Date: April 2007
RETIREMENT VILLAGE CAMPAIGNER MOVES INTO RICHMOND PAINSWICK
Philip Oakley (73), one of four campaigners who worked tirelessly for 11 years to win local support for the retirement village under development in Painswick, has become the first of the four to move into a village apartment, with his wife, Jenny (68).
The four campaigners, known locally as the ‘Group of Four’ (G4), started campaigning for the retirement village when they realised the lack of care facilities for the elderly in the area. At that time actually living in the proposed village, wasn’t a consideration, it was simply something all four passionately believed was needed to enhance the community.
Mr Oakley and his fellow supporters, Tony Bradley, Leslie Brotherton and Norman Rampton organised public meetings and conducted comprehensive research to demonstrate to Gloucestershire County Council and Painswick residents that facilities were needed to prevent people from having to move away from the village. All four were then involved with helping to attract the right provider, in this instance, Richmond Villages.
Philip and Jenny have lived in Painswick for 20 years, with Philip working as chief executive of the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) in Cheltenham, (now UCAS), until he retired 10 years ago. Recent ill health forced them into deciding to move, with the obvious solution being to downsize and move into Richmond Painswick.
Philip says: “Actually living in the retirement village was never part of our long-term plan, and it is somewhat ironic that it is now our home. However, moving here has solved many of our problems, such as managing the garden and looking after our previous property. It was beginning to get too much for me.
“Moving into Richmond Painswick has enabled us to remain very much part of the local community and we are surrounded by close friends and family. We opted to buy one of the 18 village apartments designed for independent living, where we can come and go as we please, but secure in the knowledge that support is on hand, 24 hours a day, should we ever require it.”
The Oakley’s apartment has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen/diner and living room with views across the gardens and over the Cotswold Mead towards Stroud.
The village is now in its last stage of development. Phase 1, consisting of the village apartments opened in June 2006, and Phase 2 with its serviced suites providing assisted living, care bedrooms providing 24 hour nursing care, and superb facilities including a restaurant, café, shop and Wellness Spa with sauna, steam room, gymnasium and treatment rooms, is due to open this summer.
All the village apartments are now sold, but there are 24 serviced apartments still available priced from £225,000 to £385,000.
For further information, please contact the sales office at Richmond Painswick on 01452 813902, or e-mail info@richmond-villages.com, or visit www.richmond-villages.com
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Ref: RV11/2007
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