Newton Court News October 2015.pdf · Newton Court News October 2015. ... violin and played for us. ... Meditaon, Czardas, the theme from Ladies in Lavender and finally Gabriel’s

For all the news and forthcoming events, Newton Court News should keep you informed!

Page 2: Welcome & Strawberry Tea Page 3: High Priest, Carl & Jen Page 4: Courtyards, Violins & report

Page 5: Long service, re�rement and bands Page 6: Kinder transport and 103rd birthday Page 7: Jewish relief & working for your tea

One of our favourite trips out is to drive down to Langland Bay to Newton Court’s beach hut. When the weather is fine (which does occasionally happen in Wales...honestly!) we don a sun hat, put on some sun cream and spend the morning or a�ernoon watching the world go by.

You can see from these photographs that some of our respite visitors take advantage of the beach hut too. Sister Linda Goodwin came on holiday to Mumbles for a week in August and was thrilled when we spent the a�ernoon there.

Brother Malcolm Webborn, without fail, has a swim at Langland when he visits. So if you are

planning a holiday at Newton Court make sure you bring your bathers with you! You never know, we may be able to ini�ate a Newton Court swimming club.

Access to the beach hut is straigh�orward—we are able to take wheelchairs which means that all of our residents have the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and the views.

We are always very happy when various visitors ask to use the hut. The local ecclesias’ mother and toddlers group has visited as has the sisters’ class.

The hut has plenty of space although it does become a li�le “cosy” when there is the need to shelter from the occasional shower. As you can see, some people bring their kni�ng to ensure that they can sit out any bad weather moments.

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Page 2

It has been a tradi�on in Mumbles for Sister Rosemary Jones to organise a

strawberry tea every summer as a fund raising exercise for a charity of her choice. For many years Rosemary and her husband, Brother Ken, hosted these events in their garden in Bishopston. When it became impossible for them to do that for a variety of reasons, the annual event was moved to Newton Court where the catering staff work wonders with strawberries, meringues and whipped cream.

This year’s tea was held on June 12th and our cook, Margaret Pearson, excelled as you can see from the photographs. The “strawberries” on her hat show how she entered into the spirit of the a�ernoon.

Rosemary asked that the proceeds from the tea should be divided equally between two chari�es, Christadelphian Care Homes and the Nepal earthquake appeal. We raised a total of £220 which has now been sent to these two funds.

When this tradi�on started, volunteers from Mumbles ecclesia used to pick the strawberries from one of the farms on Gower. We have not been able to do that in recent years but if anyone would like to put their name forward for a day out next summer, please just let Rosemary know!

We have been pleased to have several visitors from near and far to Newton Court. Sisters Margaret Livingstone, Linda Goodwin and Iris

Jenkins have joined us for a short while and brother Don Lucas has been for a short holiday from the Midlands. Nancy Satchell, Peggy Morris, Elizabeth Lewis and Bryn Bancro� have had short stays here.

Sister Margaret Webborn has moved into Newton Court from one of the flats. We are pleased to have her company. We also welcome Mr Alfred Grainger who has been here on respite before and has now decided to move in permanently.

Sadly, sister Dilys Palmer fell asleep at Newton Court on 26th August a�er struggling for many years with Parkinson’s disease. She moved to Newton Court in 2007 and has been an inspira�on to us all in the way that she dealt without complaint with her suffering. We shall miss her and look forward to the day when we shall see her again.

Sister Olive Doust also fell asleep on 6th August. She was here on respite and her health deteriorated whilst she was here.

Comings and goings

Page 3

On June 12th Alan brought the model of the High Priest of Israel in his garments “for glory and beauty” as described in Exodus chapter 28. The model was made by the members of the Leeds Brudenell Road ecclesia in the late 1940s. It was an exhorta�on in itself to think of the dedicated study and cra�smanship that went into the making of this model. We marvelled at the intricacy of the embroidery work and thought about the brothers and sisters whose legacy is s�ll being used.

The model was passed on to Alan some years ago and he has used it as the basis for several Bible studies. We had a curtailed version of his full study which

obviously means that we will be asking Alan to come back to give us more at some �me in the future.

Exodus 28 might seem a difficult chapter to read because of the detail that is given and the old fashioned words that are used in the AV.

However, with the model in front of us we could begin to see not just the reality of Aaron’s garments but also the way in which the High Priest foreshadowed the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We were privileged to a�end a concert at Newton Court on Wednesday, 26th August. What a thrill it was to listen to Carl’s superb piano playing. We heard the theme music from “West Side Story”, Beethoven’s “Appassionata” sonata, three waltzes by Brahms, and “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin.

Sister Jenny Pi�s’ monologues with her take on Joyce Grenfell amused us all greatly, and she

also sang “I’m Just An Old fashioned Girl”.

Jenny and Carl also entertained us with two comedy sketches completely in character, along with the Bernard Cribbins song “Right said Fred”. These elicited great hilarity!

All they did was greatly appreciated by the residents, staff and visitors alike. We were delighted to be there.

Sisters Pat Brown and Gill Lawrence.

Page 4

We take great pride in the gardens and courtyard at Newton Court. We think it is par�cularly important to make the courtyard bright and welcoming for visitors as

it is almost the first thing they see on arrival here. So

this year the welfare commi�ee purchased hanging baskets from a local nursery. These baskets are linked up to our automa�c watering system so

that they can be maintained in prime condi�on throughout the Summer. We also have two corners in the courtyard that the tenants look a�er and these were well complemented by the baskets this year.

Our Newton Court swallows returned to us at the end of April to add to the display and increase everyone’s interest. This year there were three nests which is a record. The swallows have now le� but we look forward to their return next year.

Dan Harding, when visi�ng Sister Ruth

on August 12th, kindly brought his

violin and played for us. He played

Medita�on,

Czardas, the

theme from

Ladies in

Lavender and

finally Gabriel’s

Oboe. Dan

played

beau�fully and

reduced the

audience to

tears with his

finale.

It has been a very busy year for Christadelphian Care Homes with the opening of a new home in Coventry and the closing of the two Leamington Spa homes. Elsewhere it has been a case of building upon the successes of the past.

Newton Court has been busy with visitors all over the spring and summer months, some old faces and some new taking up the opportunity to have a few days by the seaside and to enjoy being supported or cared for by dedicated staff. Trips out and to our own beach hut have remained popular. The local ecclesias always make welcome those who are able to a�end a local mee�ng. Some visitors have already reserved dates to return and we look forward to welcoming them again, if Christ should remain away. Do you have a rela�ve or friend, or are you in need of care or a holiday? Please let us know.

The Christadelphian Benevolent Fund (CBF) have schemes available where they can support the cost of a holiday or respite in a Christadelphian Care Home. Applica�ons should be made by your ecclesial Recording Brother to Bro. Neville Moss, Ipswich (see details in the CALS Diary).

Recently we sent out a ques�onnaire to all UK ecclesias and we have received over 70% back at the �me of wri�ng. We thank all those who have responded for their �me and help in this direc�on.

We hope that what we are doing by way of a review of all our facili�es and of the services we offer will help us to con�nue to care for our older members, if Christ should remain away.

Now do not forget – book early to save disappointment.

The courtyard provides a nice sun trap which our tenants and their visitors use for their very regular tea breaks!

We are very privileged to have a number of individuals or groups who are happy to come to entertain us. In September the Loughor Town Band came for their third visit to Newton Court. When they first came they were resplendent in their full red

regalia but as you can see from these photographs they have become very relaxed and shirt sleeves are now the order of the day. They played their usual varied

repertoire which included tradi�onal tunes such as Cwm Rhondda and Calon Lan and pop tunes like Delilah and Rock around the Clock. They really got feet tapping when they played the Can Can but none of the residents felt up to dancing! The band members remembered sister Nora Miller from their last visit and, knowing that she has now reached the ripe old age of 103, they played Congratula�ons in her honour.

Page 5

We do not need any excuses here to spend our money, but when there is one then that helps! Every few months, a representa�ve from a local shoe company comes in to show the latest range and styles. Inevitably our residents are encouraged to buy them. There is not usually much demand for high heels but slippers seem to sell like hot cakes!

CCH always likes to thank staff who have given long periods of service to our residents. This year Leane completed 15 years at Newton Court so we were delighted to present her with vouchers recognising that. She was also given a cer�ficate which was presented by Alan, our trustee, at a coffee morning on 10th June. So well done and many thanks to Leane for her dedica�on to Newton Court and our

residents.

We have just said goodbye to one of our longest serving members of staff.

Liz Smith started work in Newton Court on 26th January 1988. Ini�ally she

worked nights as she had a full �me job which occupied her days.

Some�mes she brought her daughter, Clare, with her to sleep here while

she was working. Liz has worked in our kitchen and as a senior carer. Her

rice puddings became known as ‘the best

ever’. Liz has known and cared for most of

our residents over the past 27 years. Our

staff play a vital part in making Newton

Court the home it is and Liz has certainly

contributed to the success of the home.

We thank her for her loyalty over the years

and wish her a long and happy re�rement.

Page 6

Our oldest resident, Sister Nora Miller, reached the great age of 103 years on the 18th August. We celebrated with a special coffee morning which all the residents and many visitors a�ended and thoroughly enjoyed. A lusty rendi�on of “Happy Birthday” was sung and the sherry flowed freely. Nora, despite her great age, is a remarkable lady; her sight is not what she would like, but absolutely nothing gets past her! If you want to know what is going on—ask Nora!

She received a beau�ful bouquet from Newton Court, many cards, visits and good wishes from all her friends. In the evening she enjoyed a visit from her extended family including her son, John, and his wife, Pamela; her grandchildren and many great grandchildren all of whom enjoyed an evening with her and with her birthday cake! What a fantas�c day!

We had a surprise visit from the Environmental Health Department’s food hygiene inspector on July 16th. She examined every aspect of our kitchen, food storage facili�es and record keeping and declared that she was very impressed by everything she saw. We were delighted when she told us that we would undoubtedly be receiving a five star award. So well done to all who work in the kitchen!

On the 12th September Bro Mike Barnes opened our eyes and hearts to the remarkable work of the Kindertransport and the role of his grandfather, Bro Alan Overton, and others in saving about 250 children from eastern Europe des�ned to extermina�on in the death camps of Auschwitz and the like by the Nazis. Jewish families from Czechoslovakia, were assisted by Sir Nicholas Winton who has recently died. They sent their children to the West by train, some of whom were as young as 2 years old; they had their names on paper tags pinned to their clothes.

Bro Alan Overton of Rugby was moved by the plight of these children and his love of “the Hope of Israel”. He determined to try to find homes for these children in Britain, o�en at no li�le cost to himself. He met many of them as they arrived in Liverpool Street Sta�on.

Bro Overton made an appeal in the Christadelphian magazine to raise money and to give these children a home. The UK government would only take 10,000 children and required each to be sponsored at a cost of £50—a huge sum all those years ago. Many were taken in by Christadelphian families across the country. Our own Bro Cyril Carter remembers driving to London with his mother to take one young girl, later a sister in Christ, to a home in Dereham.

Homes were found for the li�le girls rela�vely easily, but teenage boys were more difficult to place - in a �me of ra�oning there were worries about feeding them! And so a house was purchased for them in 1939 - Li�le Thorn Lodge, in Rugby, later renamed "Elpis Lodge".

Bro Overton also helped two other young German Jews, not in the Kindertransport, who were later bap�sed and who much later in life were residents of Newton Court!

We thank brother Mike for an inspiring and moving account.

Page 7

Because the Jewish people are by descent the children of Abraham, they are a rather special people as far as the Christadelphians are concerned. On Saturday 8th August Brother David Griffin, accompanied by his wife Jackie, told us of the way relief, in the form of new and second hand clothing, is being provided by Christadelphians and their friends to relieve problems among poor Jews.

In the Ukraine and also in Israel there are many Jewish families struggling to survive in condi�ons of extreme poverty. The reality there is terrifying. Over 2,000 Jews

are among the million Ukrainian people who have been forced to flee their homes from the war zone with absolutely nothing to their names. The Organisa�on of Economic Co-opera�on and Development reports that Israel is at the top of their list of countries in the developed world as far poverty is concerned. Israel has 20.9% of its popula�on in poverty compared to the average of 11.3% for all other countries!

Responding to this situa�on, Christadelphians in the U.K. and in America have been busy providing clothing including mountains of knit-ware. The garments are sorted and packed in Birmingham and are then transported via Amsterdam to the Ukraine and to Israel. On 3rd March the largest consignment so far, amoun�ng to 13,000 garments weighing just over 5 tonnes was sent. Transport is provided by Max Veenstra a benefactor and haulage expert of Amsterdam. In addi�on to the service provided by Max Veestra, a haulage magnate in America provides transport free of charge from America to England.

Kni�ng for Jewish relief has been going on among ecclesias since the early for�es, and piles of woollies and packs of wool are a common feature among Christadelphian “get togethers”. New and second hand clothing is also included in the consignments. Ini�a�ves by individuals have also resulted in clothing in the form of wholesalers end of line items being obtained at very o�en half sale price. Items from charity shops are also another source of supply.

Sister Marjorie Hall took over the organising of the garments in the six�es and con�nued for over 40 years. Marjorie is now a resident at Newton Court, but the kni�ng needles s�ll are busy!

Newton Court’s garden and the nearby country lanes have provided an abundance of fruit and vegetables this year. The residents have picked apples, plums, runner beans and blackberries all of which have been taken to the kitchen and subsequently served

up in the dining room. Once again, sister Lynda Nicholls has played a major part in ensuring our vegetable plot is up to scratch. We are grateful to her for her support and ongoing commitment.

Articles for future use can be forwarded to Sis. Sarah Owen c/o Newton Court

Diaries at the ready... Sunday: Breaking of Bread service at Mount Zion mee�ng room - bus leaves at 10.15am

Monday: Exercise Class at 10.30am, Hymn singing or baking at 2.30pm

Tuesday: Hairdressing from 9.00am , Flower Arranging with Ka�e at 2.30pm

Wednesday: Maria’s ac�vity morning at 10.00am in the Conservatory, Dorcas class (every other week) at 2.30pm, Crosswords and live music at 2.30pm

Thursday: Art class at 10.30am, Breaking of Bread (1st week in month) at 3.00pm, Literature class (every week apart from 1st in month) at 2.30pm

Friday: Shop with Anne at 2.30pm

So begin many of the le�ers that Anne

Horton receives from our residents.

Anne took over the small “shop” in Newton

Court about a year ago and has now

expanded her selec�on of goodies so that

residents have plenty to choose from every

Friday. But it is never enough! So the “dear

Anne” le�ers usually contain a request for a

par�cular item or an extension of the range

of goods. It goes without saying that Anne

is always happy to oblige. Our problem is that we will soon run out of tables on which to display the

chocolates, biscuits, toiletries and sta�onery she has for sale.

On June 10th, we had a visit from brother Darryl Pitcher who is the CEO of a Christadelphian care home in Adelaide, Australia. The home is called Bethsalem and they publish a monthly newsle�er called “Happy Valley Times”. In their July issue Darryl described his visit to Newton Court where he met many of our residents, including Cyril Carter. Darryl was impressed by Cyril’s ar�s�c ability par�cularly when he learned that Cyril had only taken up pain�ng in his 90s. Prior to mee�ng Cyril, Darryl had spent an a�ernoon on Gower and had par�cularly enjoyed his visit to Worm’s Head at Rhossilli. Inevitably, Cyril had a pain�ng of Worm’s Head which he had produced from photographs he had taken some �me earlier and he took pleasure in presen�ng this to Darryl as you can see in the photograph on the front page of the Happy Valley Times. Darryl has wri�en to say that the pain�ng now hangs in his office as a reminder of “a dear friend with a kind heard and a passion for art”.