Friends and family of a much-loved local man from Wimbledon, Andy Taylor, gathered over the weekend at Button House in Hackbridge to host a celebration in honour of his memory and to officially launch a newly refurbished area of the development aptly named ‘Andy’s Games Room’.
Originally an underused changing room facility, the hardworking team at Button House have transformed the area into a bright and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy and remember Andy’s kindness and zest for life.
Karl Mlynarczyk, General Manager at Button House, explained: “We are thrilled to open ‘Andy’s Games Room’ at Button House – a huge thanks to everyone who has supported this venture.
“Andy Taylor is the late husband of our former receptionist Doreen, and who became a much-loved part of life at Button House. In 2022 Andy started running a small chess club, which quickly grew into regular board games evenings that brought residents together for fun, laughter, and connection. These sessions became a real highlight within the community.
“What makes this even more powerful is Andy’s personal story. Living with COPD, and following pneumonia in 2018, he was left with just 14% lung capacity and given around a year to live. Despite this, Andy continued to give his time generously, regularly coming into Button House to spend time with residents and lead the games sessions, something he continued doing until earlier this year.
“Sadly, Andy passed away in February at the age of 70. In a beautiful tribute, his family held a celebration of his life at Button House, filling the day with board games, just as he would have wanted. They also very generously donated his collection of games to us. Aptly, and at the request of our homeowners, we have named our newly refurbished area in his honour. Andy’s Games Room’ is now a warm, inviting, and characterful environment. We’ve created a beautiful space where residents can gather, socialise, and enjoy their time together.
“We’ve now officially opened the space, with a plaque unveiled by Andy’s family, followed by a Las Vegas–style casino night – a fitting tribute, as Andy and Doreen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas.”
Button House boasts a new collection of 80 stylish assisted living apartments, situated over four floors, all accessible by lift and stairs. The community features a range of beautiful one- and two-bedroom homes all suitably designed for those over the age of 55. Each home comes with a private and spacious balcony, plus a range of exciting onsite facilities including a fitness studio, the award winning Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge, a community hub and more, and homeowners can shirk their domestic responsibilities, with cleaning, laundry and pet sitting services that free up time for doing the fun things in life – like spending time with their grandchildren, exploring the local area which is surrounded by historic towns, villages and parks, or visiting London which is only 25 minutes away by train.
Button House is located within the vibrant New Quarter Mill development and offers a wonderful atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. Perfect for those looking to move into a community that makes life easier, more enjoyable and ultimately a great place to live. And, quietly waiting in the wings is the provision of flexible care and support packages, on offer 24/7 should homeowners need it, meaning every second of life can be enjoyed without worry.