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sheltered scheme marks 25 years with ‘open house'
2 May 2006
One of the last sheltered housing complexes to be built by Bradford Council celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party, this week (April 25).
Residents, staff and former employees of Farish House in Keighley were among the guests at the event organised by Aire-Wharfe Community Housing Trust – part the BCHT Group – who now own and run the popular accommodation.
Chief Executive of BCHT, Geraldine Howley unveiled a plaque to mark the home’s anniversary.
Keighley Town Mayor, Coun Tony Wright and the Chair of Aire-Wharfe Community Housing Trust, Gerald Goldsbrough was among the guests at the celebration.
Farish House was officially opened on 23 April 1981 by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Arnold Lightowler.
The building was named after John Farish, a founder of the town’s Mechanics Institute in 1825. The institute was later destroyed by fire in 1962.
The first resident moved into Farish House in December 1980 and within a few months it was full with tenants enjoying modern facilities including a communal lounge, well-equipped laundry and a live-in warden.
Today, it provides attractive accommodation for over 60 residents. Recent improvements include new furniture to the communal room, upgraded lighting and new sliding security doors.
The first bedsit conversion to create more modern self-contained flat accommodation has been completed and further ones will be carried out in the future.
Geraldine Howley, Chief Executive of BCHT, said: “Providing modern accommodation for older people is a key priority for Bradford Community Housing Trust.
“As part of our multi million improvement programme to local homes we are continuing to invest in sheltered accommodation, such as Farish House.
“The event was a great opportunity for residents and people with past and present connections to Farish House to meet up again and celebrate this milestone.”
Note: Ownership and running of Farish House was passed to Aire-Wharfe Community Housing Trust as part of the Stock Transfer of Council homes in February 2003.
BCHT is in the middle of a £175 million five-year improvement programme to thousands of local homes.