Wish comes ‘choo’ for Stroud care home resident

 

A local care home resident was delighted to have his dream come true after wishing to see a steam train.

When the team at Care UK’s Scarlet House, on Westward Road, discovered that Leslie Roworth, aged 92, had a passion for trains, they went full steam ahead organising a trip to Cheltenham Racecourse train station, part of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.

Leslie interest in steam trains began in his youth, during the ‘age of steam’ when he would take train trips.

During his time at Scarlet House, Leslie has enjoyed looking through steam train related magazines, watching steam engine journeys on the home's RemPod screen, a 60inch TV screen with a stimulated train carriage which allows passengers to watch the scenery as the train rumbles from station to station, and he has models of different trains in his room.

On the day, Leslie saw a steam and diesel train. 

When asked what he had enjoyed the most about the trip, Leslie commented: “Seeing the steam train”.

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.

Suzannah Tullett, Home Manager at Scarlet House, said: “We had a wonderful afternoon sharing Leslie’s passion for steam trains and fulfilling his wish.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a wonderful way for residents to share their hopes and dreams and it’s hugely rewarding to make these a reality. It was an incredible moment seeing Leslie’s face light up when he saw the trains pulling into the station, and he’s had a smile on his face ever since.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway for helping make Leslie’s day so special!”

Scarlet House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, 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.