After almost 50 years of entertaining guests from various nursing homes, the United Church Women (UCW) of the United Churches of Langley held their final Pleasant Hours afternoon tea on June 23, 2015.
Pleasant Hours began as an outreach initiative of the United Church Women's group of Sharon United Church in 1967. A need for recreational activities for some rest home residents was reported to the UCW by Robena Rutherford (who incidentally was also responsible for initiating the “Meals on Wheels” program in Langley as well as the “Homemaker Service” for Langley). The first Pleasant Hours gathering was a Valentine party in February 1967, which Daisy Holtby (the minister's wife) and Robena Rutherford planned. A monthly date was chosen and volunteers enlisted to help the UCW Social Action Convenor Hazel Harrower, who in September reported seven teas and outings for guests had been held.
In the early days of Pleasant Hours there were no leisure activities provided at the care homes, so the outing not only filled a need, but also provided great entertainment and much enjoyment to the residents who attended. The volunteers also enjoyed the singing, dancing, imaginative musical activities and presentations. There are memories of hearing Joan Danby sing accompanied by Donna McTaggart, the appearance of Santa Claus (Ken Mallinson) at the annual
Christmas turkey dinner held every December, Peggy McGregor's costumes at the Hallowe'en teas, Highland dancers, singing groups, live animals such as lambs, and much more. Refreshments were provided at every gathering and each month the UCW honoured all the guests who had a birthday that month with a card and a birthday cake which was shared by all.
Some of the early members on the Pleasant Hours Committee were Betty-Lou Chell who was President of the UCW when Pleasant Hours began, Ellen Mufford, Althea Plowe, Bertha Alexander, Flo Riddall, Mildred Berry, Angie Barron, Kathy Burchill, Jean Beard, Francis Bishop, Rose Lembke, Audrey Spiegel,
Doris Blair and Tracey Mallinson doing Highland dancing at Pleasant Hours
Robena Rutherford, and Marilyn Packham. Lynda Christensen and Edie Thompson joined the committee in the 1980's. In later years the Friendship Unit of Sharon United UCW became the steering committee for Pleasant Hours with other UCW units in the church taking monthly turns to help out. Betty-Lou Chell of the Jara Unit, followed by Nancy Mallinson of the Friendship Unit, were both long time chairs of the committee. They were helped by Shirley McGonigal, Carol Tauber, Marlene Aylen, Joyce McHugh, and other members of the Friendship Unit, as well as members of the other UCW units.
In the years before care homes had their own buses, volunteers from the church would go to each care home to pick up residents to bring to the church and then would take them back again. Some of the drivers were Bob Baker, Charlie Bishop, Doris Blair, Dick Chell, Ken Mallinson, John McGregor, and Edie Thompson. Church members also helped with parking and escorting the guests into the church, particularly helping those in wheelchairs. These volunteers have included Allan McLeod, Harry McTaggart, Peter Skeates, Arnold Aylen, Carlyle Tauber, Wayne Markel, and Fred and Bev Rodrigo. Peter and Joanne Skeates have been invaluable volunteers for years preparing the church hall for the Pleasant Hours social.
Now that the care homes have buses and entertainment in their own facilities, the committee felt with regret that Pleasant Hours had served its purpose, and that it was time to direct their energies and resources to other outreach programs in the church.