Catch of the day! Cringleford care home residents’ wish to go fishing comes true

Residents at a care home in Cringleford had the chance to fulfil their wish to go on a fishing trip.

Three residents at Care UK's Cavell Court, on Dragonfly Lane, shared their passion for fishing and asked the home team to help make their wish come true.

Eager to be able to complete a lifetime wish, resident Arthur Watts, aged 73, spoke of having always wanted to be able to learn how to catch a fish for himself as a young boy and so the team got in touch with The John Wilson Fishing Enterprise.

Joining the fun, and keen to relive happy fishing memories from their childhood, were residents John Fagg, aged 84, and John Clark, aged 89, who were excited to show off their fishing skills. 

On the day, the three gentlemen and the team travelled to East Bilney Lakes where Arthur got the chance to fulfil his wish to learn how to fish. Arthur spent the morning learning how to hold the rod and cast the line into the water, along with his friends helping him along the way. They were all delighted to have caught a whopping thirty-seven fish.

The John Wilson Fishing Enterprise was set up in 2019 with the aim to help support young people and adults with their mental health through fishing. The organisation specialises in supporting people with learning difficulties, cognitive impairment, physical disabilities, and gives those from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to learn to fish.

The visit was part of the home’s ‘Wishing Tree’ Initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new – from flying on a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Arthur said: “I loved the peace and quiet and getting the chance to learn how to fish!”

John Clark added: “I just can’t stop smiling.”

Karen Curle, Home Manager at Cavell Court, said: “Our day trip to the lake was one for the books and Arthur in particular took to it like a fish in the water – there’s no doubt we’ll still be talking about it for weeks to come.

“Here at Cavell Court, we always encourage residents to continue to enjoy their favourite pastimes and share memories which hold special importance to them, as it’s a great way to encourage reminiscence. John and John talk affectionately of their memories going fishing in their younger years and when Arthur spoke of never having had the chance to learn for himself, we knew we had to make it happen.

“We’re so pleased we were able to organise this nostalgic trip for John, Arthur and John with the help of The John Wilson Fishing Enterprise – the gentlemen were over the moon to have reeled in quite the catch!”

Cavell 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 residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hairdressers, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Cavell Court, please contact contact Customer Relations Manager Samantha Woods, on samantha.woods@careuk.com or call 01324 804726.

For more information about Cavell Court, visit careuk.com/cavell-court