Natasha Irons, our local MP, chats to SNC's Manager Emily Davies about Lunch Club
Outing to Biggin Hill war museum - 14th October
We took a bus full of clients to the Biggin Hill War Museum for a fabulous day out, filled with sunshine, fascinating history and some very special memories. We collected our clients from their homes and eventually set off from Shirley at around 11:00am, arriving at Biggin Hill at 11:20am. On arrival, we received a very warm welcome from the team, followed by an introductory chat from Dave, one of the museum’s wonderful volunteers. We then headed to the café for drinks and cake. The café staff were amazing and went out of their way to help our clients with their drinks, making everyone feel welcome and well looked after. With the lovely weather, most of us were able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. After refreshments, everyone had free time to explore the museum and visit the chapel. Our driver, Paul, also kindly took a few of our clients to the airfield, where they enjoyed watching planes taking off and landing.
At 2:15pm, we came together for a presentation on Winston Churchill, delivered by Andy, another of the museum’s fantastic volunteers. It was a fascinating and fitting way to round off our visit. We made sure everyone was safely back home by 4:00pm. It was certainly a long day, but one that was well worth it!
The visit brought back many memories for our clients, from childhood experiences of being evacuated during the war to those who had served themselves in the armed forces. One gentleman had been stationed at Biggin Hill in the 1950s and was demobbed from there in 1954. He described the trip as a “fabulous trip down memory lane.” We also had a navigator in our group who, although he had not been based at Biggin Hill, was delighted to have the opportunity to visit.
A massive thank you to all the staff and volunteers at Biggin Hill War Museum for making us feel so welcome and helping to make the day such a memorable experience for everyone.
Finally, this trip would not have been possible without our amazing volunteers, our driver Paul, and our escorts Pam, Grace and Barbara. Their kindness, support and dedication helped make this such a special day for our clients.
It was a wonderful day of friendship, history and treasured memories, and one that will stay with us for a long time!
Spring Park Bowling Club make SNC their charity for 2026
Shirley Neighbourhood Care has been lucky this year to be chosen as the Spring Park Bowling Club Charity for 2026. The Lady Captain of the Club, Rosemary, is a long standing volunteer for SNC and can often be seen at our Lunch Club.
As part of the fundraising activities, they held a Charity Bowling event on Sunday 7th June and there were a few SNC volunteers there, including our Chair, Barbara, who confesses to not being the best at Lawn Bowling! It was a great afternoon, just £3 to enter, with 6 challenges to take part in and some great prizes for the winners, plus free teas and home made cakes which were lovely. The finale was ‘Hit the Spider’ and Janet a Bowling Club member, and a SNC volunteer was lucky to win the prize of a fruit hamper. Well done Janet.
It was a great afternoon and if anyone is interested in joining the Spring Park Bowling Club their website is Spring Park Shirley Bowling Club, Croydon or call 0208 654 2636. They have Taster Days so do get in touch with them if you are interested.
Thanks again to Rosemary and the Bowling Club for your support in 2026.
