Chichester care home resident revisits castle he helped build

A Chichester care home resident returned to a historic site he had helped to build more than 50 years ago. 

When the team at Care UK’s Kings Lodge, in Bosham, learned that resident Roger, 87, wanted to revisit a project close to his heart, they were eager to help bring back memories.

The team arranged a special visit to Portchester Castle, a site Roger had worked on in 1973 as a subcontractor, where he helped to build a meeting room and turrets for St Mary’s Church within the castle grounds. He also played a role in constructing vicarages nearby, including one on Castle Street in Portchester and another in East Meon in 1985. The area holds deep personal significance, representing many years spent doing the work he loved.

During the visit, Roger was given a tour of the castle and the building he had helped create, which has since been transformed into a tearoom. The experience gave him the opportunity to share his own memories of the site, how it looked at the time and recounting stories from his days on the project, including fond memories of a vicar he got to know along the way. 

Roger said: “Going back to the site was a chance for me to revisit a really important chapter of my life. The visit made me feel both happy and emotional. It’s wonderful to see that as time has passed, something I helped create is still being enjoyed by the local community today.”

Sajila Mano, Home Manager at Kings Lodge, said: “It was so special to see Roger reconnect with such an important part of his life. He speaks with such pride and passion about his work, and we love hearing all his stories about the places he’s been and the people he’s met along the way.

“At Kings Lodge we believe moving into a care home shouldn’t mean leaving your old life behind, and we know how important memories from their younger years are to residents. . Helping Roger revisit Portchester Castle is a wonderful example of how we support those connections. He was smiling throughout the visit, and it was incredibly moving to see how much it meant to him.

“I’d also like to thank the team at Portchester Castle for their warm welcome and for helping make the day so memorable!”

Kings Lodge has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite and palliative care.