Wrexham care staff honoured for nearly 90 years of service
Ellen Griffith and Cindy Clutton received special recognition during a celebration at Hillbury Care Home, where they were presented with awards and bouquets by Lesley Griffiths, Wrexham MS.
The event marked a double anniversary, with Hillbury celebrating its 60th year and its owners, Pendine Park, marking 40 years in the care sector.
Ms Griffiths said: "It's a great pleasure to be here today on such a special day, to say thank you to two very special people.
"Between them, Ellen and Cindy have clocked up nearly 90 years of looking after people which I think deserves a big round of applause.
"I have visited many care homes across Wales in different guises and I can honestly say that I have never been anywhere that comes close to Pendine.
"That's down to the magic instilled by the owners Mario and Gill Kreft and the wonderful staff here and today we are celebrating the contribution of two very special people in Cindy and Ellen."
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Hillbury Care Home was founded in 1965 by the Sisters of Nazareth and operated by the nuns for 37 years before being taken over by Pendine Park in 2003.
Pendine Park already owned the neighbouring Gwern Alyn care home, and Cindy Clutton now manages both sites.
Ms Griffith, who has worked at Hillbury since 1979, said: "I left school at 16 and came here in 1979 for an interview on a Friday and started work on the following Monday.
"I came here in the first place to work as a carer on a YTS scheme – it was only for six months but they extended it for another six months.
"After that ended I went to work at another home but I got a call saying there was a permanent job for me here and I've been here ever since.
"The time has just flown by.
"I don't know where the years have gone.
"I just love every minute of it.
"If you're happy in your work you don't need to look elsewhere."
Ms Clutton started at Hillbury in 1982 as a Saturday worker.
She said: "I started in Hillbury in 1982.
"My mum worked here, I was looking for something during school holiday and weekends.
"She got me a job and I haven't looked back.
"Ellen took me under her wing and I helped her, working in the kitchen upstairs and folding clothes."
She later joined Pendine Park in 2000, eventually becoming manager of both Hillbury and Gwern Alyn.
Mario Kreft, who co-founded Pendine Park with his wife Gill, said: "Hillbury has been a very special place for 60 years, providing care in the community since 1965 and we are continuing to do that today in large measure.
"The Sisters of Nazareth left a very good template for us and Cindy and Ellen epitomise what Pendine is all about.
"You couldn't pick two better people – they have the milk of human kindness flowing through their veins.
"Ellen and Cindy are real-life heroines."
Pendine Park was founded in 1985 after the Krefts were unable to find suitable care for their own grandparents.
The group now operates nine care homes across Wrexham and Caernarfon, offering 440 beds and employing more than 860 staff.
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Leader Live
5 days ago
- Leader Live
Wrexham care staff honoured for nearly 90 years of service
Ellen Griffith and Cindy Clutton received special recognition during a celebration at Hillbury Care Home, where they were presented with awards and bouquets by Lesley Griffiths, Wrexham MS. The event marked a double anniversary, with Hillbury celebrating its 60th year and its owners, Pendine Park, marking 40 years in the care sector. Ms Griffiths said: "It's a great pleasure to be here today on such a special day, to say thank you to two very special people. "Between them, Ellen and Cindy have clocked up nearly 90 years of looking after people which I think deserves a big round of applause. "I have visited many care homes across Wales in different guises and I can honestly say that I have never been anywhere that comes close to Pendine. "That's down to the magic instilled by the owners Mario and Gill Kreft and the wonderful staff here and today we are celebrating the contribution of two very special people in Cindy and Ellen." READ MORE: Coleg Cambria students celebrated at learner and apprentice awards Hillbury Care Home was founded in 1965 by the Sisters of Nazareth and operated by the nuns for 37 years before being taken over by Pendine Park in 2003. Pendine Park already owned the neighbouring Gwern Alyn care home, and Cindy Clutton now manages both sites. Ms Griffith, who has worked at Hillbury since 1979, said: "I left school at 16 and came here in 1979 for an interview on a Friday and started work on the following Monday. "I came here in the first place to work as a carer on a YTS scheme – it was only for six months but they extended it for another six months. "After that ended I went to work at another home but I got a call saying there was a permanent job for me here and I've been here ever since. "The time has just flown by. "I don't know where the years have gone. "I just love every minute of it. "If you're happy in your work you don't need to look elsewhere." Ms Clutton started at Hillbury in 1982 as a Saturday worker. She said: "I started in Hillbury in 1982. "My mum worked here, I was looking for something during school holiday and weekends. "She got me a job and I haven't looked back. "Ellen took me under her wing and I helped her, working in the kitchen upstairs and folding clothes." She later joined Pendine Park in 2000, eventually becoming manager of both Hillbury and Gwern Alyn. Mario Kreft, who co-founded Pendine Park with his wife Gill, said: "Hillbury has been a very special place for 60 years, providing care in the community since 1965 and we are continuing to do that today in large measure. "The Sisters of Nazareth left a very good template for us and Cindy and Ellen epitomise what Pendine is all about. "You couldn't pick two better people – they have the milk of human kindness flowing through their veins. "Ellen and Cindy are real-life heroines." Pendine Park was founded in 1985 after the Krefts were unable to find suitable care for their own grandparents. The group now operates nine care homes across Wrexham and Caernarfon, offering 440 beds and employing more than 860 staff.
Scotsman
04-06-2025
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Mum inspired by daughter to volunteer with Girlguiding Scotland
Ellen Tasker is a volunteer at the 156th City of Edinburgh Guide unit. After offering her support to the unit during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, she has since taken on a leadership role alongside her 16-year-old daughter May Gatward. The pair support the young members to be more confident, be bold and build lasting friendships. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The bond between Ellen and May has also grown stronger since embarking on their volunteering journey alongside each other, with Ellen explaining that she has found the experience of watching May take on a leadership position as 'rewarding'. She said: 'For me, it's really nice to be able to spend time with May with her being a bit independent as well. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think I expect a lot more of her than I do the other young leaders to the point that it's probably a little unfair – but she never disappoints! Ellen Tasker (left) with her daughter May Gatward. 'I have found it really rewarding and interesting seeing how good she's been at taking on responsibility but also particularly when we were so short of leaders. 'She's able to read me very well so that can be really helpful. She can see when I'm getting stressed out about something or when I'm happy or sad about something as well. '[Being involved as a leader] does help for me to know more about the opportunities than if I was just being a parent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I know I can trust May to be leading a group of girls and I really like seeing May getting on with other leaders and being able to make positive relationships with older women as well. 'It's really lovely to be involved – it keeps me young!' Speaking about being a young leader, May said: 'You're helping people, you're organising things and you're learning how to lead a group which are skills that can be applied in most places. 'When I became a young leader, because I'd been part of this Guide unit, it was really quite interesting but it helped. 'From being at school, I feel there's a lot of people that I know that could have benefitted through going to Guides and gaining that confidence you get through having to be able to lead people but in a safer environment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ellen has also gained confidence from volunteering with Girlguiding. She explained: 'I do get an awful lot out of [volunteering] and I like making the kids get outside and push themselves – I want them to have the advantages I had growing up in a different generation. 'I've met some really lovely people. It's given me confidence. 'I tripped upon it by accident and it's actually become something really important to me. 'It's a really lovely thing to share with May. May added: 'I go to the same school as a lot of the Guides once they start high school and for me, going to school and seeing some people who I know would never have met through school who are now in these really lovely friend groups and have met their people though Girlguiding – I think that's one of my favourite things. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's interesting sharing [this experience] with my mum because there's something interesting about having a shared activity that's not through the family which makes it quite special.'
Leader Live
25-05-2025
- Leader Live
Wrexham: Hillbury House celebrates 60 years of care
Hillbury House, built in 1864 for businessman John Bury, became a care home in 1965 and was taken over by the Catholic Order of the Sisters of Nazareth, who ran it until 2005 as Nazareth House. In 2005, it became part of the Pendine Park care organisation, founded by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill. Mr Kreft said: 'It was built in 1864 for John Bury who was well known locally and was one of the founders of the Wrexham War Memorial Hospital. "In building the house, they dug into a Bronze Age burial mound and found a number of artefacts which were given to the Wrexham Museum. 'Gill and I were looking for somewhere to open a care home in 1985 because we wanted a place suitable for our elderly grandparents which would provide the level of care we wanted for them. 'A property in Llandudno was set up but it fell through at the last minute and Gwern Alyn became available in Wrexham which was another of the areas we were looking. 'Converting Gwern Alyn into a care home was the start of the Pendine story and choosing Wrexham was the right decision for us.' He added: "We started with 14 residents at Gwern Alyn and now we're up to 440 at our nine care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon. "Later this year, we will welcome our 6,000th resident and at the same time we employ 864 people and what we do supports the NHS." The Krefts were the first care organisation in Wales to employ an artist in residence. Thirty years later, the person they appointed, Sarah Edwards, is still working with them as a consultant, along with a musician in residence, a creative practitioner, and an army of enrichment co-ordinators. The couple have also launched the Pendine Arts and Communities Trust, which supports a host of community and arts-related activities. This includes the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, where they sponsor the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, and the North Wales International Music Festival, where they sponsor the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition. Mrs Kreft, a chartered accountant, also set up the influential Wrexham Business Professionals group to promote regional prosperity and shine a light on the enterprise and expertise that exists in the region. Both care homes are run by manager Cindy Clutton, who began her own career in care in 1982 aged just 15, working at weekends and in the school holidays at Nazareth House, as Hillbury was then called. She said: "My mum was there and she had always worked in care and I went there when I was still in school and I enjoyed it so when I finished school I went on to take a YTS - Youth Training Scheme - in care and started with Clwyd County Council in their home at Wren's Nest in Rhosddu. "I joined Pendine in 2000 at Gwern Alyn and they took over Nazareth House and I became acting manager of Gwern Alyn and Hillbury and the rest is history. "Mario had encouraged me to my Level Five management course and gave me the support I needed and I've been at the two homes ever since. "I've really enjoyed it. "It's a challenging job but it's also very rewarding when you see the residents all smiling and happy. "I still love coming to work each day." Mr Kreft said: "Four decades on and Pendine Park has become a very, very important community asset for Wrexham and 10 years ago we opened Bryn Seiont Newydd in Caernarfon. MORE NEWS: "We were the very first in the UK to deliver what in those days were NVQs – National Vocational Qualifications – although the skills you need as a carer are not something everyone can do and you don't really learn them at a college. "It's about empathy and emotional intelligence and you probably either have or don't have that by the time you leave primary school." Mr Kreft has also found time to become a campaigner for the social care sector, founding both Care Forum Wales, which represents around 500 independent providers, and the Wales Care Awards, to recognise frontline care workers.
