gymnastics to music, with the nearest we have to a Strictly Come Dancing champion pair in Tony and Pauline, and a gift biro to each diner and we broke even with prices and costs because we had such a brilliant band of volunteers.

WELL LIT UP OVER CHRISTMAS we were with 17 homes showing lights of some kind or another, trees, window and balcony displays or. Menorahs. Well done. It has looked grand. We were well supplied at Coffee, Bingo, Cards and Darts with cakes of various kinds all scrumptious but some of us have had to return to our diets .Several birthdays were celebrated including two 90 year rungs on the ladder of life. Ivy Swan and Eileen Carter, and all things considered they are wearing well. Len is next in the 90's league, and one person reaches 98 this year. Onwards and upwards. Our very good wishes to them all for their good example and determination

Friday Feb 21st 2014 approx 10am we were woken up, those still asleep, by the arrival of the Fire Service, with 2 vehicles and crews, mostly not really needed, due to the explosion of a toaster. Reminding us all to take great care of all our appliances, bearing in mind the expense of this service.

CHAINS & BOLTS ON DOORS. It seemed a good idea at the time and was promoted rigorously by the Police as a home security measure that when someone knocks on our door seeking admission whose identity we are unsure of or as in the case of some workmen cannot produce an ID, we could put the chain up to deter access while we checked with Housing or the Police. Alas the measure has been abused by thoughtless people who regularly have put it on when they went to bed not thinking that if they were taken ill the Medics can no longer gain access down the chimneys now blocked up or by a brick through double glazed windows. So chains have become a Health & Safety hazard too, now to be removed. What we don't us properly we lose.

The Darts, Cards and Bingo Groups had a Free Supper from their funds of Chips with either cod, scampi or sausage and fruit mousse as dessert well organised again by Beryl & Bridget with much appreciated help from Brenda, Jenny & Tony...Pictured here too the Raffle Prizes. John showed 195 slides of previous Walden and Newport Carnivals & St Mary's Flower Festival 1974 We had new spotlights fitted directed onto the Dart Board, and later in the Year Ray provided us a new dart board.

FAC COMMUNITY'S BIG PICNIC DAY was a success but not shared by so many as in previous years as our community through change becomes more fragmented.

THE BOLTOPH DAY QUIZ AND CHINESE SUPPER was supported by 25 of us and we Much enjoyed a delicious sweet and sour with chicken, along With pineapple and rice, and ices.

Jan shared a lot of her jokes contributed by various people and we had a great Quiz with a lot of fun and made £36 profit for our Funds. Again a big Thank You to Jan for organising it.
THE SPECIAL COMMUNITY RESIDENTS MEETING was attended by 17 residents. Following resignations, Bridget Rushforth at No 17 was elected Secretary, and Pat Davison at No 29 Deputy Chair, Jan
and John were re-elected and it was decided to continue to publish FAN first published in 1983-86 and then continuously since 1999. We discussed the feasibility of a coach outing in September but decided it was better to use locval Company outings like Richmomdsm,and the arrangements for Big Coffee Morning and for the Christmas Luncheon and entertainment.

SIXTY YEARS SERVING. A few people may have noticed in the window of the door at No 35 is a picture of 2 Lighthouses. From that address radiates help to people around the world. July 1st marks the 60th anniversary of the foundation of THE LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRY.[MCCPF] of which I'm Administrator.
We began as the Charity Collecting Centre Saffron Walden in July 1954 which collected metal foil, metal, newspapers, woollen rags, used stamps. & jam jars for resale to raise money for several charities , and magazines and comics for recycling to elderly people at the almshouses, the children's ward of the hospital; and orphanages. From 1958 we have assisted thousands of people through international pen pal agencies and supplied books, cassettes, and tools. Over some decades we supplied typewriter parts and ribbons to keep a 1950's typewriter operating in the foothills of the Himalayas 600 miles from the nearest railway and many miles from any road, and set up a library there, We funded a battery operated projector to a remote part of Uganda .

Since 1991 we have funded the planting of 7570 trees across 15 countries including two 250 tree woods in Uganda and for soil preservation in the South Sahara region. Including date palms, olive trees, other fruit trees, firs and deciduous. In 1992 we established HELP GHANA a project operated for 20 years, which included funding a bore hole and providing a generator to a village there. We've helped buy land for food growing in Ukraine and Africa We've been involved helping rehabilitate prisoners in Lithuania, and Zambia by funding training courses, GCSE courses, providing shirts, shoes, toiletries, books etc. Many are incarcerated many miles from their homes and families, and in Zambia for 15 – 25 years or for life, for crimes that here would merit just a few years in prison or a fine. We've been supplying New Testaments requested by Army Personnel in Zambia and supplying Bibles requested by orphans in Malawi and pastors in Mozambique..

In 2011 we organised funding for freight and carriage costs for delivery of equipment including typewriters, computers, sewing machines, knitting machines, bicycles, wheelchairs, gardening tools, skill training kits from Tools With A Mission at Ipswich to Northern Zambia to equip a Youth Training Scheme, and a similar consignment in 2013 to assist disabled people in 11 Zambian villages. Since 2006 we've funded 9 Clockwork and Solar panel powered CD Players into remote parts of 8 African countries for teams to take training material in the local tribal languages where there is little or no printed material or to people who are unable to read. Most recently we have helped found a lending library at a village in Nigeria. There are a lot of other things God has encouraged people to support by donated gifts including money helping people across the world.

OUR ALTERNATIVE to the Brazil versus Germany Semi- Final or the Carnival Bavarian Evening was a Beetle Drive with a Faith Supper. Which means we trusted everyone to bring something to share. This was our first here for about 40 years. It was the suggestion of Pat our new Deputy Chair who hailed from Yorkshire where this was traditionally associated with Peas Pie. We had about double the amount of food we needed so some went in store. 19 of us enjoyed the game, there having dropped out. The highest score possible for 12 rounds was 168. The winner was Tony Auger who scored 133 and shared his prize with the rest of his table. John Maddams was runner up with 129

It was good to learn of various residents holding Neighbours Tea Parties in their flats or gardens at 3 venues recently.

Members of Four Acres Community watched the Carnival from the steps of the War Memorial. The Chairman this year was Jason Thomson, son of Kate and Ian at No 34. He was last year Chairman of the UK National Association of Round Tablers and this year President of the International Round Table Association It has been suggested that next time in 2017 we might enter a float like the Merry Widows of Walden?. We were also dotted about the route for the Tour de France through Walden.

10 of us now have LED lights on our balconies or in our front gardens being solar battery powered lights, some white, some coloured. Others have them in the back gardens and we have some coloured butterflies on the Common Room Patio during the day that glow white at night.

We wish to place on record our great thanks to 2 of our residents for their commitment, help and service over recent years who have resigned. Joyce Lyddiate as Deputy Chair and Brad Ingram as Secretary, and to Anna Stanton for her work to beautify the new Patio area and for them both in the care of the flower bed in front of their flat. A lot of unsung caring goes on by various neighbours to other neighbours some noticed and some not usually so. Also thanks to Corinne Thomson for watering and grass cutting lately

PAT OUR DEPUTY CHAIR AT NO 25 won a Certificate of Merit in the UDC Tenants Gardening Competition for her efforts creating from scratch a garden of a diversity - lawn, flowers and profitable vegetable patch, not forgetting the wildlife conservancy factor, looking after a frog

THE DARTS- CARDS -BINGO CLUB FREE SUMMER SUPPER with free raffle took place on August 30 well arranged again by Beryl and Bridget.
John showed a cavalcade of slides from 1976 – 1977 including activities at Four Acres, scenes around Walden and at his aunt and uncle's small holding in Bedfordshire. Scenes at Clacton, Little Holland, Walton, Colchester Zoo, and Ickleford Flower Festival and Queen's Silver Jubilee decorations, and events at Newport and Walden.

CYPRIAN'S DAY COMMUNITY QUIZ was attended by 28 and we enjoyed a Ploughman's Supper of buttered rolls, cheese, pate, celery, tomatoes, onions. We had some jokes from
Jan and 10 rounds of challenging questions
and hilarious answers and 20 sets of jumbled words of towns names to work out, and we made a profit of £45.

We again observed Big Coffee Morning in support of the MacMillan Nurses and The Tombola and Raffle were organised by our enthusiastic Community Assistant - Tony Auger. He does a lot for us, helping various individuals and in our various groups and is so cheerful. He is a great encourager. We thank everyone for their help and support for the coffee morning including Hilary and FlorenceWe raised £312. Amazing.


The illustrated history of Four Acres is in the Common Room on a shelf with the Albums, Minutes, and coloured illustrated copies of FOUR ACRES NEWS (FAN) in folders on the Archives Shelf over the Piano. The Archivist holds a second set of FAN, and of the Minutes, and of the history

[John]

PART 4
In 2011 Sonia Gordon of No 13 introduced pensioners to the idea of getting about further and further using their bus passes and set out to reach Cambridge, 15 miles away by the longer 65 mile route via Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds. After that the group had many other adventures to the coast and inland.
By January 2012 all the homes had lost their gas fires as back boilers were replaced by more efficient wall boilers. Four Ares Community's online history had been read by over 1000 people. Project 2012 got under way to celebrate the Community's 50th anniversary by creating a new patio area next to the Common Room, to a design organised by resident Anna Stanton. A working party emptied and demolished the old storage shed, cleaned up the concrete and set out the garden furniture. The plan having been submitted to a UDC Community Garden Competition it won second prize was of £800 which eventually was used for a fence, shrubs in tubs, potted bedding plants and an awning.
A small group of 10 residents sought to have public parking banned and replaced by a Resident Permit Parking Scheme but it was voted down in a ballot of residents by 26 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions. 7 residents didn't reply.
The Community's Golden Jubilee celebrations were merged with the Annual Big Lunch Picnic and the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. A Hog Roast meal was arranged using the Common Room [ and a large gazebo that was bought with stuffing, salads, sauces, fruit and 2 iced cakes[ . Entertainment was provided by the Nightingales Trio playing cello, violin and keyboard piano with lively dance music and lots of sing a long songs.

A beautiful Jubilee Apron donated and here modelled was raffled All residents were given an inscribed Biro pen and 4 awards were presented for the best decorated fronts which 32 homes participated in. A 4 page Commemorative Edition of FAN was published afterwards with 53 illustrations of the Jubilee events.

We sent a Jubilee Greeting Card to Her Majesty the Queen celebrating our 2 Jubilees, and received a beautiful card back. The Central Garden seats were cleaned and repainted. Both the Darts Club and the Bingo Club had Cod and Chip suppers.

In the Autumn we celebrated Big Coffee Morning with tombola and a cake stall to raise money for MacMillan Nurses and in November we raised about £100 for Children in Need. We held our Christmas Lunch for 34 people organised by Jan and members of her wider family assisted by Joyce Lyddiate and Pat Davison, with a 90 minute humour song and dance programme led by Mick Ryan

We ended one year and began another with a Supper Party attended by 10. Seven, who had been expected to attend were prevented by illness, by the death of a relative, by a family event turning upon and sheer fatigue. This was disappointing seeing all the effort that went into the occasion but those able to be present thoroughly enjoyed it, and for such a modest outlay of £3 each paid in advance we were provided with an excellent buffet involving tastes of duck, chicken, prawn, cheese and pineapple on sticks, .sausage rolls, and other delicacies savouries, an assortment of cakes and Christmas Cake and an assortment of drinks.. Several people dressed up for the occasion though we did say casual dress to cover a wide range. We played, pass the parcel, pass the hooter, “Guess who you are?”game, pin the tail on the donkey, hunt where the broken glass went, and charades. and much fun was had by all..

Jan 26th 2013 saw the first of periodical Free Fish and Chip Suppers on with a slides Show and Quiz for Members of the Darts and Bingo Clubs. We started the first week of the new year with a large hole in the road replacing a broken sewage pipe with a tanker pumping the sewage off, and we had running water down the road from Christmas eve to January from a burst water main New external and hallway/staircase lighting was installed. Followed quickly by the installation of Stairlifts. 19 of us travelled to the RHS Gardens at Wisely arranged by Joyce Lyddiate at No 37. ECC resurfaced the road. A small Project Team demolished the old shed and created a new patio garden next to the Common Room designed by Ms Anna Stanton. Our last gas fire was removed.

2014 saw the introduction of the new electric hand driers.. We collected for Ben the Cleaner. We had a pancake supper. New Common Room lights were installed. Chains were removed from doors. Homesight visited the Common Room providing on site optician cover. We had a Chinese supper. We had a Beetle Drive. We held our last Children in Need support event. Regular Quiz Nights continued .Tony did another outside Tombola event in support of MacMillan nurses. Some of us were involved in Operation Christmas Child. Jan and her team laid on another excellent annual; Christmas tide Luncheon.

2015 brought CCTV Cameras on site. Some of our resident cars were scratched, Darts Club petered out Comfort Plus brought special chairs, buggies, and beds and demonstrated them. The first UDC Sheltered Housing Forum was held here. Members of the UDC Regulatory panel called here doing their survey. Higher level ovens began to be fitted and new Monoxide alarms, fuseboxes and wet room lights were installed. New street lamps were installed, The Community Room was redecorated, recarpeted, refurnished,& reopened on November 20th. John came to the end of 15 years as a member of the Tenants Forum..and was elected for 2 more years. We had a good Christmas Luncheon, Eileen Smith died. Joan Searle moved to The Meadows Nursing Home at Haverhill, Eleven of us, a record, gathered for the transition of the years party.

2016 Len Chapman who did a lot for us up to 10 years ago moved to The Meadows Nursing Home at Haverhill, where he died in April. Comfort Plus gave us another demonstration. The following died:- Jean Start, George Bassett, Ivy Swan , and Kathy Bateman who had been here the longest since 1963 when she came as a child with her parents. Her father being a Council employee. Our Action Team of volunteers had the rose bed replanted as the bushes had died, with shrubs funded from our Genera Fund, celebrating the Queens 90th birthday, and the Action team have also planted new plants in the Patio Garden. In March and May Quizzes were arranged The Bingo Club had another Half Yearly Supper. In August we celebrated the 100th Birthday of resident Elsie Bard and celebrated the Queen 90th Birthday with a strawberry Cream Tea. Our former Deputy Chair Joyce Lyddiate moved, and further residents died, James Todd, Cindy Jones, Edna Pearson. and Barry Wrankmore. John Haggerwood at No 26 was the first person here to introduce plastic grass to his garden. The last 21 of our commemorative hymn books not used here since 2005 were despatched to a mission in Malawi. Jan our Chair person moved out in October to her new bungalow pending her retirement in March 2017. 36 of us gathered for our Christmas Luncheon, entertained by Beanie £95 was raised by the Christmas Raffle. 12 of us gathered for the annual Transitional Party Dec 31st – Jan1st with a Quiz, Pass the Parcel, Putting the Tail on the Donkey, Singing Dancing, Auld Lang Syne and far too much food.
A NEW CHAPTER BEGAN.
2017 we marked the New Year with the arrival of the Community Room Computer and printer on which since February we are attempting to load the coloured master editions of FAN, and we can get access to the internet including our own personal email accounts, and FACEBOOK and through that SAFFRON WALDEN BLAST FROM THE PAST group which has over 3,000 members and on which we put Four Acres news visual reports from time to time. 5 people asked Nicole for introductory instructions in using the machine As it was set up when we turned it online we were faced with a News Service from THE DAILY MAIL. Not everyone likes the DAILY MAIL but we don't have to read it we go to the top line of the page and highlight THE DAILY MAIL line of print and delete it and type in FACEBOOK, or our email server, or Google, or whatever other web sure we need, and click the end of that space. We must not insert into the machine our own passwords because if we do, no one else can gain access into it.
COMFORT PLUS LTD came in February to demonstrate their chairs and bed and other machines with some sales success. Jan staged her last Quiz with home made Chicken and Vegetable Soup
On March 2nd we held our first AGM for 3 years attended by 21 residents, and elected David Miles of Number 8 as our new CHAIR replacing Jan Cousins John was re-elected Coordinator [ the new title that covers his roles of Secretary, Treasurer, Archivist, Editor of FAN, and Bingo Caller and some other tasks. ] We agreed to Jan Larouche getting our supplies, and we acknowledged various other people who serve us regularly. We agreed to try out a Beetle Drive organised by Pat at No 25, and Jan at No 32 which took place successfully in May, and to have more Quizzes organised by Kate and Ian Thomson, and to book Mr Beanie for our Christmas event though that may be a buffet rather than the cooked meals of recent years, and book Mike to come over and run Play Your Cards Right, in the autumn, to hold a Picnic Lunch on the Patio on June 2nd, and a Strawberry Tea in July. We agreed to close down our deposit account and open a new account with a cheque book facility, 2 signatories, 2 debit cards, Online banking and an overdraft facility, although we have never had an overdraft these 50 years or more. We agreed to try Table Games Afternoons, on the first and third Friday afternoons monthly, 2pm - 5pm, with tea and coffee and biscuits as for other groups for 30p, and that is catching on, 14 having tried it out so far, We agreed to a Christmas Social, and another end of the year Transitional Party. In March too we said farewell to Janice Cousins [ Jan ] our Chair for 17 years and to begin with a resident Warden and then a mobile Warden but still resident among us. We made a collection raising enough for £200 worth of Gift vouchers from Homebase and Argos for getting things for her new garden and a bouquet of flowers. We arranged a special cake and a buffet meal . The following week Fergus and Nicole organised a Reception in the Community Room for UDC Housing Services staff and Four Acres & Newcroft Residents to say farewell again and make a presentation. At this we learned that Karl Lewellyn would replace Jan, which we were delighted with. On her final day here March 31st Jan held open house from Noon until 4pm for anyone who would like to drop in, and quite a few did, and we had some of her Date cake again. .
Numbers attending Bingo rose in April. Our All Groups Free Chip supper with various food was successful in late June commemorating Brexit Day 2016 Another is planned for February 2018 . We also had another Beetle Drive and a Mid Summer Quiz on St Albans Day in June. James Taylor of ECC Fire Service Harlow came to talk to us about Fire prevention and UDC Policy for that Work began to create the old boiler house into a place to store and recharge motorised buggies and should be completed by March. Wiltshire Farm Foods gave us a demonstration presentation in August with freebies. At Michaelmas in September when we had our Autumn Equinox Quiz and also observed our EMERALD ANNIVERSARY – 55 years a reminder that in 5 years time we will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Four Acres for which we set aside £200 a year from our fund raising events. In October we observed the 500th Anniversary of Reformation Day - with a well attended Quiz. In November Mike Coppins came with his PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT which was well attended. We said farewell to Elsie Bard who at 101 has moved to Hatherley House. The Decorations went up for our Buffet with Beany on Dec 8th with our Christmas Raffle leading to our 3rd annual Transitional Party on Dec 31 into Jan. 1. 2018 which was attended by 6 and greatly enjoyed . Since then we have had another successful Quiz evening and on Games Afternoon have started using Rummicumb.Further Quizzes, Play Your Cards Right, and a demonstration from COMFORT PLUS are planned, leading to our AGM on March 8th.

Revised Summary, Jan 2018. ( C ) JEM.