92-year-old Sutton care home resident is riding high

A lifelong London bus enthusiast has enjoyed a nostalgic ride down memory lane at the London Heritage Bus Festival.

92-year-old Beryl Haines, a resident at Care UK’s Tennyson Grange on Westmead Road, has always been interested in transport of all modes, and in particular, the old London buses which hold a special place in her heart.

Beryl said: “The trip meant so much because of the memories it brought back when my husband and I were courting.

“We used the 213 buses to travel backwards and forwards to see each other during our romance. We originally met at a dance in the Merton Public Hall.”

The team at Tennyson Grange worked together to organise a trip for Beryl and fellow residents Maureen Atkins and Ian Black to attend the London Heritage Bus Festival and cast their eyes once again on the vintage buses, and ride on the 213 green single decker bus from 1936 along the old route.

A true Londoner, Beryl has fond memories of catching the old 213 bus back and forth between Sutton and Kingston, first with friends, then later on with her husband, John Charles Haines, who she married in 1956.

Beryl added: “It brought back memories of traveling on the 213 to Kingston early every Monday morning to go to the market to buy scraps of fabrics. I would always go to the same market stall as he would save me fabrics for the toys I made for charity.

“I think it’s amazing these wonderful old buses are still going strong, just like me!”

Beryl’s experience was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers. From skiing trips to a fish and chip supper, the programme is designed to help residents lead fulfilling lives.

Harriet Mensah-Mandley, Home Manager at Tennyson Grange, said: “Beryl is so passionate about all things transport and it’s so lovely that we have been able to give her this special day out to enjoy herself. 

“It’s incredibly important to us that residents live independent and rewarding lives and that they have opportunities to reminisce by reconnecting with hobbies. The iconic 213 bus holds a very special place in her heart, and it was brilliant to hear her memories of decades gone by.

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the London Bus Museum and the Tennyson Grange team for helping make Beryl’s wish come to life.”

Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Tennyson Grange incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the home has been configured to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents, and it has its very own cinema, hair and beauty salon and café.