May 2021
Geoff turns his hand to gardening
Digby Court has a thriving vegetable patch and budding orchard thanks to Geoff's hard work.
Geoff Clemo, a resident at Digby Court, Bourne, has established a thriving vegetable patch and budding orchard at the home, after taking up gardening since moving into the home. The father of seven, who moved to the care home in 2019 celebrated his 88th birthday last month.
Twice married Geoff is widowed. He had seven children with his first wife Olive: Karen, Gillian, Alison, Paul, Robert, and Mark and was stepdad to the children of Eunice, his second wife.
Geoff met Eunice when his daughter Karen was dating Eunice’s eldest son Steve. At the time, Geoff was poorly, living alone and struggling. When Eunice heard about him from Karen she invited him to stay with her family. After a few weeks they became more than friends.
Geoff uses his phone and computer daily to keep in touch with his large family which includes many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Born and raised in Warrington, Cheshire, Geoff bought his first house with Olive, and continued to live in the town for most of his life. Geoff lived in a bungalow before he moved into residential care in April 2019.
After school, Geoff was called up for National Service, where he spent much of the time driving tanks and transporting lorries. He was in Germany picking up two small tanks, when he was accidentally shot. He was rushed to hospital and operated on. No one at the time realised that the bullet had split in two and a part remains in his stomach today.
After weeks in hospital Geoff returned to National Service but unable to work, was sent home. Back in England the Commanding Offer at his local barracks sent him to the Cheshire military hospital. He was discharged from the army after the captain visited him and found there was no way of knowing how long he would be ill for.
For several years Geoff worked different jobs, including driving a lorry at a coal yard and double decker buses. Later, a close friend ‘Uncle Billy’, who ran a train station, and gave Geoff a job as an Engine Cleaner. That led to many happy years working as a train driver, at one point taking control of the famous Flying Scotsman.
Geoff said: “I’ve always loved driving, I could get in any vehicle large or small and drive it with no problems, I do miss driving my car.”
Quick to learn new skills, Geoff worked on out odd jobs for electricians, joiners, and other trades. However, he never cultivated a garden until he moved to Digby Court. With the help of a volunteer at the care home, Geoff has developed a vegetable plot and planted trees to become an orchard.
Home Manager, Donella Savage, said: “Geoff loves being out in the garden every day, come rain or shine you will find him out there with his woolly hat on and jacket tending to his garden.”
It was through the garden that Geoff was recommended Digby Court after his daughter Annie came to help in the garden as part of a local Tesco’s volunteering scheme. When her dad needed to move to a care home, Annie recommended Digby Court.
Geoff described living at Digby Court as: “More like a community where my bedroom is my flat. Even with the restrictions during the pandemic I’ve been able to visit the garden and be useful. I still have a life, and I feel safe in the home.”
Residents can take an active role in the running of their care home if they want to. Geoff has had fire and manual handling training and happily helps our Handyperson Steve with odd jobs around the home.
Geoff would recommend Digby Court as a place to come and live. He said: “This place is above others and if you get a chance to move in here, take it as its lovely here. Staff are friendly and will have a laugh and joke; they treat me like a normal person, not some old man who needs a little bit of help from time to time. So, move into Digby Court.”