Ladies Guild

The Ladies Guild began in the early days of the Association with the membership being made up of parents and friends of Longfields. The main aim of the Guild was to raise funds for the Parent Association. The money was used to support the Association and buy equipment when needed.

Joan Owen, Honorary Treasurer of the Ladies Guild, wrote about the growth of the Guild in the 1979/80 Association Year Book. An extract from her report gives an insight into the hard work undertaken by the Guild.

The main purpose of the Guild now, of course is to raise funds in support of the Association, and this we do in all the usual ways – that is by holding coffee mornings, jumbles sales an annual Christmas Fayre, and, in the past few years, our Easter Bonnet Parades, which have become popular in all parts of the city.

To date we have raised about £16,000, of which we have given to the Association in cash, at various times of need, over £8,500. In addition, we have made many gifts of equipment and furniture, including almost all the furnishings and household equipment for the Residential Units, the cost of which, altogether, amounts to more than £3,500. Recently we purchased educational equipment for the new schoolroom, and tools for the Work Centre, and we are always willing to help Longfields financially or in any other way. At the moment, our aim is to give as much money as we possibly can towards the cost of a new minibus, which is urgently needed.

Members of our Guild work hard, but great enjoyment is derived from the work, and satisfaction from its results, and we also get together socially. Each year we enjoy a Christmas Dinner, and either a half-day or full-day outing.

Seen here at the annual Pancake Day coffee morning held by the Ladies' Guild at Longfields are the Guild's Catering Officers, Mrs. Amy Harris, Mrs. Margaret Grey, Mrs. Elsie Rowlands and Mrs Joyce Williams, all tossing pancakes, watched by Mrs. Joan Owen, Mrs Owen Davies and Mrs. Susan Phillips. — Pancake Day coffee morning (Association Year Book 1984)

The Lady Mayoress, Mrs Eirlys Lewis tries her luck at Mrs Dilys Bailey's tombola stall at a sherry evening held at the Manor House. — Tombola stall at a sherry evening held at the Manor House (Association Year Book 1984)

Mrs Gwen Davies, Chairman of the Ladies' Guild hands over the keys of the 17-seater Mercedes Benz ambulance to Mr Owen Lewis, Chairman of the Association. Looking on are Mrs Joan Owen, Hon. Treasurer of the Guild and Mr Harold Austin, Hon. Treasurer of the Association. — The Ladies Guild gift of a bus (Association Year Book 1984)