APARTMENT owners at Churchill Retirement Living’s new Betjeman Lodge development in Ludlow have been receiving plenty of support during the current lockdown, thanks to their lodge manager Gill Eades, and a helping hand from one of the more energetic members of their growing community.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to Philip Watts one of our apartment owners here, he has been amazing at this difficult time,” said lodge manager Ms Eades.

“Philip usually does a lot of volunteer work in the community, but since the lockdown he’s been very active helping out his neighbours here at Betjeman Lodge instead.

“He sent a note to all owners at the very start of the lockdown, saying he would help with shopping and picking up prescriptions if anyone was isolating or just didn’t want to risk going out. He has also sent regular quizzes to each apartment to keep people entertained, and sourced places locally who deliver here. He’s even helped to clean out our buggy store!

“We are so grateful to Philip for his help, he deserves a big thank you. We’re also lucky to have local butchers, bakers, a veg shop and milkman all delivering to us, so we’d like to thank them all too.”

Betjeman Lodge is not a care home, but a collection of privately-owned one and two bedroom retirement apartments specially designed for independent living for the over 60s.

Churchill recognises the potential vulnerability of its owners in respect of the Covid-19 virus and is doing all it can to protect them and ensure developments like Betjeman Lodge continue to have exceptionally high levels of safety and service.

Staff are available to offer advice and support to all residents and especially those who are particularly vulnerable because of age or because they have other health conditions that might leave them more vulnerable if they were to catch the virus that experts say is particularly dangerous to people aged over 70 or with health conditions.