Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Nursing home residents in Croydon scored a remarkable victory in the annual match, showcasing skill, spirit, and community pride in a heartwarming event.
Down at Whitgift House in South Croydon, they play a cruel game of croquet.
The governors of the Whitgift Foundation, the charity that operates the nursing home and the Croydon Almshouses, were given a bit of a beating this week by the inhabitants of the facility, which is located on the grounds of the sizable private school.
Whitgift House hosts a number of events, including garden parties, picnics, and afternoon teas, in addition to the yearly croquet tournament on the lawns.
It was noteworthy because it was one of the first formal appearances of Rev. Michael Walcott, who had just arrived from Barbados to serve as assistant chaplain for the Whitgift Foundation.
The new chair of the governors, Fiona Fletcher-Smith, was also on the governors team for the first time.
Throughout the summer, the inhabitants of Whitgift House play croquet, and this year, teams from the Foundation and other schools have joined them. Some of the occupants of the Almshouses were also on the residents’ team.
Despite an autumnal downpour, this year’s game wasn’t even close: the residents won 29–21.
“Rain did not stop play,”
according to one slightly damp member of the governors’ team.
“It was genuinely a very nice evening, with a fish and chip supper in the community room afterwards.”
Which care home runs Whitgift House and the Almshouses?
The Foundation was founded in 1596 by Archbishop John Whitgift for the purpose of educating the young and caring for the elderly.
The Foundation runs 2 care homes which are residential and nursing care homes, Whitgift House, and Almshouses for self-catered sheltered accommodation and nursing provision. The Foundation also runs 3 Independent Schools and provides bursaries and scholarships.
The Almshouses provide self-catered sheltered accommodation (with support staff and availability 7 days a week) and Whitgift House is a nursing home providing 24/7 care and nursing staff, providing daily activities, and on-site gardens, lounges, and a chapel.