Poole resident surprised with special visitors

A care home resident received a surprise visit from some very special four-legged friends.

The team at Care UK’s The Potteries, on York Road, organised for two donkeys to trot into the home to visit resident Phil Moore, aged 74, and help bring back happy memories from his time spent at Weymouth Beach.

Phil had told team members all about his fond memories of watching the donkeys giving rides to small children every day from his beach hut shop in Weymouth. Phil took over the shop in 1971, which he ran with his wife Sue. 

The couple, who also met for the first time on Weymouth Beach, were married in 1976 and went on to have three children, who also enjoyed being taken for donkey rides on the beach in their younger years. 

After hearing how much Phil loved the donkeys, the team arranged for Annie and Dainty from Westhill Donkey Farm, who currently provide donkey rides on Weymouth Beach, to visit the home. 

Commenting on the visit, Phil said: “It brought back a lot of memories of my time on the beach.”

The visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new – from flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Zita Turner, Home Manager at The Potteries, added: “Phil loves to tell us all about his days running the beach hut, watching the donkeys, and lovely story of how he met his wife Sue on the beach too.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a wonderful way for residents to relive old memories and experience things that are meaningful to them. It’s hugely rewarding for everyone at the home when we can make these wishes a reality. Being able to reunite Phil with two of the donkeys who currently give rides on the beach was a wonderful moment that brought back many happy memories. 

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to Westhill Donkey Farm for bringing Annie and Dainty to the home, and to the team here at The Potteries who helped make this possible.” 

The Potteries has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives in a luxury environment. The home provides full-time residential care, nursing care, dementia care and respite care and also boast plenty of space – both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.