Abbeyfield Ripon: 50 years of friendship.
In September, Abbeyfield House in Ripon celebrated its 50th anniversary in style, with a garden party for residents and staff, attended by, among others, local councillor Julieann Martin-Long. Also in attendance was John Richmond BEM, who, as the then-youngest ever Mayor of Ripon, presided over the opening of Abbeyfield House on 24th September 1975.
“The project to create the Abbeyfield Ripon Society was very much a local one,” says trustee James Ward.
“It was conceived by people from the local area. The whole community got involved, with the Ripon Lions Club and students from the Ripon and York College helping to decorate the rooms.”
Minutes from the early years recall some rather unusual events, including the fitting of a pig breeder’s lamp in a bedroom to provide extra heat, and the residents’ participation, alongside the rest of Abbeyfield, in the successful world-record attempt to knit the world’s longest scarf, which measured a whopping 18 miles!
At the garden party, Chair of Trustees, Sue Nichols, summed up the Abbeyfield ethos perfectly when she said, “Abbeyfield Ripon is not a care home, but we are a home and we do care,” adding that “50 years is an amazing achievement, and we owe that longevity to the many past trustees and staff members who we are so happy to welcome back to celebrate with us today.”
Councillor Julieann Martin-Long echoed Sue’s words, praising both Abbeyfield’s ethos of helping to maintain older people’s independence and the warm and welcoming environment at the house.
Discover Abbeyfield House, Ripon
We have eight studio apartments and two one-bedroomed flats, all with en-suite facilities. All apartments/flats are unfurnished allowing you the convenience and comfort of having your own things around you. A private garden with a conservatory also means you can sit out whatever the weather.