Staffordshire Housing residents show off talents in the West End

By Kimberly Bond 

DECORATING Dolls houses, writing poetry and knitting doggy jumpers were just some of the hobbies and talents being shown off today in the West End village in Stoke.

Residents of the West End Village in London Road, Stoke, set out stalls to show off their talents and hobbies to other residents and the public.

The event, which marked a celebration of National Older People’s day (Oct 1^st), was held by Staffordshire Housing association.

 Many of the residents did not take up their hobbies until they were over 50, and found it gave them a new lease of life.

Margaret Knight collects and decorates dolls houses and now has a whole street’s worth of houses. She brought along the latest design: a conservatory and garden.

 She said: “When I was a little girl I had a dolls house which I thought was wonderful but of course you forget all about that when you’re older. Then about 15 years ago, I decided to take it up again. I buy the kit or a plain dolls house and then decorate it -Wallpaper it, paint it.

“My husband has always been a really big help in doing the fiddly bits. We have even made the soil for the plants out of cold tea leaves and glue!”

Other residents have more traditional hobbies such as card making and poetry. Mavis Pamela Morrey, or ‘Pam’ is 80 and an avid poet. She found poetry after a stroke left her paralysed and unable to talk at the age of 50.

Her late husband coached her to write about her feelings and nursed her back to health.  Now she uses poetry as a therapeutic tool. 

She said: “Writing is a very good therapy. I can get lost in my writing when I’m feeling down but It helps me a lot. I dedicate my poetry now to my husband who died ten years ago.

“I write at least 13 poems a year- 12 to go in my poetry diary which I  get printed, and one to go in my Christmas cards!”

Another resident Mark, who is 80 and an artist, also found his talent after an illness.  He now paints pictures out of the Sentinel and finds inspiration from art galleries and shops.

Activities co-ordinator at the West End Village, Janet Garner, organised the day. She also invited local children from Stoke Minster School to meet the residents and have a go at the crafts themselves.

She said: “We have got residents between the age of 55 and 97. A lot of them have got masses of talent and hobbies that other residents or friends don’t even know about. So we are having West End’s got talent day.

“We had 60 children visit this morning from stoke minster school who came in and spoke to the residents and had a go at some of the things themselves.

“We’ve got a gentleman who has been a massive hit with the children, Steve, who isn’t a trained artist, he’s just always enjoyed painting and drawing and very good at cartoon characters.

“The children have been trying to copy, some of them have coloured in, and they’ve gone home with arms full of them. Before they came they probably thought the residents were going to be doggery old people, well the residents here are anything but; they are full of fun, full of life, with many skills between them.”

·         To find out more about Staffordshire Housing Association or the West End Village, you can call 01782 744533 or view the brochure online www.staffshousing.org.uk

·         There is also an open afternoon the first Tuesday of every month