THE colour yellow was all ablaze last Thursday as Tavistock Abbeyfield Society celebrated its golden anniversary. In attendance were former Tavistock vicar John Rawlings and his wife Janette, on a trip back to the town ? John is now Archdeacon of Totnes ? and Tavistock mayor Caroline Keane. The Abbeyfield Society is a UK-wide volunteer-led charity providing housing with support or care for older people. Since 1956 Abbeyfield volunteers have worked to provide housing, support and companionship to older people in their local communities. In Abbeyfield, residents, usually over 75, live together in houses which normally accommodate between 8 and 12 older people. There are around 800 houses in the UK of which two are in Tavistock, Drake Lodge and Woburn House on Plymouth Road. Tavistock Abbeyfield Society is planning to build a £1-million extension to their already existing Drake Lodge. Tavistock Abbeyfield will soon be putting forward a planning application to West Devon Borough Council?s planning committee, and if successful the lodge, which has seven bedrooms, will provide 18 new bedrooms for the elderly. If anyone wishes to find out more about the society then contact Drake Lodge on 01822 614934 or visit the website http://www.abbeyfield.com">www.abbeyfield.com