The Abbeyfield Society began in 1956 when a then young Coldstream Guard by the name of Richard Carr-Gomm became concerned by the number of lonely older people he saw in Bermondsey in south-east London. Richard immediately resigned his army commission and moved from Chelsea Barracks and became Britain's first male home-help.
During his visits as a home-help, Richard found that loneliness was one of the biggest challenges facing older people. This inspired Richard to spend his army gratuity on a house on Eugenia Road, in Bermondsey, and invited four lonely older people to join him. By Christmas 1956, Richard had become the very first Abbeyfield housekeeper.
Like-minded people quickly joined Richard, including one woman who was to become the future Mrs Carr-Gomm. They regularly met at the second house in Abbeyfield Road, which lent its name to the Society. In the space of two years, Abbeyfield opened six houses in Bermondsey, housing 26 older people.
By the end of 1960, new Abbeyfield societies had been formed in eight London boroughs and 15 localities outside of London. The parent society was incorporated as The Abbeyfield Society, which, to this day, forms the nucleus of the whole movement.
Today there are Abbeyfield societies across the UK and in 16 countries around the world – all guided by the original principles and helping many thousands of older people.