Trip down memory lane – Cheadle care home resident visits renovated monastery after decades away

A care home in Cheadle made a resident’s wish to revisit a favourite place from childhood come true.

Marion Dale, aged 92, a resident at Care UK’s Abney Court, in Abney Hall Park, first visited the Gorton Monastery when she was 12 for an opera performance from Gilbert & Sullivan, and always wished to go back.

As part of the wishing tree initiative, the team at Abney Court encourage residents to submit wishes, no matter how big or small, whether they’re related to something they’ve never been able to do, or something they’d like to do again. 

The breathtaking Gorton Monastery, in Manchester, also known as the Church and Friary of St Francis, was built in the late 19^th century, before being restored in 2007.

Upon hearing about her unique wish to visit the restored monastery, the team at Abney Court decided to get in touch with Gorton Monastery to organise a special visit to make Marion’s wish come true.

On the day, the home arranged for Marion to be able to explore the Gorton Monastery in its new glory, giving her the opportunity to revisit the secular parts of the interior she had seen as a young girl. The visit brought back fond memories for her as she spent hours chatting about how it had once looked.

Marion said: “It was lovely to see the monastery restored and the architecture was amazing – the building took my breath away! It brought back such happy memories and I can’t wait to go back again.”

Andrew McIntyre, Home Manager at Abney Court, said: “We had a wonderful time visiting the spectacular Gorton Monastery, and Marion loved every minute of it.

“Marion is very knowledgeable about the building, and talks fondly of her memories of visiting it as a child. The beauty of the Gorton Monastery always struck her – and having her be able to revisit after so many years was truly special.

“The whole team worked hard to organise the trip and we’re delighted we were able to make this happen – the joy in her eyes when she recognised the building from her childhood said it all.”

Abney Court 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 and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

To find out more about Abney Court, email Pamela Wilson, Customer Relations Manager at pamela.wilson@careuk.com or call 0161 660 5713.

For more general information about Abney Court, please visit careuk.com/abney-court.