Born in Ireland, Tom moved to England at the age of two and spent more than 50 years in Southwark, working initially as a sheet metal worker (‘it was all war work in those days’), then training as a car mechanic and concluding his working life as a provisions merchant.
Whilst he loves his new flat and the surroundings, ‘you can be in London Bridge in just 25 minutes’, what Tom really relishes is the social life. St Saviour’s residents have set up their own social club, to which they contribute funds to allow them to hold regular events, including a Saturday night party and a Wednesday coffee morning. Having been a widower for the last 11 years Tom explains happily that he has met a ‘friend’ through attending social events.
He says, ‘We’d go to bingo and meetings and got talking and then just started hanging about together. I’m new to this area, whereas her daughter lives here so I just asked if she wouldn’t mind showing me around.’
He continues, ‘Now we’re out every day. Last weekend we went to Borough Market and then on for a meal to Covent Garden. We’ve just bonded really well. It’s a different type of life for me now.’
From the way he talks it is clear that Tom enjoys being able to offer help and support to older residents that need it. Tom explains, ‘We did a really nice party for one chap’s 93rd birthday the other day.’ In a mixed community Tom agrees that he’d been seen as the ‘old’ one, whereas at St Saviour’s he is one of the younger residents and very active with it.
Says Tom, ‘I’d seen some other sheltered accommodation and wasn’t impressed. Then I saw this brochure and thought “that’s lovely, it’s like a hotel”’
