Celebrating 25 years of Castle Grove
Headline – Residents and friends gather together for Castle Grove’s Silver Jubilee.
September 17th 2009 marks 25 years exactly since Ray and Isabelle moved to Castle Grove – stage one of realising their dream of a retirement home with a difference.
Click on the image below to view the leaflet produced for the day. You will see how Castle Grove has grown and developed since 1984.
Key dates…
September 17th 1984
The Kenny family arrives at Castle Grove.
February 19th 1985
Our first resident is admitted.
May 1988
The Annexe is opened.
September 1989
Grove House, the Kennys’ new house is completed.
August 1992
16 Castle Street is purchased for sheltered housing.
1997
14 Castle Street is purchased for sheltered housing.
1998
The Stables are converted into sheltered housing.
2007-8
The Schoolroom is converted & new lifts installed.
Isabelle’s speech…
Today is a bittersweet occasion for me & my family. Sweet because it marks how far we have come in 25 years, but bitter because the other half of the team is not here to celebrate with us. He would have been very proud and made a much better speech than me (although it would have been longer!)
It is strange to think that some of you here today never had the privilege of knowing my husband Ray, who was the driving force behind the successful business we enjoy today.
In our early days at Castle Grove he decorated, cooked the meals, cut the grass and returned to Cardiff University weekly to teach. At that time we had two small children and no night staff. When we looked after the first resident who died here we set the alarm clock to go off every two hours in order to turn her. Our own living accommodation dwindled to two bedrooms and a bathroom above the kitchen.
At this time we were grateful for the welcome afforded to us by Bampton. Until we demolished the wall some people had never seen inside the grounds. Many staff, past & present supported us, and continue to make Castle Grove the special place it is today.
It is difficult to explain how different Castle Grove was when we arrived. It was a somewhat dilapidated family home. There were 2 paddocks where the bungalow now stands & where the annexe, my house & the new drive are now. Every single plant & tree in the area around the drive was planted by us. Where the schoolroom now stands was a greenhouse and an old building, both of which had seen better days. The Stables were a ruin, covered in ivy. I have to say that it was Ray’s vision and dogged determination which provided the impetus for change. He was never easily daunted.
Although we were very green when we embarked on the challenge of Castle Grove (indeed, I do not think we would be registered if we started again today!) we were fortunate not to anticipate many of the difficulties which lay ahead of us. I think it has helped the special ambience that we were residents ourselves. To this day I eat the same meals as the residents, which is a good barometer of standards. (I am very fussy, so I would be a difficult resident to satisfy.)
Many of you here today have supported us through thick & thin & for that I am very grateful. I am especially thankful to our children, Lucy & Tim, & to Nick, Lucy’s husband, for all their help, especially during the last two years.
Let us raise our glasses to Castle Grove, to its continued success, and to the happiness of all who are here today. Let us also remember all those who have gone before and are not here to celebrate with us.
Pictures of the day…
(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
