Making a splash: Ambleside makes diver’s wish come true

Home news

Aug 02, 2019

Ambleside care home has surprised an 83-year-old resident with a fond blast from the past. 

The team at Care UK’s Ambleside on Evesham Road runs a Wishing Tree initiative to help make residents’ wishes come true. They decided to surprise resident – and former diving instructor – John Willn with a trip to Stoney Cove diving centre in Leicestershire.

John won awards for both diving and teaching at Stoney Cove, and it was his wish to return to the diving lake to relive happy memories from his past. Team members from Ambleside joined John on his visit, where they enjoyed a lunch on the veranda, while watching divers in action and hearing John’s stories of his own adventures in to the deep. 

Julia Joy, home manager at Ambleside, said: “Residents are at the heart of everything we do here, and we always like to go the extra mile to grant their wishes. I am really pleased that we were able to make John’s dream of revisiting Stoney Cove a reality. 

“John spent many happy years there diving and sharing his expertise with others as an instructor, so to take him back to a place very close to his heart was a real highlight. It was a poignant day for all. 

“John told us he’d had a wonderful afternoon revisiting the lake and reminiscing. I’d like to say a big thank you to John’s family for helping us grant the wish. We’re looking forward to making another wish come true soon.”