Care home reunites former biker with his restored motorbike

A care home resident had an afternoon fuelled with memories from his time as a biker – after his best friend surprised him by restoring his old motorbike.

John Snow, a resident at Care UK’s Martlet Manor, on Butlers Green Road, was thrilled to be reunited with his old motorbike after his best friend completely restored it to its former glory. 

After learning that John’s friend, David, was restoring his old bike, the team at Martlet Manor put their ideas into gear and planned for John and his motorbike to be reunited at their annual barbecue – so that everyone could admire John’s vintage masterpiece.  

On the day, John, who hadn’t seen his motorbike in years, was surprised to find his prized possession awaiting him outside among the festivities. John spent the afternoon showing off his vintage Velocette motorbike to the other residents, and to his family and friends. 

John enjoyed talking about his favourite memories riding the motorbike around the countryside, explaining that for 18 years, alongside his wife, they would bike to Liverpool, where they caught the ferry to the Isle of Man, to watch the TT Ralley.

Sarah Barrett, Home Manager at Martlet Manor, said: “We were delighted that we could host such a magical afternoon for John, which provided him with an opportunity to reminisce on his time spent as a motorcyclist. I would like to say a huge thank you to David, as it wouldn’t have been possible without his incredible engineering skills. 

“At Martlet Manor, we regularly create thoughtful activities and events that promote positive wellbeing for residents. The whole team look forward to learning more about the wonderful experiences the residents have enjoyed throughout their lives and creating imaginative activities that build on their talents.

“It was wonderful to see the smile on John’s face when he first saw his old bike – the team loved hearing all about the spectacular adventures they had been on together and look forward to the bike returning to Martlet Manor very soon.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, the new care home, which opened its doors in late October 2021, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. 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.