All revved up – Solihull care home surprises resident with car show

A care home in Solihull made a resident’s wish to attend the Pride of Longbridge car show come true. 

When lifelong car enthusiast, Bob Guest aged 97, a resident at Care UK’s Blossomfield Grange, on Worcester Way, told team members he wanted to go to a car show – and the team quickly organised a special visit to a local event to make his wish come true.

As part of the wishing tree initiative, the team at Blossomfield Grange encourage residents to submit wishes, no matter how big or small, whether they’re related to something they’ve never been able to do, or something they’d like to do again. 

Keen for Bob to see the type of cars he once owned, an Austin A30, a Morris Minor, and an Austin Allegro, the home arranged for Bob to visit the annual Pride of Longbridge car show, at Cofton Park in Longbridge. The event celebrates the cars made in the region at the former Austin factory.  

Commenting on the surprise visit, Bob said: “I had a fantastic day at the Pride of Longbridge Car Show.  The nostalgia that it brought back was incredible.”

Jo Bennett, General Manager at Blossomfield Grange, said: “We had a wonderful time at the Pride of Longbridge event, and Bob loved every minute of it.

“Bob is a car-fanatic and always shares fond memories of the classic cars he had in his younger years. We’re delighted we were able to take him to see the cars and create a memorable afternoon full of reminiscence – the joy in his eyes when he saw the exact same models he once owned said it all.

“We’re looking forward to planning more surprise trips that build on the resident’s interests over the summer months.”

Blossomfield Grange incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.

To find out more about Blossomfield Grange, contact Director of Community Relations at Blossomfield Grange, Jo Hopkins, on 0121 392 7833 or email jo.hopkins@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/blossomfield-grange