"Extremely disappointing" was how Anne Jose, the manager of the Holsworthy Day Centre described the lack of action by the Memorial Committee in not carrying out the promised refurbishment of the Manor Suite and upgrading of its

facilities.

She was giving her review of the past year at a very well attended Annual General Meeting of the Holsworthy Good Neigh­bours Day Centre and Luncheon Club, held in the Manor Suite on Tuesday evening, May 19, with Wendy Millar in the chair.

The location of the Day Centre, she said, could not be bettered as far as keeping the clients in touch with the community but their future depended, to a large extent, on the facilities they provided. She regretted they had not benefitted from the refurbishment of the Memorial Hall.

Despite the hall committee being informed over the years as to what facilities needed upgrading and promising that bathing facilities and motorised wheelchair access would be provided, they had so far done nothing. Indeed their kitchen was still waiting for repairs to damage caused by the hall refurbishment.

She had begun her review of the past year by thanking the invaluable contribution of her team of volunteers and her deputy, Crispin King. They were lucky to have their own cook supplying fresh meals prepared on the premises and that their driver and escort were willing to work flexible shifts to take clients home.

They had recently received confirmation that their contract had been renewed for the current year. For years they had had to wait anxiously for the news, sometimes until after the current contract had expired. Geoffrey Cox MP had recently visited the Day Centre and was making representations to Social Services on their behalf.

It had been a busy year full of activities, with in house musical entertainment and informative talks. There had been trips to Otter Nurseries, the Tiverton Canal, Trewithen, Pencarrow, Plymouth, Truro, Exeter and Barnstaple and 26 of them went on a holiday to Weston-Super-Mare last October with visits to Bristol Zoo, Bath and Longleat. Client places remain constant at around 50 per week. There were three Christmas parties so nobody missed out.

Together with Hather­leigh Day Centre they were lucky enough to be presented with £2,000 from the Ruby Run. Part of this has been spent on power packs for three wheelchairs. The rest will go towards two park benches to be placed on the grass outside the Manor Suite enabling clients to sit outside in fine weather.

The Luncheon Club had had another successful year but the treasurer, Chris Rose, reported that their financial reserves had dwindled, so the price of lunch had had to be raised and they were looking for additional sources of income.

Much of the meeting was devoted to discussing the condition of the gas cooker in the Manor Suite kitchen which had been a headache for some time. They had received professional advice that it would be better to replace it than to repair, but the Memorial Hall Committee, having promised a new one, had now decided to service the old one. It was regretted that there were no plans to decorate and refurbish the Manor Suite itself as well as the kitchen.

The following officers were elected for the coming twelve months: Chairman — Wendy Millar, Vice-chairman — Crispin King, Treasurer —Christ Rose, Secretary — Jill White.