Presentations to Retiring Supt. and Matron of Torridge View Welfare Home

‘You have laboured here for over twenty years and shown a love for old people. We have come to know you and to the patients you are a father and mother.’

This tribute, voiced by the Chairman, Mr W H Copp, was among many paid at a special meeting of No. 5 area of the County Welfare Committee at Torridge View Welfare Home, Torrington, on Monday, when members said farewell to the Superintendent and Matron, Mr and Mrs Minhinnett, who are retiring.

The presentation to Mr and Mrs Minhinnett was made by the Mayor of Torrington, Miss F L Lake, who recalled that she had been a visitor to the home for some thirty years from the days of the Board of Guardians and the Public Assistance Committee. Mr and Mrs Minhinnett had first come to Torridge View as porter and cook and had later become Master and Matron.

Adding to his tribute, Col R Ward, Chairman of Devon County Welfare Committee, said “I have known these dear people for over twenty years and of all our institutions, speaking in past terms, and of our present homes none has a more efficient warden and matron than Torridge View.”

The thing that had struck her, said Miss F M Pugh, Vice-Chairman of the County Committee, was that she had found that Matron had devoted much of her spare time to embroidering nightdress cases for each one of the elderly women at Torridge View so that they would have something of their very own.

Other tributes were added to Mr G R Gay, Mr W H Chubb and Mr A E Fulford.

Mr and Mrs Minhinnett are to continue to live at Torrington during their retirement.

Full article dated 14 May 1956