Hythe care home resident makes cocoa comeback

A resident at a care home in Hythe enjoyed a sweet return to work aged 74 as her wish was made a reality.

 

When team members at Care UK’s Carpathia Grange, on Southampton Road, learned that retired chocolatier Shirley Sawle was keen to revisit her former place of work, they were determined to make it happen.

The team at Beaulieu Chocolate Factory welcomed Shirley back with open arms and invited her to craft a few chocolate bars to take home – a sweet souvenir of her visit.

Speaking about her nostalgic experience, Shirley said: “I was very happy to visit my old place of work, to see how much had changed and remembering all my time there.”

Shirley hung up her apron in 2006, retiring from the chocolate industry after five rich and rewarding years. During her “chocolate years”, Shirley would oversee ingredients and often craft silky ganache for a range of sweet treats – something she loved the most.

One of her finest career moments was in 2004, when Shirley and her team entered into the Fine Food Oscars – a three-day contest held at Olympia London. They won silver and bronze awards for their mouthwatering rum-and-raisin truffles, which were covered in milk chocolate, and their vanilla truffles respectively.

The special visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put their dreams forward and allow them to reconnect with a past career or hobby or try something completely new.

Jodie Farr, Home Manager at Carpathia Grange, said: “It was great to see Shirley reconnect with her former career as a chocolatier. She loved meeting the new team and seeing how much her old work had changed since hanging up her apron.  

“At Carpathia Grange, we love to support residents’ wellbeing with trips that are important to them, especially those that encourage reminiscence. Activities that bring back happy memories are incredibly beneficial for older people, as they can help maintain their identity through reconnecting with their past achievements and experiences.

“I would like to extend a big thank you to the team at Beaulieu Chocolate Studio for welcoming Shirley back – she was truly in her element and loved every minute.”

Carpathia Grange is a three-storey care home that provides residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. It features 62 en-suite bedrooms and has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for leisure activities and hobbies, and includes its own cinema, hair salon and pub.