Witney care home resident, 90, has flippin' good time as honorary penguin keeper

 

A local care home resident was delighted to have her dream come true after wishing to feed penguins.

When the team at Care UK’s Millers Grange, on Curbridge Road, discovered that 90-year-old resident Margaret Lawley, was keen to visit penguins, they were determined to make it happen.

Margaret's interest in penguins began when she was seven years old, during her first visit to the London Zoo where she saw them in person. At around age 15, she fell in love with penguins after seeing them on a television program, finding joy in watching them waddle around. Although Margaret still enjoys watching penguins on TV at Millers Grange, she has expressed a desire to see them up close once again.

The team at Millers Grange organised a visit to Cotswold Wildlife Park for Margaret, her husband Lionel, and fellow residents Anne and Ruby. During the visit, Margaret was honored with the title of "Penguin Keeper” for the day. The group spent the morning feeding the Humboldt penguins buckets of fish and participating in the park's penguin talk for members of the public.

Commenting on the visit, Margaret said: "I loved it, it was like being a kid again. I was amazed by the friendliness of the staff at Cotswold Wildlife Park - nothing was too much for them. They were so helpful, especially when it came to feeding the penguins.” 

The visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put their 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.

Rachel Scurr, Home Manager at Millers Grange, added: “Margaret is always asking for us to put the penguins on the TV, and when she told us that she wanted to see them in person, the team knew they had to make it happen. 

“Our wishing tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and interests, and it’s so rewarding to be able to make these a reality. Margaret had a wonderful time as penguin keeper – she’s already talking about going back!

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team at Cotswold Wildlife Park for helping to make Margaret’s wish come true!”

Debbie Ryan, Media Relations at Cotswold Wildlife Park said: "It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Margaret and her fellow residents from Millers Grange care home back to the Park. Margaret met and helped feed our colony of Humboldt Penguins, but two in particular took an instant shine to Margaret, coming back several times for her to feed them - they were Stephen and his dad Puff. It was a joy to help make Margaret's dream come true!”

Millers Grange is a modern care home which provides full-time residential, dementia and end-of-life care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.