A mon-mule-mental surprise! Newbury care home welcomes furry friend

A resident at a care home in Newbury was delighted when her favourite animal trotted into the home.

When the team at Care UK’s Winchcombe Place, on Maple Crescent, learned that 93-year-old Mavis McNaught was keen to see one of her favourite animals up close, they arranged an amazing surprise for her.

Mavis’s fondness of the gentle creatures began during family holidays when she was a child, with regular trips to beaches and farms where she would spend time with the animals. As her love for donkeys grew, Mavis began to volunteer at local sanctuaries to help look after them.

To help fulfil Mavis’s wish, the team arranged for Barney the donkey, from Kelly’s Donkeys, to pay Mavis and her fellow residents at Winchcombe Place a visit.

Speaking of the experience, Mavis said: “I loved spending time with Barney – my favourite part was when he wiped his nose on me, it was really funny! I absolutely love donkeys – I used to volunteer and look after poorly animals, which was so rewarding.”

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 a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Shirley Summerbell, Home Manager at Winchcombe Place, added: “Mavis is always sharing fond memories of her time spent with donkeys in her younger days, so the team knew she’d be delighted by the chance to see the animals up close again.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and passions, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make these a reality. Mavis and her friends had a wonderful time meeting Barney and it provided a lovely opportunity to exchange treasured memories.

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to Kelly, Barney, and the team here at Winchcombe Place for making Mavis’s wish come true!”

Winchcombe Place is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia and short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.