OAPs '˜forced to remove tribute' to South Shields scheme boss

Pensioners living in sheltered accommodation are claiming their landlords have forced them to remove a memorial picture of their beloved former manager from their community hall.
Falstone Avenue residents Jim Pennock and Edith McGillivray with the tribute to Eve Bailey they were asked to remove from their community hall.Falstone Avenue residents Jim Pennock and Edith McGillivray with the tribute to Eve Bailey they were asked to remove from their community hall.
Falstone Avenue residents Jim Pennock and Edith McGillivray with the tribute to Eve Bailey they were asked to remove from their community hall.

Residents in Falstone Avenue, South Shields, paid tribute to their former LiveSmart scheme manager Eve Bailey, who died in December, aged 58, by placing her picture in their shared hallway.

However, they say bosses at housing provider Affinity Sutton have told them it had to be removed – along with flowers and other pictures decorating the room – at the complex for the over-50s.

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Jim Pennock, 68, a retired baker, said: “Eve was very well respected and she went above and beyond for us all.

“We held a collection and after the flowers were bought for her funeral we had £210 left over. We wanted to buy a bench and have her name on a plaque, but we were told we weren’t allowed due to health and safety concerns.

“We decided to use the picture from the tribute cards which were shared at her funeral last month. I had it blown up and put in a 10 by 6 frame and we hung it on the wall. We thought it would be a lovely way for us to remember her.”

On January 29, Mr Pennock had a meeting with the neighbourhood housing manager to discuss the picture.

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Last week he received a letter stating it had to be removed, he said, because was not in keeping with the firm’s brand image.

The community room is used for exercise classes and social gatherings by the residents.

Mr Pennock said: “This room is used by the residents for our activities, we have some artificial flowers on the tables and other pictures up too, making it look nice.

“But everything has had to go apart from three scenery-type pictures, because items weren’t in keeping with the brand.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous we’re being spoken to like this, it’s breaching our human rights.”

Affinity Sutton was approached for a comment but did not respond.