nu... Brownies from Bridge helped with competitions andstalls at Saturday's.,_o’pe:h day at Double openi , llzb The close. Warm sunshine shone on a double opening event at The close, Bridge, on Saturday. Not only was it'the‘ope_nlng of the annual open day and fete, but it also saw the official naming and opening of two new wards at The close. The opening ceremony was ‘performed by Mr. Jim Mount, who was introduced by the Rev. Colin Perry, chairman of the Bridge branch of the League of Friends and Chaplain of the League of Friends and Chaplain of The Close. “It is a very great privilege to come here to open your open day on behalf of the League of Friends,” said Mr. Mount. “I think today we hear far too many complaints from peopleof the things people have not got. I think'we should spend far more time counting our blessings. " You here at The close are very fortunate people. You are surrounded by friendship, love and many of the small comforts of life. “ In the staff you have their skill and friendship. I would like to commend the staff for work they put the hard in during the recent bout of in- fluenza. . “In the time of the Welfare State it is very encouraging that there are still people willing to give time and their money to help others. In the ‘last year the Friends have raised £128 for The Close, which has gone to- wards T.V. rentals, a bird table, writing desks, Christmas parties and so on. “Although one of the greatest tragedies of this age is the lone- liness of the old people, I would like to think the village of Bridge has accepted The Close into its community life. This means a lot to the people here who can still feel wanted and still loved.” . Announcing that the new female ward is to be named Honney Ward, Mr. Mount paid tribute to The Close’s former Matron, Mrs. Honney, who was connected with.the home from 1906 until 1938. He named the male ward Mercer Ward as a tribute to Dr. E. Mercer, who £.. " ‘*’.">r«~ was resident medical officer until 1963. A vote of thanks to Mr. Mount was proposed by Mrs. P. Wiggin, secretary of the Bridge League of Friends. Bouquets were pre- sented by Mr. J. Jordan, 01:‘ Mercer Ward, Sister E. Crowe, and Jacqueline Urwin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Urwin, matron and warden of The Close. Helpers at the fete were as follows : Mr. Terry Ludlow (film show), Mrs. A. Harris, Mrs. E. Pratt and helpers (tea), Chris- topher Urwin (roll-a~penny), Mrs. E. Webb, Mrs. W. Clarke, Mrs. 1. Morgan, Mrs. Y. West (sweets), Mrs. I. Shorter and Mrs. E.-Turner (household), Mr. J. Milton (jackpot strings), Mr. J. Turner (balloons). Mrs. A Masters, Miss M. Rate, Mrs. J. Rose (cakes), Mr. B. Clarke and Mr. J. Morgan (bowling), Mr. W. Bcnstead’, Mr. J. Rookson (wheel of fortune), Sister’ U. Bryant, Nurse Q. Marsh, Miss E. Williams, Mrs. M. Palmer, Mrs. W. Divers. Mr. and Mrs. R. Mansion, and Miss E. Stopples (jumble and needlework), Nurse E. Benstead (drinks), pennies in the bucket by Bridge Brownies, raffle tickets by Mr. and Mrs. Dick Turpin, organ playing by Mr. Basil Milner, treasure gar- den,-’ by Jane Lloyd, and the band by Royal Buffs T.A. '_'. 4 I warm sunshine shone on a double opening event at The close, Bridge, on Saturday. Not only was nine opening of the annual open day and fete, but it also saw the ofiicial naming and opening of two new wards at The close. The opening ceremony was ‘performed by Mr. Jim Mount, who was introduced by the Rev. Colin Perry, chairman of the Bridge branch of the League of Friends and Chaplain of the League of Friends and Chaplain of The Close. “It is a very great privilege to come here to open your open day on behalf of the League of Friends,” said Mr. Mount. “I think today we hear far too many complaints from people of the things people have not got. I think‘we should spend far more time counting our blessings. "You here at The close are very fortunate people. You are surrounded by friendship, love and many of the small comforts of life. “ In the staff you have their skill and friendship. I would like to commend the staff for the hard work they put in \ during the recent bout of in- fiuenza. . “ In the time of the Welfare State it is very encouraging that there are still people willing to give time and their money to help others. In the last year the Friends have raised £128 for The Close, which has gone to- wards T.V. rentals, a bird table, writing desks, Christmas parties and so on. “Although one of the greatest .tragedies of this age is the lone- liness of the old people, I would like to think the village of Bridge has accepted The Close into its community life. This means a lot to the people here who can still feel wanted and still loved.” ' . Announcing that the new female ward is to be named Honney Ward, Mr. Mount paid tribute to The Close’s former Matron, Mrs. Honney, who was connected with,the home from 1906 until 1938. He named the male ward Mercer Ward as a tribute to Dr. E. Mercer, who was resident medical officer until 1963. A vote of thanks to Mr. Mounl. was proposed by Mrs. P. Wiggin, secretary of the Bridge League of Friends. Bouquets were pre- sented by Mr. J. Jordan, of Mercer Ward, Sister E. Crowe, and Jacqueline Urwin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Urwin, matron and warden of The Close. Helpers at the fete were as follows : Mr. Terry Ludlow (film show), Mrs. A. Harris, Mrs. E. Pratt and helpers (tea), Chris- topher Urwin (roll-a-penny), Mrs. E. Webb, Mrs. W. Clarke, Mrs. I. Morgan, Mrs. Y. West (sweets), Mrs. I. Shorter and Mrs. E.-Turner (household), Mr. J. Milton (jackpot strings), Mr. J. Turner (balloons). Mrs. A. Masters, Miss M. Rate, Mrs. J. Rose (cakes), Mr. B. Clarke and Mr. J. Morgan (bowling), Mr. W. Benstead”, Mr. J. Rookson (wheel of fortune). Sister" U. Bryant, Nurse Q. Marsh, Miss E. Williams, Mrs. M. Palmer, Mrs. W. Divers. Mr. and Mrs. R. Manston, and Miss E. Stopples (jumble and needlework), Nurse E. Benstead (drinks), pennies in the bucket by Bridge Brownies. raffle tickets by Mr. and Mrs. Dick Turpin, organ playing by Mr. Basil Milner, treasure gar- dens by Jane Lloyd, and the band by Royal Buffs T.A. " After opening the fete and open day at The close, Bridge, Mr. J. Mount chats with Mrs. M. Honney and Dr. D. Mercer, after whom the two new wards have been named.