Giles Group celebrates 20 years

On a beautiful Summer’s Day in June, members of the Giles Group in Alresford, with invited friends and supporters, met to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Giles Group for people with disabilities, and their carers – which has been active in Alresford since 1994.

The annual garden party was chosen to stage the event, in the lovely garden of Peter and Fabia Wrigley, one of the founder members of the group. In addition three other founder members were present: Mary Keer, Hazel Warland, and Tessa Purkiss, who are pictured cutting the anniversary cake. Founder members were presented with a wine goblet and rose, in recognition of their effort and foresight in setting up the group. The anniversary celebration cake – made by Jacky Earthy, wife of the current Group Treasurer – was decorated with red sugar poppy flowers: each of the guests present took home a poppy flower as a memento of the day.

Supporters of the Giles Group were invited to the garden party, and enjoyed a lavish cream tea, with strawberries and cream. These guests included representatives from the Alresford and District Community Association, the Alresford Pigs Association, and the Alresford Flower Club. The Group were also pleased to welcome Hampshire Councillor Jackie Porter.

Phil Voce, representing the Alresford Pigs Association and Age UK, Winchester, praised the active nature of the Group, and its 40 members: he raised a toast with best wishes for their next 20 years. The Group has monthly meetings with a guest presenter, a monthly Minibus outing, and holds a weekly drop-in coffee morning in the town.

The picture shows, from the left, Giles Founder members Tessa Purkiss, Mary Keer and Hazel Warland, cutting the Anniversary cake, made by Jacky Earthy, the wife of the current Treasurer of the Giles Group, Clive Earthy

For more information about joining the Giles Group, or just to meet some of us, drop in at the Phair Hall (Community Centre) any Tuesday between 1030 and 12 o’clock and have a coffee. Meetings, usually with a speaker,  are held on the second Monday in the month, at the Phair Hall. at 2pm: the programme for these events is shown on the notice board outside the Phair Hall.