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Bulmer House celebrates 20th anniversary

Bulmer House Sheltered Housing in Marsden celebrated its 20th birthday on Friday 21 May with a party for residents, staff, friends and families.

The Association built the sheltered housing scheme next to existing DAMHA bungalows at Marsden Road in South Shields. Bulmer House has 26 one and two person flats plus warden's accommodation and communal facilities. Named after Jimmy Bulmer, a former District Secretary at the nearby Harton and Westoe Miners' Lodge, Bulmer House was opened by Dr David Clark, the South Shields MP in August 1991.

Cheers! Peggy Glen and Elsie Reilly offer a toast to Bulmer House

Two of the original residents still live in Bulmer House; Elsie Reilly, (87) and Margaret (Peggy) Glen, (84). Elsie and Peggy even lived in the same street when they were teenagers, Dunlop Crescent, just a few streets from Bulmer House. Peggy was born and bred in South Shields and Elsie, who was born in Lady's Walk at Mile End Road, moved to Dunlop Street when she was 15.

Peggy had just returned from a holiday in Yugoslavia when she was offered her flat in Bulmer House and immediately liked the look of it. She said, " I have never regretted coming here to live. I have all the independence I need and its good to know that I have the warden service and other friends and neighbours nearby". Peggy, who worked as a dinner lady before becoming a full time mother, has a son, Robert and two grown up grandchildren, Robert and Rebecca.

The party in full swing

Elsie worked on a farm before joining the NAAFI during the War and was married to James Reilly, a whaler. She has 6 children, 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Elsie has lived in the same flat since she came to Bulmer House. She said, " We have had some great times here. The residents often get together to have a nice long chat with a cup of tea and a sandwich. We can talk and entertain each other for hours".

Chief Executive Gordon Gray said, "It was a particularly busy period for DAMHA when Bulmer House was built. We also created a number of new retirement homes in the region and embarked on new ventures by going into Sheltered Schemes and residential care as well as the traditional bungalows". He went on to say, "We are really proud of Bulmer House, it complements the other 67 bungalows in Marsden Road".

Bulmer03 left to right: Gordon Gray, Elsie Reilly, Gordon Parkin, Peggy Glen and Rose Kingdom

Rose Kingdom, House Manager at Bulmer House said, “The residents are a great bunch and we have had a wonderful party. We had a traditional fish supper and some brilliant entertainment for our residents, staff, guests, neighbours and friends"

Bring on the cake