Sue finds independent living and friendship at Girton Green
Sue Fifer is a resident at Girton Green in Cambridge and a member of our National Residents’ Panel. She tells us how Abbeyfield ticks her boxes of living independently amongst friends.
Sue Fifer lives at Girton Green independent living complex in Cambridge. With 76 apartments, it is one of the larger properties run by Abbeyfield Living Society (ALS), and it is also a more modern building, having opened in 2012.
“I moved in with my husband, Joe, on the first day that Girton Green was opened, about 13 years ago,” Sue recalls.
“It was quite exciting for our core group, being the first people to live there, or work there in the case of the staff. Most of us had made a positive decision to come here, so we saw it as an opportunity for a new way of life and were determined to make the most of it.”
A career in education and new beginnings
Sue had retired a few years before, following a career in education.
She recounts, “I grew up in North London, but I met Joe when my first teaching job took me to Sheffield. We moved around a bit, living for a couple of years in Germany, where I taught English to German students, and then moved back closer to home in North London, where I taught modern languages. I gradually got involved in social and personal education and careers guidance, and was seconded to work at the Local Authority, coordinating one of their programmes of work-related qualifications.
“A similar job then came up at City & Guilds, co-ordinating the same programme at the national level. I finally retired from there some twenty years ago as Head of Learning and Assessment Policy.”
Early retirement meant pursuing a number of other goals and interests, including family history. Sue went on to set up a business, teaching computer skills to older people in their own homes, but also took time out to travel with her husband.
“After I retired, we travelled a lot,” says Sue, “where Joe pursued his love of photography – and I carried the camera bags! I still have a lot of his pictures with me today.”
Finding independent living at Girton Green
The move to Girton Green in 2012 was an obvious choice for the two of them, having seen an independent living complex in Florida on their travels.
“They were huge places,” Sue says, “with swimming pools and athletics tracks that were used regularly by the residents. It was a bit full-on, but I thought there must be places like that in the UK too, and Girton Green was it.
“I found out about it at an Abbeyfield stand at a retirement show, and I knew it was just what we wanted. It has fulfilled everything I hoped from it, and I have never had any regrets about moving here.”
"For me, independence is key, and at Girton Green, I've found the perfect balance of having my own comfortable space while being part of a friendly community. Moving to Girton Green fulfilled everything I had hoped for. It's about living independently, but never feeling alone. An active and independent lifestyle in retirement was what I was looking for, and that's exactly what I've found here."
- Sue
The importance of community
After 44 years together, Joe passed away in 2018, and Sue came to realise how important communal living can be for those who are on their own for whatever reason.
“I wanted to be part of a community, and Abbeyfield does that. Everyone is friendly here. When I’m in my flat, it feels very comfortable, everything I have is here and it’s my home; but I can also go to see my friends who live down the corridor without the need to go out.”
Active involvement in Girton Green life
Sue likes to keep busy and has immersed herself in life at Girton Green. In addition to currently chairing the Residents’ Committee, she runs the twice monthly Jazz on Wednesday Night group, is a member of the creative writing club, and plays Mahjong on Thursday mornings, also teaching other residents how to play.
The residents' shop and community fund
Sue is especially proud of the Girton Green shop, which is part of the original design of the building.
“What happened quite quickly,” she explains, “was that a group of volunteers started running the shop and turned it into a place to come for morning coffee. At some point we decided that it could also stock dry goods, and to this we added long life milk, a selection of greetings cards and we were in business.
“As well as an opportunity for people to meet – particularly those newly arrived who wanted a break from unpacking boxes and worrying about whether they had downsized sufficiently – the use of volunteers to order supplies and make and serve filter coffee soon meant that the shop began to generate a surplus.”
The Community Fund, where this extra money goes, has allowed the residents to put on a range of free-to-attend events.
“It gives us a measure of communal independence” – and this independence to choose how the money is spent, on the things the residents want to see and do, is what is key for Sue.
“For example,” she says, “we try to have monthly social evenings with a quiz, bingo or beetle drive theme, which is followed by a light supper for the residents, prepared by the restaurant and paid for from the Community Fund. We sometimes invite choirs or musical performers to come in from outside, and we can offer some money to cover their expenses and provide cheese and wine for everyone afterwards. We can also pay to have the piano tuned, which is greatly appreciated by the performers.
“We also put on other activities such as exhibitions of our art and craft skills (Abbeyfield’s Got Talent!) and the Christmas party. If a local external visit, such as to Anglesey Abbey or the Fitzwilliam Museum, is wanted, we can pay for extra use of the local dial-a-ride bus from this fund.”
Voice on the National Resident's Panel
Sue has welcomed the opportunity to have a say in how ALS as a whole should be run, having recently joined the National Residents’ Panel, who meet regularly to discuss the inner workings of the organisation and ensure that residents have a say in how it operates and the services it provides.
“An active and independent lifestyle in retirement was what I was looking for,” she concludes “and that’s certainly how it’s been for me so far!”
Explore Girton Green
Girton Green, near Cambridge, offers modern independent living with a strong community. Its 76 apartments benefit from a resident-run coffee shop, activity spaces, a cinema, and spa facilities. The Residents' Committee ensures their input, creating a supportive and independent way of life. Discover more about living at Girton Green and available properties.
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