Abbeyfield paid tribute to founder Richard Carr-Gomm with a special edition of the Abbeyfielder magazine.
The tribute magazine tells the remarkable story of Richard’s journey with Abbeyfield from the opening of the first house, to houses not just in England but in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and also across the world.
Richard began Abbeyfield when he became Abbeyfield’s first housekeeper 53 years ago when he used his army gratuity to buy a house where four lonely old people to could live in Eugenia Road, Bermondsey.
Richard encouraged many thousands of volunteers for more than 50 years to get involved with Abbeyfield by helping to run houses, encouraging independence and befriending older people.
Today, Abbeyfield supports more than 7,000 older people in supported sheltered housing and care homes in the UK and also in fifteen countries overseas.