Maidstone care home takes resident back to beloved church and tennis club

A 98-year-old resident at a care home in Maidstone has had her wish granted with a special visit to two places that have played an important role throughout her life.

Marjorie Gibson, who lives at Care UK’s Invicta Court on Gidds Pond Way, was treated to a memorable day out after the team learned about her heartfelt wish to revisit Holy Cross Church in Bearsted, and Bearsted & Thurnham Tennis Club.

Both locations hold a special place in Marjorie’s heart. She married her husband, Jack, at Holy Cross Church on July 16th, 1954, when she was 26 years old, and the church later became the setting for family christenings and many treasured family moments with daughters Sally and Julia.

Meanwhile, the tennis club was a significant part of Marjorie and Jack’s social life for many years. Alongside several other local couples, including her brother Geoffrey Pearce and sister-in-law Evelyn, they helped found Bearsted & Thurnham Tennis Club and attended the very first meeting to establish the club more than 70 years ago.

On her special visit, Marjorie travelled through Bearsted, sharing her vivid memories of the village with the team. As they passed familiar streets and landmarks, she told stories from her childhood and reflected on how the area had changed over the years.

When she arrived at Holy Cross Church, Marjorie spent time reminiscing about some of the most significant moments in her life.

Marjorie said: “The church was just the same, except for the pews; I wouldn’t have changed them, but it brought back lovely memories.”

She fondly pointed out where she and her family would sit during services, admired her favourite stained-glass window depicting the lost sheep, and enjoyed listening to the organ being played before taking a quiet moment to say a prayer.

The day continued at the tennis club, where Marjorie received a warm welcome from members past and present. She was delighted to discover that the clubhouse remained much as she remembered, including the bar where she and Jack served drinks together every Tuesday evening.

Marjorie spent time chatting with club members, sharing memories, and reading through familiar names on the honour’s boards. She also recalled a particularly memorable New Year’s Day when she, Jack, Sally and Julia braved the winter weather for a game of tennis that was “great fun but very cold”.

She said: “I was worried it would be so different but felt relieved to see that it wasn’t. It was like stepping back in time. I enjoyed it all immensely, especially meeting all the people and seeing those making use of all my hard work.”

Before leaving, club members surprised Marjorie with a beautiful bouquet of roses and a thoughtful card.

Marjorie’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.

Sara Barbosa, Home Manager at Invicta Court, said: “We were delighted to make Marjorie’s wish come true.

“Visiting Holy Cross Church and Bearsted & Thurnham Tennis Club brought back so many cherished memories from throughout her life, and it was wonderful to see her sharing stories from her childhood, marriage, and years at the tennis club.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a wonderful way for residents to reconnect with the people, places and experiences that mean so much to them, and it was incredibly rewarding to see how much this day meant to Marjorie.”

Invicta Court offers full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care, in luxurious surroundings. The home has its very own hair and beauty salon, bar and cinema room, and the highly trained team delivers an excellent standard of personalised care.