A woman from Raynes Park has returned to the care of a London housing group after more than four decades. Vera Bruce-Mitford was just 24 when she came to London in 1969 from El Salvador in Central America to study English.

She lived with her cousin in Holloway but a change in her circumstances meant she had to find alternative accommodation. Vera found a safe place to stay at a hostel run by the charity, Cecil Houses.

Now 71, and with advanced dementia, she’s returned to the care of Cecil Houses, now known as C&C, at Woodlands House care home in Colliers Wood. “C&C looked after Vera when she first came here,” said her husband, Perry. “I was confident they would do so again.”

The pair met on a student union trip to Loch Lomond when they were both studying at Princeton College in Holborn. “She was pretty and easy company and we got on very well,” remembered Perry. “Although I wasn’t allowed to visit Vera at the hostel she was living at, as it was for women only, I took great comfort from knowing there were people who would notice whether she was home or not.”

C&C began life as Cecil Houses in 1926. It was established by the journalist, Elizabeth Chesterton, who was challenged by her editor to spend 14 days and nights on London’s streets to investigate the plight of homeless women. Her experiences were serialised in the Daily Express before being transformed into the best-selling book, ‘In Darkest London’.

Mrs Chesterton was then moved to set up the charity, Cecil Houses, named after her husband. Early fundraising support came from the rich and famous including her brother-in-law, the writer G.K. Chesterton, John Galsworthy, George Bernard Shaw and even Queen Mary.

C&C has evolved over time and now provides 40 housing and support schemes for more than 2,000 people of all ages and backgrounds. These include care homes, sheltered housing, supported housing and general needs housing. Vera lived at the Cecil Residential Club on North Gower Street.

She stayed there until she’d completed her studies then returned home in 1973. She and Perry didn’t see each other for the next five years. “Vera wanted to go back to her family and she got a good job at the University of San Salvador,” said Perry. “We wrote to each other and when the political situation became unstable in 1977, I asked her to come back to London.

I didn’t want to be without her again so we got married. We’ve had 38 very happy years together.” Vera worked in the pensions departments of a number of major companies including British Coal and the retailer, House of Fraser. Sadly, she developed dementia five years ago and Perry became her carer. After visiting Woodlands House for two weeks’ respite, Perry made the decision to make it Vera’s permanent home 18 months ago.

Woodlands House provides residential, nursing and dementia care for 47 residents. It also offers respite care and long-stay intermediate care for 17 residents between hospital and home.

“As is the case for many people with dementia, change can be challenging and Vera took a little while to settle in with us,” said deputy home manager, Lucie Ogunnaike. “Time and patience have meant Vera is very happy now. She’s got good relationships with staff which are crucial to helping her feel secure. Her speech is very limited but music is still a joy for her.”

Perry said: “Vera’s now very contented. If she’s asked she’ll often say ‘I like it here’ and despite her medical condition, I know she means it. It’s a perfect home for her. The staff are brilliant, they are her family now.” Perry and their daughter, Vera Leticia Swadling, visit Vera as much as they can. “She doesn’t always recognise us although she knows we are friendly faces,” he said. “Sometimes she will say ‘I love you’ and that’s wonderful.”

Based on information supplied by Lisa Pettifer.