(The Bedfod)

During the second world war The Bedford was used by the American military and then after the war it became a Railwaymen's Convalescent Home.

The Spastics Society purchased The Bedford in 1963 and proceeded to open it as a holiday home for 23 residents of which 7 remained. The Bedford also had a temporary warden called Mrs Molyneau, who had a lot of experience in this activity as she was actually the Warden of The Bedfont in Clacton-on-sea, which was a permanent holiday centre but was, at that time, undergoing extensive structural alterations.

Then in December of 1963 The Spastics Society appointed a new permanent warden, Mr Dexter Simpson and he started his new role on the 1st of January 1964. He lived at 31, Park Road, which was also the property of The Spastics Society.

The Bedford had to establish itself within the town and the community. This was not an easy task as the community didn't really want or understand why The Bedford had become a residential home for spastics in the town.

During the next few months Dexter Simpson spent most of his time interviewing and employing new staff to come and work at The Bedford. In the meantime work was being carried out on a new building, a new larger workshop. Meanwhile a small temporary workshop had been set up in one of the lounges known as The Sun Lounge.

The residents started working making things like stools and all kinds of craft work, and one of the main jobs in the workshop became very useful in helping build a better relationship with the community. That job was chopping wood and then bundling it up into fire wood. The residents worked really hard at the job and also enjoyed the day cutting and chopping wood, and soon the firewood became part of the community with orders coming in from all over the town. Below you can see photos of life at The Bedford in the 70's. The days filled with fun.