Eye care home resident’s knight to remember

A Suffolk care home resident stepped back in time when a special surprise transported him to one of his favourite pastimes.

The team at Care UK's Hartismere Place, on Castleton Way, welcomed members of historical reenactment group Suffolk Swords to grant 79-year-old resident Cliff Nicholson's wish to reconnect with the historical world he once loved.

Before moving into the home, Cliff regularly took part in English Civil War reenactments. However, after losing his leg, he was no longer able to continue with the hobby, making it something he thought he had left behind.

Determined to help Cliff relive those treasured memories, the home’s team invited local reenactment group, Suffolk Swords, to the home for an afternoon of demonstrations and storytelling.

The group’s founder, David Lloyd, was joined by members Karl Nicholson, Maria Nicholson and Erin Jackson, who arrived dressed in full armour. Together, the triumphant foursome treated residents to a mock battle, demonstrating how knights managed to get back on their feet while wearing their remarkably heavy armour, and explaining the careful step-by-step process of removing each piece after combat.

Residents also had the chance to handle one of the group's helmets, giving everyone a feel for the impressive weight which medieval soldiers carried into battle.

Speaking of the experience, Cliff said: “I was delighted by the visit. It was a spectacular afternoon which brought back many happy memories from my days taking part in reenactments.

“I learnt a lot too, even after all my years participating, and I'd love to do it again – perhaps even at the Suffolk Military Show in Ipswich.”

Cliff's experience was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which allows 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. This encourages residents to lead fulfilling lives – from skiing to a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small for the team to try to grant.

Rebecca Calver, Home Manager at Hartismere Place, said: “Learning about Cliff's passion for medieval re-enactment inspired us to see if we could bring a little bit of history to him. It was wonderful to see his face light up as Suffolk Swords arrived in full armour, and the visit sparked many conversations between residents.

“Experiences like this are a great way to celebrate people's interests and create meaningful moments, alongside encouraging residents to try something a little different. Seeing how much it meant for Cliff to reconnect with a hobby he enjoyed for so many years was incredibly rewarding.”

Hartismere Place, rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives. The home provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, and the team also operates a day centre that is open to the community throughout the week.