Matthew was pleased to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony at the Day's & Atkinson's Almshouses in Edgware. The charity has started the construction of 16 new houses that are much needed to house local people. Almshouses have been created since the 10th century and are needed in the present day as not enough homes were not built under the last government, causing a crisis in communities such as ours.
Local people watched as Matthew, accompanied by the Bishop of Edmonton the Rt Rev Peter Wheatley, displayed his trough–laying skills by placing the cement and the commemoration stone at the site.
“There has been a lot of hard work by local people to make this venture happen and I am pleased that the construction will be sympathetic to the local houses. It is a shame in this day and age that we need almshouses but the need has been demonstrated and I pay tribute to the work of the trustees and the Rev Simon Rea and Michael Clarke for all their effort in realising this day.”