June Whitfield sends 20th Birthday Card to sheltered housing scheme in Salcombe

The building was finished in July 1991 and June officially opened it in December, 1991. The housing scheme was built then at a cost of £2m, and today, Chandlers Heights has 40 flats.

The residents organised a celebratory tea party and invited the Mayor of Salcombe, Cllr Roger Moore, together with local councillors, police and Redfern Health Centre representatives.

David Norman, Operations Director for Tor Homes, was there at the opening 20 years ago. David said: “The residents had laid on a splendid party and the card of congratulations from June Whitfield really was the icing on the cake.”

Twenty years ago a photograph was taken of all the first residents and it has hung on the wall ever since. At the tea party, David Norman presented Carl Straw, Chair of Chandlers Heights Residents Association with a new picture of the current residents, on behalf of Tor Homes. Carl said that the new picture will now have pride of place next to the old one.

David added “We were really pleased to be able to help celebrate the 20^th anniversary of this special sheltered housing scheme with our residents. They and their scheme co-ordinator, Jennie Gillard, should be rightly proud of the social events that they organise. It makes Chandlers Heights a great place to live.”

Sheltered housing offers older people (generally people over 60) the chance to maintain their independence in a safe and secure environment. Chandlers Heights has individual flats, as well as a communal room, lifts, a guestroom and all the flats are fitted with a 24 hour monitored call alarm system. The scheme co-ordinator calls on those who want a check, helps sort out hospital appointments and much more.

There’s never a dull moment at Chandlers Heights and the events organised include coffee mornings, summer BBQ’s, quizzes, fish suppers, cream teas, Bingo, knitting in the lounge for blankets for Africa, lunches and trips out.