RESIDENTS of Kensley  put on a tea and cake party on Wednesday, October 8 in the afternoon so most of us pensioners got together and made the cakes.

We have not got a community room as Two Rivers  did not provide one in the rebuild but put a extra flat in its place so they could get extra rent money. But that did not stop our determination to go ahead and have our get together and tea party.

So we got a large tent thanks to Littledean School who let us have it for a small donation, and us pensioners got together and put it up on the lawn outside Mrs Tingle's bungalow.

Now if you think back to what the weather was like, some people wanted to cancel it but it went ahead. The active people carried out the boiled kettles so we had tea, the homemade cakes were on wall-papering tables with the paper plates and there was music thanks to a little CD player. It was a very nice get together.

The weather did turn very nasty half way through our party and we had to hang on to the poles to stop it blowing up over Cinderford.

There are few of us who were born when the last war was on and we are used to sitting outside in all kinds of weather — that's why a lot of us have arthritis or are on walking sticks and in wheelchairs, but it was going to go ahead and it did.

The rain, thunder and lightning never stopped us and the lawn was also a bit soggy so we could not have a dance.

The rain started coming in and the benches started sinking in to the grass and we did not want any accidents.

Now all I hope is that the directors of Two Rivers Housing read this story and think what they have done to the residents of Kensley Vale. But they may get old one day.

So thanks to Gina and her husband and all the people that helped Mrs Tingle and family for supplying the electric to boil the kettles and every one that helped on the day.

Looking forward to Christmas for the next party even if we've got to sit outside in the snow.

We thank you all.

– Albie James, Cinderford.