‘Bottled up’ memories resurface at Quorn care home

A Quorn resident was able to reminisce about her younger years thanks to a surprising find right under the care home.  

Hundreds of old bottles, dating as far back as early as 1850, were found on the land during the construction stage of Care UK’s Lonsdale Mews, on Farley Way – including vintage milk bottles, which resident and former dairy farmer Pat was able to identify. 

 

Some of the bottles, which were found by the construction team, have since been turned into a special decorative display and used during the home’s reminiscence sessions. Among them were a set of embossed dairy bottles, bringing back memories for many residents, especially Wales-born Pat. Alongside her husband, Pat was the proud owner of wholesale dairy business Westend Dairies for 30 years, before retiring in 1990. 

Pat said: “I remember for a short time we delivered milk in a type of sachet, but they easily split and the birds pecked them, so we soon went back to the heavy glass bottles again. It was such a surprise to see the big, wide necked embossed bottles again. I remember the cardboard lids with the punch out centres. The children would collect them, put two together and make pom-poms.”

Seeing the bottles reminded resident Betty of her time as a young teenager working in an official capacity as a milk tester for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Betty said: “I would visit farms before milk was bottled to test it, and also stop the milkmen to test the bottled milk to make sure it wasn’t diluted! I would often catch them out because the cream was missing from the top of the milk.”

Home Manager at Lonsdale Mews, Toby Sturgess, said: “There’s something exciting about knowing that the home is built just above a piece of local history.

“We’re extremely grateful to Richard from the construction team for providing us with his knowledge and sharing his research into the many interesting bottles he gave to Lonsdale Mews. It’s proven to be a big talking point among residents, including Pat and Betty. We loved hearing them sharing some of the memories Pat made in over 30 years of running her own dairy company, including some great business tips! 

“We’re looking forward to getting the bottles out again for another reminiscence session very soon – and unearth many more resident memories.”

Lonsdale Mews offers full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite. The home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.

To find out more about Lonsdale Mews, please call Customer Relations Manager, Jenny Cartwright, on 01509 801 587, or email jenny.cartwright@careuk.com.

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/lonsdale-mews.