Glastonbury House and the Queen's Jubilee

On June the 5th 2012 the Queen, and the country, celebrated her diamond jubilee. Glastonbury House was no exception.

And a good time was had by all.

Glastonbury House and my part in it.

I first came to Glastonbury House in 1971 to meet my future mother in law, Winifred Saul. Then the block was looked after by a warden whom you never seen and, as far as I can remember, his only duties were to be there in case of any problems pertaining to the block for the Middlesbrough Council's housing department. He had little contact with the residents and little did he have any incentive to to do so. The block, in effect, was dead and meeting your neighbours was near on impossible unless you met them on the lift briefly but then you went on your own merry way promptly forgetting whom you'd just met.

Back then this block was not restricted to older people and there were many young couples living here. There was only only one proviso in the tenancy agreement though, any wife that got pregnant then that couple had to move out (alternative accommodation was provided, of course) as there was a 'no children' policy in Glastonbury House back then.

Life took me and Mrs Saul's daughter, Beryl, here there and everywhere until we eventually, in 1978, moved in here to help take care of my ailing mother in law who, Sadly, in 1981, the year that princess Diana and Prince Charles got married, passed away.

A dilemma then ensued when we had to decide whether to take on the tenancy here in the block...thankfully, after many weeks of deliberation we decided to stay.

In the mid nineteen eighties tenants were asked if they would like to go warden controlled, which was a radical change from the old warden system.  This new system would put 'pull cords' in each flat which linked to a central office. Any tenant who got into difficulties could pull the cord and get instant assistance.  From that day this block changed for the better, and how!

To be continued...

Joe Kennedy - March 1932-March 2012

I sat outside in the hot sunshine on this day the 30th of March 2012 whilst a wake was going on in the community room for the much respected Joe Kennedy. It was only one month ago that I was giving the same wake for my dear wife Beryl.


I, and the rest of the block at Glastonbury House, give our dearest and deepest sympathies to Joe's wife and relatives for their sad loss, when one of our community dies a little bit of us all dies with them.

R.I.P Joe Kennedy.

Glastonbury House

Glastonbury House is a council run block of flats on the Priestfields estate here in Middlesbrough. A few years back Middlesbrough council separated the housing part and formed Erimus housing who now run and control this block.


Glastonbury House was build in the latter part of the sixties (1967/8 I think)  and since then has undergone many changes. I, for my part, came to this block in 1971 and got married from here. Then the flat where I live now was my mother in laws and, sadly, when she died in 1981, we took over the tenancy. Again, sadly, my wife passed away last month and I now find myself alone in the flat where we spent many happy years...I say alone but you are never alone here in Glastonbury House. The people who live here are from a different age, an age where you banded together in times of strife, hardship and grief. You are never alone in Glastonbury House.


When I came to this block there was a warden residing in the ground floor flat and you never saw him/her. In the early eighties tenants were approached and asked if they would like this block to be warden controlled and part of a 'warden control system'. This happened and not long after a community room and sun lounge was built where we ourselves could organise our own activities, which we do. I'm sure the readers will know how a warden control system works.


I will endeavour, over the weeks, months and even years (hopefully) to bring you news of everything that is happening here, the highs and the lows, the parties and the things that concern us. Meanwhile I will leave you with a few of photographs taken recently of life here in the best block in the area. (Click pictures to enlarge.)

Our pet squirrel who visits the garden.

 

My late wife sitting in the sun lounge, (she has the white hat on.)

 

Our faithful bingo caller, Donald.

  

Their bingo crazy, bingo mad, nice backside Jean.

The community room and sun lounge, guess which is the sun lounge?

 One of our more contemplative residents, big John.

 Cheer up, your bound to win a house soon...