members, within 5 years they had over 170 members and a full programme of events from Christmas and summer garden parties to river trips, monthly socials and more. Eileen Horne, a member of Arthritis Care, offered her large house for the summer garden parties. Sadly, she was widowed in 1983. Eileen and Lya had become firm friends as Eileen supported Lya’s idea of a home for arthritis sufferers, as did the staff and patients on Cookham Ward. Donations began to arrive from local fundraising efforts such as coffee mornings, marathons, sponsored events and raffles, and the idea for a home took shape.

1988. Eileen and Lya found other skilled volunteers to complete a team of Trustees: Eileen’s accountant Malcolm Ray-Smith, Solicitor Bill Hurst, Dr Andrews, Cookham ward Rheumatology Consultant, the Reading Arthritis Care Chairman, and Treasurer, a local Reading businessman, and the Chair of a local Housing Association, with Lya, a nurse, to complete the team, and with Eileen hosting the meetings. The new trustees had two objectives immediately a) to get registered, and b) to raise funds. They explored various avenues of funding and housing. Just before Arthros became a registered Charity, they were stunned to receive a large donation from an anonymous donor. The charity was born and the name “Arthros” was suggested by Dr Andrews from the Greek word for arthritis.

1990. Arthros. Bill worked with the Charity Commission to draft the first Trust deed, which was signed by all eight trustees in January 1990. It set out Arthros’ purpose: to enable those who were disabled by the ravages of arthritis to live independently, with Arthros’ primary concern being Reading arthritis sufferers. Arthros was officially launched as a charity in September 1991, with Roy Castle (an osteoarthritis sufferer himself) as Arthros’ Patron. Sadly, lung cancer took him to other charities, and his death a few years later. Within the next few years trustees’ investigations revealed that disabled people of working age, especially mothers with arthritis, needed accommodation adapted to their disabilities and family’s lives. The trustees had discussions on housing and accommodation options with various organisations and local fundraisers.

1997. Eileen sadly died, leaving a large legacy to Arthros, and shortly afterwards this was supplemented by another sizeable legacy from an Arthritis Care member. Some funds were invested which transformed Arthros finances, enabling support to be offered to those applying for further help.

1999-2014. The Arthros Wing at Chimney Court. In 1999 Arthros agreed to the nomination rights for six ground floor flats being built by Court Housing at Chimney Court in Tilehurst. The six flats were only for Arthros referrals needing support, and were used and subsidised by Arthros for the next 15 years, until subsequent changes in ownership of Court Housing resulted in less support for arthritic tenants, and Arthros ceased further nominations to the flats.

2000-2017. Arthros helped some sufferers with home adaptations (including kitchen and bathroom modifications, stairlifts, ramps and similar) to enable them to continue to live independently at home. Arthros continued to provide many grants to sufferers for adapted beds, chairs, and other practical help. Most referrals came via Reading Adult Social Care and local NHS services. Arthros supported sufferers to access respite care, short breaks, education, or training, and paid for mobility scooters to support independent living. Through Lya’s many connections, support also came from local organisations offering beds, chairs, and a range of gadgets and aids for the disabled. Arthros made grants totalling over £400,000, including to the 6 flats and housing support to families, as well as subsidies to Arthritis Matters members, to enable them to continue to use the RBH hydrotherapy pool till it closed. All grants came from the funds that had been first invested, and from occasional subsequent donations to Arthros.