The sun was shining and the champagne flowing as a care home for the elderly bid farewell to Henley’s outgoing MP.
Staff, residents, their families and friends said goodbye to Boris Johnson — now Mayor of London — at The Tower House in Shiplake on Wednesday of last week.
Boris was not at the Reading Road home in person, though, so a plaque on the side of the new building he opened almost two years ago was unveiled in his honour by the mayor of Henley, Cllr. Gill Zakss.
Trevor Craddock, a friend of Tower House owner and manager Bridget Kidd, had previously opened an accompanying garden party at the home with a speech, while the Rev. Martin Connop Price, Rector of Shiplake, Dunsden and Harpsden, gave a blessing.
Bridget’s brother, Frankie Kelly, who was visiting from Australia with his wife Rosemary, also planted an apple tree in the home’s garden with the help of Bridget’s son Darrell.
The home has nine permanent residents and the grounds were full for the party, which attracted more than 70 guests.
Bridget said the event had proved a great success. “Having fun was definitely the order of the day, and we had a very good turnout,” she said. “Boris was very good to us when he was MP for Henley.
“We knew it would be difficult for him to come down for the occasion now he has moved on, so we thought unveiling a plaque would make a good alternative.”
Published on 04 July 2008
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