The Abbeyfield Brighton & Hove Society, one of the first Abbeyfield Societies in the country, celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 31st July. The celebration will also mark the valiant volunteering efforts of Mrs Marianne Bringeman, a volunteer for Abbeyfield Brighton for more than forty years, by naming the Abbeyfield house where the celebrations are being held at 52 Wilbury Road “Bringeman House”.
Amongst the people attending will be Mrs Bringeman herself, her two daughters Susan and Jane, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mrs Amanda Hamblin, MP Celia Barlow, Dame Vera Lynn, Abbeyfield Patron cookery writer Mrs Marguerite Patten, Abbeyfield President Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone and Abbeyfield National Chairman Michael Staff.
Baroness Bottomley said “I am delighted to be here today to celebrate Abbeyfield Brighton’s Golden Jubilee. It is wonderfully fitting too, that we are today also naming this house after Mrs Marianne Bringeman, who has volunteered for Abbeyfield in Brighton for most of the time it has existed. Marianne is everything a volunteer should be – cheerful, committed and willing to help wherever she can”.
Dame Vera Lynn, who opened this particular Abbeyfield house 11 years ago, says “I am delighted to return to Abbeyfield again and join in the celebrations, both to honour Marianna and to mark Abbeyfield’s fifty years supporting older people in Brighton”.
Mrs Bringeman, aged 92, is still a volunteer, regularly holding committee meetings at her house. Now a widow, she has been a Brighton resident since marrying her husband Jack in 1940. She says “I am thrilled at Abbeyfield naming the house after me”.
The Abbeyfield Brighton & Hove Society provides supported sheltered housing for older people at its four houses in Hove. Residents enjoy the security and support of a residential manager and a community alarm system, as well as companionship as and when wanted, combined with benefits such as two home cooked meals a day. Abbeyfield Brighton & Hove Chairman Malcolm Paris says “I am delighted with the achievements of Abbeyfield, Brighton and Hove over fifty years. We are probably one of the town’s best kept secrets, providing supported accommodation for older people at very reasonable rates, all made possible by the volunteer help of people like Marianne. We have a couple of vacancies at the moment and welcome enquiries”.