Friend’s reunite

Joyce came to stay at Whitefriars in summer 2022 and during a conversation, she spoke about her best friend Muriel. Carers at the home, quickly put two and two together and re-introduced these long-standing friends.

Jeanette and Muriel met aged 14 and 15 at their workplace, Nelsons’, a butcher’s shop. They worked together for several years. They both got married and had their children in Stamford. When two new houses came up for sale next door to each other, the friends bought them, and were neighbours for many years.

Both ladies are now widows. Muriel had been living at another care home in Stamford but decided to move to Whitefriars. As they say in the movies ‘the rest is history!’ Joyce and Muriel are still best friends and enjoy being so close to each other again.

Thomas and his wife Patricia

Thomas, a resident at Digby Court in Bourne went to visit his wife, Patricia. The team at Digby Court picked some flowers from the home’s garden for him to give to her.

They are such a lovely couple who are still to this day very much in love. 

Ian visits Exfest music festival

Ian, a resident at Grevill House in Cheltenham, enjoyed a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the Exfest music festival held at The Exmouth Arms in Lechampton.

It was a special day for Ian because his son, Paul, is the lead singer in Sym & The Shady Branch band who were playing! Ian saw his son perform and he really wowed the crowd at the show.

Ian was so happy to watch Paul, and he was able to catch up with family members who he had not seen for a while.

The trip took place thanks to Sean, a Carer at Grevill House, who looked after Ian for the afternoon.

Gardening at Brookside

Joy thoroughly enjoyed planting our new plants in the garden.

Joy loves to be outside in the garden as her passion is gardening. Other residents at Brookside have also spend time in the sun helping to plant the flowers. This is in preparation for the Trust in Bloom competition, an internal event which Brookside is taking part in this year.

Joy helped pick out the flowers for us to plant and is looking forward to more days in the garden now the weather is getting warmer.

Joy said that spring is her favourite time of year as being outside in the garden just makes everything feel better.

Bicester Act of Kindness ladies’ group

At Langford View during the pandemic some of our residents received letters from Bicester Act of Kindness ladies’ group. The letters had been written and distributed to counter loneliness.

Each month residents received letters and photos of interest, which put a smile on many of their faces.

Bob wrote to a family from Bicester. They told him that they were moving to Canada for three years, so Bob was uncertain if he would still be able to receive any more letters from the family.

However, recently a special letter arrived for Bob all the way from Canada. He was very happy to read their update.

Margaret's book

Margaret, one of our talented residents from Whitefriars in Stamford, enjoyed a one-to-one chat with Sue an Activities Co-ordinator. She enjoyed showing Sue one of her favourite books. The book is full of beautiful China paintings. Margaret enjoys arts and crafts. During the conversation the two women found out that they both visited the Alford craft market.