Basingstoke care home resident's wish to fly comes true

A care home resident in Basingstoke was ‘flying high’ when her wish to pilot a plane again became reality.

When 94-year-old Connie White, a resident at Care UK’s Dashwood Manor on Bradley Way, shared with the team that she had fond memories of flying a plane in her youth and wanted to do so one last time, they set out to make it happen.

In her younger years, Connie worked in the civil service as a Senior Executive Officer, but during the 1980s, she discovered she had an adventurous streak after being flown from Berkshire to Cornwall and back by a former colleague for lunch. This sparked a love for the skies, and soon after, she flew a single-engine plane and went gliding at Lasham Airfield.

The team organised a thrilling experience for Connie, taking her to Blackbushe Airport to fly a plane with the help of Aerobility – a charity that gives people living with a disability the opportunity to pilot an aircraft.

Commenting on the experience, Connie said: “At first I thought they must be mad trusting me to fly the thing – but suddenly we were in the air! The views were fantastic, and I had such a lovely time. The flight was incredibly comfortable and brought back fond memories of past flying adventures.”

The visit formed part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which enables residents to put forward their desire to revisit old hobbies or try something completely new. Whether it’s a fish and chip supper, a skydive or watching a football match, no wish is too big or too small.

Totka Zhelyazkova, Home Manager at Dashwood Manor, said: “We’re passionate about helping residents lead fulfilling lives, so when Connie expressed her desire to fly a plane again, we knew we had to make her dream a reality.

“It was lovely to see Connie reconnect with something that she enjoys and has such fond memories of; she was truly in her element.

“We’d like to say a massive thank-you to the team at Aerobility for making Connie’s wish come true.”

Dashwood Manor is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, with luxury facilities including a café, hair and beauty salon, cinema, pub and gardens. The highly experienced team provides residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care.