Newmarket care home resident returns to farming roots

It was all hands to the trough for an 85-year-old former farmer when a Newmarket care home arranged for him to feed the animals once again.

Team members at Care UK’s Kentford Manor, on Jeddah Way in Kennett, pulled out all the stops for resident David after discovering his farming past.

David first began farming at just 12 years old, when his grandfather passed away and he stepped in to help on the family farm.

“Each morning before heading off to school, I would wake up at 5.30am to feed the animals and carry out the daily chores including mucking out on the weekends.”

These fond memories convinced David to hang his wish to go back to the farm on Kentford Manor’s Wishing Tree – a special Care UK initiative that enables residents to revisit old hobbies and passions or try something new.

The care home team answered the call, organising a special visit to Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm.

David was particularly taken with a kid goat named Annie, who was orphaned and needed handfeeding. He was delighted to bottle-feed her, explaining that it brought back vivid memories of looking after animals as a boy.

“Feeding Annie reminded me of my childhood and those early mornings before school when I was responsible for the animals,” David said. “It was my favourite part of the day then, and now it is again.”

Julia Forsyth, Customer Relations Manager at Kentford Manor, said: “When the team heard about David’s lifelong love of farming and his wish to return to the animals, we knew we had to make it happen.

“David was beaming the whole time he was at the farm! Seeing him feed Annie and reconnect with his childhood memories was incredibly moving, and it was clear how much joy being around the animals brings him. It reminded us just how powerful the Wishing Tree initiative can be in creating meaningful experiences that promote wellbeing and bring happy memories to life.

“We’re so grateful to Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm for welcoming David and making his day truly special. We’re already looking into arranging weekly visits so he can continue spending time with Annie and the other animals.”

Kentford Manor provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. 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. The building has been configured into a number of suites to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.