Stepping down after 50 years
AFTER half a century of service to his community, Derek Hincks has retired as a trustee of the Rev Stanley Burrough’s Almshouses in Sapcote.
Since he became a trustee of the community accommodation back in 1966, the properties in Cooks Lane have been repaired, reconfigured and officially listed by English Heritage, offering high-standard homes to people who might otherwise be forced to leave the village.
Saved by the village from being sold in 1959, the almshouses were in a poor state when Mr Hincks first got involved.
He became treasurer and introduced moneymaking schemes to fund maintenance as well as helping to drive plans for the reconfiguration of the properties, from five dwellings to four.
Renovations were carried out in 1971 and the almshouses were given a Grade II listing in 1977.
An active trustee, who rarely missed a meeting, Mr Hincks was also handson, helping to carry out repairs and administer the upkeep of the much-valued homes.
He became chairman of the trustees in 1987, still retaining his role as treasurer, and continued in this dual capacity for seven years.
As treasurer, he made weekly visits to almshouse residents to collect their maintenance charge for more than three decades until he retired from that post in 2004.
Although he has not been able to play such an active role in recent years, Mr Hincks continues to maintain a close interest in the properties he helped to preserve.
Chairman of the Stanley Burroughs Almshouses Charity Mike Newton, said: “I do feel that Derek’s hard work and dedication over so many years to this worthwhile facility deserves all the recognition he can be given.
“The dedication that Derek has shown, and the contribution he has made, has enabled the current trustees to continue to improve the accommodation, and safeguard the properties.
“Sapcote has been able to retain a fine building and it has it has also provided homes for local people who otherwise may have had to leave.”