Clare celebrates 21 years in our sheltered housing | News

Clare has just celebrated 21 years living at our sheltered housing scheme Oakwood Flats in Haywards Heath! 21 years of an assured tenancy, living with safety and security in our friendly community...

“My friend and I lived in Zimbabwe for 26 years and we came back from Africa in 1986. We had to apply for council accommodation in Haywards Heath and we got a lovely bungalow but it wasn’t in a good area. After 7 years the earth fell in, and the local anti-social behaviour around us wasn’t good, I was terrified.

I got a job as a payroll officer at what was then, the NHS Cuckfield Hospital, and then moved up to the new Princess Royal in Haywards Heath when it opened.

My friend retired and we applied to move to Oakwood and found our lovely home when I was 72, I can’t believe I’ve lived here for 21 years!

I have a lovely flat and I have no problems here. It has a brilliant outlook I can see people coming and going. I used to have a boxer dog and enjoyed taking her into Beechurst Gardens which is so close. Oakwood is a peaceful community, there are no footballs bouncing on the walls!

Now that I’m 93, I can’t walk so much and my friend from Cuckfield takes me out on trips and I have a blue badge. I enjoy feeding the moorhens on the pond at Oakwood with special food I get for them.

I’m happy to have my home and I get on well with everyone here. Our scheme manager Hannah is the loveliest person. It’s nice to have my daily call in a morning and any support I may need, although touch wood, I’m happy with my health.

During the last 21 years I’ve been on lots of coach trips to the coast together with other residents here. Every morning there are about eight of us enjoying the lounge and patio every day. We have a coffee morning every other Wednesday. I keep abreast of all the news and enjoy having the company. I find it very convenient being close to Haywards Heath town centre, the taxis are cheap if I need them, and there’s everything there. We don’t get all the noise of the traffic on the A272.

I’ve had a happy 21 years and I’m very thankful to Sussex Housing & Care!”

Clare is seated in the photograph and has her friends at Oakwood Flats around her.

Click here to find out about our sheltered housing options for older people.