Kidderminster group to fold after chairman retires (From Kidderminster Shuttle)
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Kidderminster group to fold after chairman retires
7:40am Friday 18th January 2013 in Local
By William Tomaney
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'Happy memories’: Sutton Farm Residents Association chairman John Vaux will step down, bringing an end to the group. 021312L.
A “VALUABLE” Kidderminster community group will fold after its popular chairman announced he would step down after 30 years at the helm.
John Vaux, who ran Sutton Farm Residents Association, told neighbours he would retire from his post and one last dance would take place on January 26 at St George’s Social Club.
The news means the group – which provided trips and other activities for residents of the estate – will close, as nobody has stepped in to take over the committee.
Mr Vaux, 67, of Tomkinson Drive, said he had “all happy memories” but with group membership declining it was time to call it a day.
“I will miss it,” he said.
“The trouble is it is hard to continue with the number of people we have [four, on the management committee].
I retired from working three years ago and haven’t seen much of that retirement yet.”
The former Brintons worker moved to Sutton Farm estate in 1977 and joined the association. Within two years, he was made chairman.
“I had no idea what I was doing,” he recalled. “When I first joined, the group dealt with housing problems and all sorts but I have run the more social side of things, organising trips, dances and fund-raisers.”
Mr Vaux recalled highlights including Christmas parties for children and trips to seaside resorts such as Blackpool for pensioners and families.
The association had also regularly entered floats for Kidderminster Carnival, previously winning best overall entry.
Stretton Road residents and committee members Sue and Paul Walker praised Mr Vaux for his work and said the association folding would be a “great loss” for the area.
“It has been a really valuable group and he has done an awful lot of work,” said Mrs Walker.
“A lot of people think a lot of him on the estate and he needs a lot of praise for what he has done.
“It is going to be a big loss because many people over the 30 years have taken their family on trips with him and when you have five or six children it is a real help.”
