AN AMAZING AMBERFIELD CARE CENTRE COINCIDENCE
Ruth Hall was a teacher at Gordon Road Primary School at the time Joyce Askew and Ailsa Mumby were pupils at the same school during the 1930s,
After school they went their separate ways. Unbeknown to one another, all came to live in Amberfield. Ruth moved to the retirement village more than 20 years ago, with the other two following later.
What is even more remarkable is that they ended up staying in the same corridor in the Amberfield Care Centre, still not realising their past connection.
Ailsa was a mathematics teacher at Durban Girls’ High. Cheryl Draper attended DGH as a school girl and also happened to share the same church, St Thomas Anglican Church (Musgrave Road) for 50 years or so.
Ailsa moved to Amberfield six years ago, while Cheryl has been here for about the same length of time.
Sometime last year Cheryl helped Ailsa pack and move into the care centre from her unit in
Teal Lane. It was during the move that the school photograph was unearthed.
Incredibly, it was due to the photograph, and the connection to Gordon Road School, that the three ladies came to realise that they are now practically neighbours, living in rooms in the same passage in the Care Centre. An incredible story indeed!
The three ladies and Cheryl spent a lovely afternoon reminiscing about the past. Ruth turned 105 April 19, and Joyce and Ailsa are 93. All three live happily in the Care Centre.
“Isn’t it interesting to meet people you know from the past, and find out how their lives have got on?,” said Joyce.
There was a huge turn-out at the Amber Valley Natural Resources Club when FreeMe Wildlife chief executive officer, Wade Whitehead, delivered the talk, ‘Spots in the Long Grass’.
“We love engaging with people and these FreeMe Wildlife talks, are just one way we do this,” he said
“This talk on the rehabilitation process we use with Serval, takes listeners on a journey deep inside the workings of our organisation. Thank you all who supported this talk, we love you!”
If you would like to support the work done by FreeMe Wildlife, go to www.freemewildlife.org