The 1970s

The seventies were a boom time for the organisation.  With the development of the Welfare State and changes in social conditions, the charity’s chiropody service was taken over by Worthing Corporation after 40 years.   The wide use of the contraceptive pill and the 1967 Abortion Act resulted in the closure of the Adoption Agency.  In its 21 year history, it had been the only licensed Adoption Society in West Sussex and placed over 400 children.

In 1971 the charity faced a major problem as its headquarters and old people’s day centre at Methold House were due to be demolished for road widening.  A £50,000 Jubilee Appeal by the Rotary Club of Worthing to pay for a new Methold House was launched at a service at St Paul’s Church, Chapel Road.  The appeal was spearheaded by co-founder Frank Cave, and raised £70,000 (the equivalent of around £700,000 today) in just two years.

Senior Officers in 1971 outside of Frazer Lodge. Mrs H M Deryer, Mr Frank Cave, Mr Arthur Linfield, Rev B R H Spall, Mr Harry Pressley and Mrs R Black (front) Mr Edward Kellett, Mr A H Hilton, Mr Robert Cushion JP, Rev Wallis Hayward, Mr V P Sams JP and Mr J H Sayers SRN (back)

Co-founder Arthur Linfield was knighted for services to the community and to horticulture in January 1974, but died on 14 April 1974.   Sadly, he did not live to see the fulfilment of the vision to open the new Methold House.   Frank Cave hosted the opening by the then Earl of March on 10 September 1974, and succeeded Sir Arthur as Life President of the charity.

The charity campaigned on behalf of older tenants of flatlets who were being given notice to quit so that properties could be demolished for redevelopment. In response to the campaign, the Town Clerk wrote to every tenant telling them of their legal rights.

The charity bought the Marleposts Nursing Home in Parkfield Road for conversion into a residential home.  A Mr Gowland donated £160,000 towards the home which was renamed Irene House in memory of his wife. The home opened in 1976 and is still going strong today.

Dolphin Court was extended adding 21 flats. The charity established a Volunteer Bureau to provide voluntary workers for local organisations. The organisation’s first charity shop opened in premises provided by a generous benefactor.

West Sussex County Council and Worthing Round Table donated minibuses. The transport service, begun in 1963, was increasingly vital to older people in Worthing and its success was based on an army of volunteer drivers.

Olive Caplow with charity shop staff and volunteers who raised over £30,000 in the first 4 years of trading between 1978 and 1982

In 1978, the charity changed its name to the Worthing Area Guild for Voluntary Service.