Seven residents in Felsted School’s Almshouses have been receiving a food and drink hamper every few weeks to lift their spirits during lockdown.
The hampers, from Felsted’s catering manager Rene Hauret and coordinated by the scool’s function manager Lou Wilks, have included favourite items like elderflower cordial and Jaffa cakes.
Lou Wilks has also been doing regular shopping for some of the Almshouse residents.
School Chaplain Nigel Little has also been lending a hand, mowing their communal front lawn in time for the VE celebrations before it was decorated with Union Jacks.
VE Day was particularly poignant for resident Florence Manley, aged 103 years.
She was evacuated during the war years with her young family from Southend to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
She reminisced: “It was a tough seven years living in digs away from home, but I was lucky that my husband was not sent away. His skills were needed as an advisor for scientific instruments.”
Florence was unable to see her children because of lockdown restrictions, but she enjoyed hearing a solo bagpiper serenading them on his way around the village.
Lou Wilks said: “It is really important that we look out for those more vulnerable in our community at this time and I really enjoy doing what I can to help. The school has been really generous in giving a bit extra to these residents during the lockdown to brighten their day.”
The Felsted Almshouses were left by the the School founder, Richard Lord Riche, for those in need in the village.
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