John Dyson adds "Working parties were a tradition and in the mid 1960s, a team of volunteers helped to install mains water to the hostel when the facility arrived in the village. Apart from the digging of a trench across the front lawn to the water main, large tanks were installed in a room on the third floor of the hostel. There was an interesting Fire Escape from this room, which consisted of jumping out of the window attached to a rope, which was contained in a drum that limited the speed of descent. I think it was called a “Davy” escape. Some members were brave enough to test it! Rather like abseiling. Prior to the mains water arriving, the water had previously been pumped from a well. This well was inside the building and covered by a stone slab which had a letter W on it. It worried some members when they discovered the well was lined with lead. The future of Loddington Hostel became rather uncertain in the later1960s, especially with the then decline in cycling. Usage was falling and it became difficult to attract wardens. Mrs Lucely had left to be followed by Mrs Livermore, and Mrs Lockton. Then Mrs Ellison arrived and she was to become the last ever warden at Loddington. The local group had done its best to rejuvenate the ailing hostel by erecting a large wooden structure in the garden, which was equipped as a field study centre. The usage of the hostel did increase, but not sufficiently to avoid its closure at the end of 1969. A sad day for all involved."