In the space of a month over the Christmas break, Somerset Place Society lost two outstanding founder management committee members and stalwarts of the society, Helen Berrington and Chris Stone.

It was Helen, in the 1980s who pushed for a Retirement Home here in Grahamstown – and how she pushed and prodded and spent hundreds of hours working on this project which was very close to her heart. A great amount of money had to be raised before any work could commence on building, but Helen persevered year after year. A close friend of hers said that apart from money pouring in, she was proud to
announce that she had also been promised five cows to auction off towards the fund-raising.

The culmination of all this effort and hectic activity is what you see here at Somerset Place Society – beautiful buildings and grounds and, to crown it all, at the top of the hill, The Helen Berrington Frail Care Centre – Helen’s greatest achievement.

What a tower of strength she was. Chris was the society’s legal advisor on the committee. Chris, the unsung hero, quietly working, away from all the limelight, doing sterling work. His thoroughness and great attention to detail was well known. He was an upstanding member of the community, an extremely busy man – and yet he always had time to attend the countless committee meetings through the years. He was a founding member of the society and hardly missed a meeting over 25 years. Apart from his continual legal support over the years, Chris also involved himself with the planning, financial and social wellbeing
of Somerset Place and his input and sound advice will be sorely missed.

His clear and unwavering support was always given with humility and modesty, as well as an unrivalled sense of humour.

A truly fine man.

Somerset Place Society