Juliet Ames-Lewis and the Trustees organised a wonderful celebratory lunch for all the staff which was held in the Garden Room at Church Estate on the 3rd March. It was their way of saying farewell to Gail Sullivan who had been Scheme Manager at Hickey’s Almshouses for 10 years. She was heading off to an exciting new life in her homeland New Zealand. It was also to say thank you to Gerry Wilson and Linda Prendergast for their long service with The Richmond Charities. Gerry has been (and continues to be) the caretaker for all the Almshouse estates for 25 years and Linda a Scheme Manager in the Vineyard for 20 years.

Everyone tucked into a feast of the most delicious food washed down with a glass or two of wine before Gail, Gerry, Lorraine (who is Scheme Manager at Church Estate) and Linda were presented with a specially commissioned painting of the estates at which they have worked during their time with the charity.