A grateful client of KITE

St Michael’s Good Neighbour Scheme was launched over three years ago. There are now thirteen volunteers who are happy to drive people to Tenbury to shopping and appointments . They come to my rescue when I could no longer driver. When need a driver I ring KITE’s mobile phone. A volunteer will pick up my message and arrange for someone to drive me. But that is no the end of the story. I know all the volunteers and shopping and appointments have become social occasions and when they finish I say “Now, where would you like to go for coffee?”. We can sit and relax and enjoy company and conversation. This is so important for me and I am sure that all of us who use KITE volunteers would like to give them a very big Thank You for their help and time.

Since 24th October 2017 to the 17th March 2020 KITE have help me on 187 days. It is good to keep in touch with friends, who cannot fo out easily, by telephone but better still to go to see them. Occassionaly a colunteer will drive me to a friend’s house and collect me two hours later. This arrangement can work the other way round too.

This is not like a Knit and Natter Group but a Cup and Chat occasion!

Gwen Arnold – a grateful client of KITE.


Our Dear Gwen!

People come and go in our lives – that’s called LIFE! But often there is someone who makes a special difference in your lifeline your community, village or town and what a great gift it is when they do!

Gwen has recently left St. Michaels, having lived on the common for many years turning a little Methodist chapel, Chapel cottage into a beautiful home alongside her lovely husband Tony. They came from Birmingham, Gwen a retired teacher, Tony an accountant spending weekends doing their cottage up in order to live here permanently and welcoming children and grandchildren for hi days and holidays. They both spent a lot of time looking after St. Michaels Church, Gwen especially running the family church services and related activities.

Latterly Gwen has been planning to move and wished to move near son John and family, in Oakham, Rutland. The move has taken a couple of years as there were problems with the original buyers and then of course the Covid 19 situation. It was with great regret on both Gwens side and the communities that Gwen finally moved in July of this year but great news to hear she is happily settled into her new bungalow in Oakham with close family support.

Gwen “gave” so much, a lesson we can all learn! Always putting others first, she wasn’t as mobile as she used to be but by gum she gave and still does her telephone a bashing! Kite, our good neighbourhood scheme of 3 years old was extremely well used by Gwen for shopping, appointments, visits, collecting and taking others to and from her home and the “keeping in touch with everyone” was certainly the right motto for Gwen.

Loved and respected by all, Gwen was always ready to listen, to talk and to help where she could, she enjoyed company and conversation and still does!!

Stuart always visited Gwen on a Tuesday with a list! He would say to me ” I don’t know what I shall do when Gwen moves”, how ironic.

We already miss her and it is strange going across the common and not calling in to Chapel Cottage for a chat, cuppa and chocolate biscuit. Fortunately her land line is now up and going, she would love to hear from you as I feel likewise you would!!