Sevenoaks care home resident takes a walk down memory lane

A care home resident in Sevenoaks was delighted to relive her childhood after returning to her primary school. 

Shirley Coomber, aged 89, resident at Care UK’s Weald Heights, on Bourchier Close, has always wanted to revisit the school she attended as a little girl. When the team at Weald Heights learned that Shirley had never been back since leaving, they quickly got to work and contacted Lady Boswell’s School to arrange a surprise visit. 

On the day, Shirley had a privileged tour of the school and enjoyed sharing her memories of her school years. Throughout the day, Shirley reminisced over the wonderful times she had at the school and shared her stories with the current teachers and pupils. 

Commenting on the day, Shirley, said: “I felt very honoured to return to my school and spend time reminiscing about the many happy times I spent at Lady Boswells.  The memories came flooding back and I will treasure the book about the School that was gifted to me – I want to thank the staff and pupils for making me feel so welcome.”

When Weald Heights first opened its doors, the team installed a ‘Wishing Tree’, an initiative launched by Care UK which allows residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers. This encourages residents to live fulfilling lives – from skiing to a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Maria Covington, Home Manager at Weald Heights, said: “Shirley had a fantastic afternoon revisiting her former school. It was wonderful to see how the team brought her special wish to life. 

“The team at Weald Heights love a challenge, so residents are encouraged to dream big. It’s hugely rewarding to be able to make these a reality and see the smiles on residents faces.

“A big thank you to the team for making the big day happen and to Lady Boswell’s School for making Shirley’s visit extra special!”

Weald Heights is a purpose-built care home designed to deliver luxury hotel-style comfort for residents, complete with a café, hair and beauty salon, cinema and beautiful gardens. The home is divided into separate residential, nursing and dementia care suites, encouraging close-knit communities where residents can get to know each other, and where people with similar needs can be cared for together.