The Griffin Community Trust

Introduction
Where we left off…

‘The History of Griffin’ was written in 1997 when the trust was 10 years old and Griffin House was newly built and full of hope and anticipation. The booklet, written by Veronica White, Tim Budgen and Peter Mills provides a rich account of how the Trust was founded and the events that led up to the culmination of their ideas and efforts. So, on 19^th Feburary 1998, HRH the Princess Royal officially opened the Lansbury Lodge project, and this is where we begin.

Why Update now?

2007 saw the 10 year anniversary of the unofficial opening of Griffin House, when the first students moved in and the accommodation was fully functioning. This 10 year window has seen many developments and changes at Griffin House and Shaftesbury Lodge. However, much of the triumph of The Griffin Trust has been due to aspects that have remained steadfast and constant to ensure the formula for success.
Here, the aim is to glimpse the endeavours & developments over these 10 years, gleaning memories and accounts from the students, trustees and their friends at Shaftesbury Lodge and Toynbee Hall. This is also an opportune time to tell the reader about what goes on in the Trust and how it operates with such success.

People Changes
Griffin Students

Naturally, as students have graduated and left, new students have taken their places and the torch is passed from year to year. Students are selected after application and interview by a committee comprising students and trustees. Due to the high number of applicants, and the excellent merits presented by all, this is always a tough decision, and the Trust encourages unsuccessful applicants to try again in following years. The trust only accepts applications from students in Medicine and Dentistry at Barts and the London (Queen Mary, University of London), although the trust does receive interest from other non medical students and other professions allied to medicine studying in the Bart and the London NHS Trust.
So far, Griffin House has seen many students pass through in the past 10 years. All that have left are now Doctors all around the country and many remain as trustees to the Trust. Seeing their predecessors and mixing with older years helps the students living at Griffin gain confidence about their progress at Medical school and their future careers thereon.

Shaftesbury Residents

Most of the residents in Shaftesbury Lodge were born and grew up in the East end of London, and many either lived in the city during the Second World War or were evacuated to rural locations to escape the bombing. They hold many memories of the changes seen in Tower Hamlets and have always been part of the community there.
New residents at the Lodge are always warmly welcomed by the student group, who introduce themselves and offer their friendship. This can make a great difference for an elderly person who has often moved alone from home to an unfamiliar new place.
All of the residents live alone, many widowed and some with few contacts or family members. It is heart warming to realise that in some cases, a student is offering them a firm friend with whom to spend their time.
The majority of residents get involved with the student organised activities and enjoy them greatly. They consistently offer useful help and feedback with events, but equally give the students support and encouragement throughout their studies.
Sadly, residents do move on to pass away. Many are remembered fondly by their resident friends and students who share happy memories of previous events and encounters.
Photos are an important part of the reminiscence of Griffin and Shaftesbury and many a moment is spent pointing out faces of old friends. There is usually always a camera to be found at events to keep the memory alive and record the fun and mischief!

Supporters

After a lottery grant application was rejected in 1999, the Trust did not look back and continued to benefit from the kind support from many sources
As mentioned, many students have now become supporters of the Trust, while the trust is lucky enough to have kept some of its most influential individuals who still offer their enthusiasm, kindness and wisdom to the students helping to run the trust.
The death of Lord Westbury in 2004 saw a sad loss for the Trust members and founders as he had offered so much support and drive. The Dowager Lady Westbury has since stepped into his shoes and continues to give the Trust enormous reinforcement and energy.
Veronica White, now a Consultant Chest Physician at the Barts and the London NHS Trust and Peter Mills still remain at the forefront of the Griffin Community Trust Committee, acting as Chairman and President respectively. Their roles and influence offer enormous support to the students in the Committee and their confidence in them is no doubt a greatly appreciated and key element in the success of the Trust dynamics.
Judith Walker still works at the Barts and the London School of Dentistry and acts as an advisor to the students and as part of the selection committee. Her enormous efforts and kindness ‘behind the scenes’ has been a true inspiration to the student members of the committee who glean much from her experience and knowledge of the Trust. To the delight of the Trust Ms. Walker was awarded an MBE in 2005.