Ilkley care home resident’s wish takes centre stage

A care home in Ilkley rolled out the red carpet to give a resident and former actress a true VIP theatre experience. 

When the team at Care UK’s Mayfield View, on Lower Railway Road, learnt that 85-year-old Ann longed to return to the theatre, they were determined to make her wish come true. 

Having performed numerous times on stage in her youth, including shows such as The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and Carousel, Ann has always been a fan of the theatre and wished to get another glimpse into the behind-the-scenes. 

To make her wish a reality, the team at Mayfield View worked with Ilkley Playhouse, where Ann had previously performed, to secure seats for their current showing of Calendar Girls. To make the day extra-special, Ann was also invited to a private backstage tour of the set of the show after the performance. 

During the tour, Ann had the chance to tour the dressing rooms, browse the costumes and set designs, and even took to the stage to get a feel for what it is like performing in the auditorium. 

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.  

Home Manager at Mayfield View, Katie Cliff, has said: “We’re firm believers that moving into a care home shouldn’t mean giving up on the things you love. Theatre has been a very important part of Ann’s life, so we knew how much it’d mean to her to be able to enjoy it again.

“We were delighted to be able to take her on a backstage tour of Ilkley Playhouse. It truly made the day extra special, and watching her face light up as she browsed through costumes and set designs was a joy.

“We are always committed to encouraging residents to lead fulfilling lives, and the wishing tree initiative is central to this. We would like to thank the team at Ilkley Playhouse for inviting us and for making Ann’s wish come true – it was a day to remember!”

Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Mayfield View incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities with its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.