87-year-old Bury St Edmunds care home resident steps back in time for one last shift as usherette

A care home resident had a blast from the past when she returned to the cinema she once worked at over 60 years ago.

When the team at Care UK’s Glastonbury Court, in Bury St Edmunds, learned that 87-year-old resident, Pauline Allen, was keen to relive fond memories of being an usherette, they were determined to make her wish to step back in time to the very same cinema come true. 

Pauline was born in Bury St Edmunds on 23rd March 1936. After leaving school at the age of 15, Pauline worked as a shop assistant at Woolworths for eight years, but her happiest memories of work were from her short time as an usherette at The Central Cinema, in Bury St Edmunds, which opened in 1924, now renamed as The Abbeygate. 

At the age of 20, Pauline began her time as an usherette. Pauline loved her time working at the cinema, and her favourite part was simply getting to meet so many new people and help them. One of Pauline’s fondest memories was taking care of a baby so that the mother could carry on watching the film.

Unbeknown to most, Pauline also had the pleasure of meeting a famous face – or six! During

her time working behind the counter and serving popcorn, Pauline crossed paths with many British actors and actresses, including Leslie Philips, Jean Kent, Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor, as well as South African actor Sid James and even entertainer Tommy Steele.

After the team learned of Pauline’s rich history, they knew they wanted to do something to surprise her and organised for her to get back to her usherette roots – arranging for her to take one last shift behind the counter, serving popcorn and pulling pints for cinemagoers.

Pauline said: “Being back in the cinema brought back such wonderful memories. Working at the cinema were the best days of my working life, getting to mingle and meet the stars – as well as getting to watch all the latest films for free with my husband at the back of the theatre!”

Ana Mihai, Home Manager at Glastonbury Court, said: “Pauline often talks about when she used to work as an usherette and how much she loved her job, and so we were thrilled to help take her back to the cinema she once worked at after all these years.

“Here at Glastonbury Court, we are always looking for ways we can encourage residents to live active and fulfilling lives and so we were delighted to help make Pauline’s wish come true. It was wonderful to see her face light up as she entered the cinema she once worked at and to hear so many stories from her younger years working as an usherette.  

“I’d like to thank The Abbeygate for hosting us and to Pauline for sharing her fascinating memories.”

Glastonbury Court is a modern care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation. 

For more information about Glastonbury Court, please call Customer Relations Manager, Chantal Sencier on 01284 844668, or email chantal.sencier@careuk.com

For general information please visit, careuk.com/glastonbury-court