7th February 2026:

The garden and front day rooms at LBH had been neglected for years, things were dumped all around the place without any coordination or much thought.

The TRA committee decided this needed changing, and with the help of other residents a plan to rejuvenate the room was devised.

Furniture was moved, tables shifted and a structure given to the room.

Caroline assiduously cleaned all of the furniture, all cushions were washed surfaces thoroughly cleaned. Windows washed and even the lamp and glass lampshades were re-organised after being cleaned.

Even the weighty pool table moved to a more sensible location.

Bobby, Joyce and Rose did a tremendous amount of work but when finished the garden day room looked homely, comfortable and a place you wanted to spend some time.

After that the front day room was tidied up too. Things were looking great after days of hard work!

I couldn’t complain about Christmas presents in 2025 and the LBH Secret Santa added to it. It was organised for Boxing Day by the magnificent duo (Bobby and Caroline) and was yet another excellent social event for residents over that long Christmas period, when we all need cheering up.

Prior to the day we drew names from a hat and we were meant to buy them a special present. but keep it secret.

(I got special cleaning wipes which are always useful for computers, thank you very much Monica)

But again it was more an excuse to gather around the table and chat. 

The present giving was excellent but the neighbourly conversation kept the cold at bay and cheered everyone up.

There were masses of red jumpers, Dad jokes and dressing up, fabulous.

Everyone was in fine form: Albert, Allan, Jan, Charmaine, Joyce, Rose, Hugh, Bobby, Monica, Viviana, Matt, Luisa, David R, et al

As ever, the garden day room was cleaned and left tidy long after Secret Santa departed, big thanks to Caroline and Bobby for their open hearts and hospitality.

Brian, June 2026

We are very lucky, Lucy Brown House has a version of Fanny Cradock—a Cordon Bleu chef and the artist Monet rolled into one: Charmaine, our superb volunteer usually cooks the Christmas meal from scratch.

And they are so lovely: home-cooked, tasty, with seconds, thirds available and anything else you want.

I was very fortunate to taste them in December 2024, utterly delicious, still this year the helpful Blackfriars Settlement provided the LBH Xmas meal, pre-prepared.

Nevertheless, with 2025 there were nice touches and plenty of organisation from Bobby, Caroline, and the ladies. There were crackers, small presents, and even more food.

Jan is a very special person, a long-term resident of Lucy Brown House, but she is much more than that title reveals

She has seen and done it all, literally.

If you have ever seen a James Bond film, that is a shallow imitation of Jan’s contribution to Britain’s safety.

She has probably signed the Official Secrets Act more times than Churchill smoked cigars.

But we can’t say much officially.

Jan is a joy to talk to, exceptionally intelligent and a fountain of lovely stories, typically from foreign shores on behalf of HMG.

Given her character, she is modest. Most of us would be shouting about those achievements in keeping Britain safe for decades, but she doesn’t.

She knows the discretion that is needed when dealing with Admirals, Royalty and even the Queen. Enough said Ma’am!

Halloween is a bit weird. Decades ago, it was seen as largely an American type festival that came over to Britain and Ireland and was taken up by children.

But in truth, it has its origins in Ireland and frankly adults like it far too much.

It is an excuse to dress up and there’s nothing as silly as elderly people without a care in the world, for that moment, dressing up.

The LBH Halloween event of 2025 was such.

All its participants entered into the fancy dress theme of the evening and most spectacularly Charmaine excelled herself with a gory but very tasty cake, naturally themed on Halloween.

Caroline and the ladies provided a generous spread of food, including hot soup and a roast, complemented by snacks brought by the attendees.

It was a very pleasant occasion for conversations with neighbours, sharing soft drinks and nibbles, proving that a Halloween celebration can be enjoyed by everyone.

[Note: Typically, posters for each event are placed around LBH and they expressly invite everyone to attend.]

9th November 2026: The Sausage and Mash thank-you lunch came as a total shock to me.

Bobby and Caroline are extremely active, always around for a friendly chat and even delivering home-cooked food to some of the residents. That, however, wasn’t the shock.

I knew the level of their organization; as ever, they sent out a little leaflet saying: “Come along, we want to thank you for being such great neighbours.”

A lovely sentiment.

Days before, I got the shock when I was walking downstairs into the garden day room and Bobby emerged from a side door I had never seen used.

It turned out that three days in advance of the dinner, he and Caroline were cleaning the kitchen area completely.

It had been neglected for years, effectively mothballed.

But that didn’t stop them. They were like banshees, moving from surface to surface, cleaning, re-cleaning, tidying up, and trying to make a slightly dilapidated kitchen area into a fully hygienic palace, again (they succeeded).

Caroline is well versed in the hospitality trade, and it showed in her attitude, everything had to be just right, hygiene was paramount.

Bobby, who never stops, was ably washing anything and everything, making things pristine with the energy of a fanatic.

On the requisite afternoon, everyone came to the front dayroom and the tables had been drawn together

We sat down to a delicious repast of Cumberland sausages, potatoes, and every form of green you could want, with condiments aplenty.

Everyone tucked in and conversation flowed.

It was a lovely afternoon with plenty of dessert. Nothing had been forgotten by the hospitable duo; even the smallest detail was handled. There was enough food to feed an army.

They always insist in cleaning up, and afterwards everything was left spotless, not a crumb on the floor.

It was a wonderful, hospitable late lunch, and what a magnificent “thank-you.” from Bobby and Caroline.

[Brian, originally drafted in Jan 2026.]

23rd April 2026: St. George’s Day was celebrated with an excellent display of English heritage and cuisine, bringing the community together for a day of tradition.

Bobby captivated the room with an impromptu lecture on the history of St. George, sharing fascinating insights that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. He dressed the part too

The garden day room was transformed for the occasion, decked out in a sea of St. George’s flags and festive bunting.

Later in the day, a bingo session took place, which quickly descended into marvellous and funny chaos. David Robbie proved to be an expert caller, though his skills were put to the test as residents playfully insisted on having their own way. Despite the lighthearted disorder, the atmosphere was wonderful, and many participants walked away with nice prizes.

The Easter 2026 Bank holiday started off with a blast: the LBH Easter Bonnet Monday.

This vibrant event saw LBH transformed into a gallery of creativity and color. Residents turned up in an array of magnificent headpieces, ranging from meticulously crafted traditional bonnets to avant-garde creations, truly showing off their unique sartorial styles.

To share the festive spirit with the wider neighborhood, the group even went out to Borough Market for a community walk. This procession of spectacular millinery turned many heads among the market shoppers, turning a simple stroll into a joyous parade that celebrated both the holiday and the flourishing spirit of the LBH.

The 20th of March 2026 marked a significant milestone with the very first open TRA meeting, which was splendidly well-attended.

Following the productive discussions, Bobby—ever the sensible one—had arranged a glorious post-meeting treat: piping hot, free fish and chips, a delicious thank you provided once again by the incredible team at Maria’s Café.

The meeting successfully morphed into a vibrant social gathering, with many satisfied residents enjoying their supper and sharing a good laugh in the cheerful setting of the garden day room. Charmaine out did herself with more dessert and pastry.

March 2026 was a splendid month, kicking off with a truly memorable St. Patrick’s Night on the 17th.

The garden day room was festooned with green flags and the Irish Tricolour. The evening began with a fascinating talk on St. Patrick’s history and the significant contributions of the Irish community to Britain.

Residents embraced the theme, with a sea of green sweeping through the room.

The culinary highlight was Caroline’s production: a truly magnificent, Irish stew that had everyone going back for seconds. The festive atmosphere was complemented by plenty of Irish treats and a free raffle featuring traditional gifts, including the beloved Barry’s tea. Charmaine provided wonderful cakes.