Suffolk resident reminisces on the 1948 Olympics

A group of Suffolk care homes organised their own Olympics-themed sports day; but for one resident there was a strong air of déjà vu. 

Ahead of the 33^rd edition of the Games in Paris, Cynthia Ridger, aged 97, from Care UK’s Hartismere Place, in Eye, reminisced on the 1948 London Olympics – the first ones to take place after World War Two. 

Back then, Cynthia was a medical student at Charing Cross Hospital, “before the NHS was founded”, she adds. She’d never been to the Olympics, and never thought she’d ever get the chance, but a poster on the hospital foyer’s board advertising free tickets changed everything. After agreeing on the trip with the matron, she and another student nurse went on to watch the opening ceremony at Wembley Stadium. 

“I was 20, and I’d just moved from Suffolk, so London felt like a new world I was very curious about,” Cynthia recalls. “The thing I remember the most is seeing this lone athlete running into the arena with the torch. That was really impressive.”

In addition to watching the lighting of the torch by British track and field sprinter John Mark, Cynthia and her fellow student also managed to secure tickets for the wrestling. 

“The wrestling was at the Empress Hall, and I remember that an athlete from another country broke his leg that day. He was sent to my ward at the hospital and stayed there for three months while we nursed him back to health.

“Back in 1948, the Olympics were a symbol of hope.”

At the Suffolk Sports Day, Cynthia’s team chose France as their country, and all donned striped tops and berets. As part of the event, residents competed in a special weightlifting competition with foam weights, followed by a team rhythmic gymnastics contest and a shot-put competition using mini sandbags. It was up to team members to pull their own weight next during tug-of-war, before hopping into a sack race. 

After a performance from a professional breakdancer, Cynthia even got to take part in a hip-hop workshop, led by the Blair Academy, as a nod to the Games’ newest discipline – breaking.

“I loved it – especially all the different costumes worn by the teams. It brought back many fond memories and it was lovely seeing everyone come together through a love of sport.” 

Claire Martin, Home Manager at Hartismere Place, said: “We always have a fantastic time at the Suffolk Sports Day, but the Olympics theme made it even more special for everyone – especially Cynthia. 
 
“The day brought back many memories for her – especially from the opening ceremony, which had clearly left a long-lasting impression. It was great to hear her tell the story of post-war London too, and how the Games have changed in the past 70 years.

“Cynthia is particularly fond of equestrian events; so we’re looking forward to showing them, along other disciplines, in our home’s cinema.” 

The event comes as part of The Big Care UK Sports Day, which sees over 130 Care UK homes across the UK host sports days for the local community and showcase what life in a care home is really like. 

Hartismere Place has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, residential dementia, as well as short term respite care. The team also operates a day centre, the Hartismere Place Day Club, open to the community throughout the week.