“Even though it was freezing, we were happy”
Older people across the country are warming up hearts this winter with their blend of nostalgia and good humour.
From beloved ponies and homemade ice-cream to walking on the Thames and the Big Freeze, by sharing their memories of winters gone by, residents of Greensleeves Care are having a therapeutic and heartwarming impact on their local communities.
Janet Hunt, 92, who lives in Kingston House, Wiltshire recalled: “We used to slide down the hills. We had a lot of fun, but mostly I remember my pony Jacko. Dad built a big shed in the field so that Jacko would be able to get out of the cold and snow.
“My Mum would give me a big crust of bread to take down to Jacko. I would run up to the field and put my hands around my mouth and shout his name and he would come running. I would give him the bread and he gobbled it up as if it were chocolate. “Then he would put his head on my shoulder and I put my arms around his neck and said ‘I love you Jacko’. If I sit and close my eyes I can still feel my Dad’s arms around me lifting me up to put me on Jacko’s back.”
Janet Hunt
Ninety-four-year-old Nell Peters grew up in India, but now lives in The Briars in Sandown on the Isle of Wight:
“We lived in Ranchi which was a military area. It was really cold even though it was India. I can remember homemade ice cream at Christmas time. The milk and sugar mixture were put in a container inside another container that looked a bit like a fire extinguisher and that would be rolled around outside on the floor and it would freeze in the container.”
Nell Peters
Happy winter memories are also being shared by residents in De Lucy House in Diss, Norfolk.
Katie Hart, 81, said: “During The Big Freeze in 1962-63, I was 10-years-old and lived in London with my parents and two brothers. It was the coldest on record and lasted for several weeks. I remember the River Thames freezing and the children being able to walk on it, the ice was so thick. There was no traffic on the roads and the schools were closed – it was great!”
Katie Hart
John Elliott, 90, remembers having a lot more snow than there is today. At four years old, he saw foot-long icicles hanging down and said he used to break them off and eat them.
He recalled: “We used to go to bed with overcoats over our blankets to try and keep warm. Even though it was freezing, we were happy.”
John Elliot
And ninety-two-year-old Stella Hunter’s memory goes back to 1936 when she had snowball fights and built snowmen with her two brothers. She said: “My mum used to put our clothes in between the blankets to warm them up for when we got dressed.”
The residents’ memories have been making waves on social media. People have shared comments including “absolutely love this” and even their own memories including, “Winter 67-68 lots of snow and walking down the road with my first proper boyfriend!!!!! Our village was cut off by snowdrifts, but we didn’t care!”, said one local Diss resident. There have even been suggestions to pull the collection into a book.
Stella Hunter
Paul Newman, Chief Executive of leading not-for-profit care provider, Greensleeves Care said: “We know winter can be a hard season for many, but it is also a time to cosy up with others, to care and feel cared for – the memories of our residents speak powerfully to that. At their core, they are stories of joy and togetherness.”
Research by Greensleeves Care revealed that 62% of adult in England are more concerned about the welfare of older relatives and friends in winter, and that one in two give more assistance to older loved ones during the cold season with activities such as shopping, social visits and household tasks.
To support people across the country, Greensleeves Care’s winter Warmth of Care campaign includes free online resources and advice as well as a Big Warm Up day on Saturday 25 January where homes will open their doors to local communities all over the UK.
The free, open day will shine a light on care, celebrating all those who care for others and help families explore extra support this season.
Paul continues: “Winter is an opportunity to spot for growing care needs and for looking into solutions in good time. We’re here for families concerned about older loved ones this season.
“Warmth of Care and our Big Warm Up open day offer families the chance to experience the joy and humanity that exists in our care settings and get practical information that can help inform decision-making around care now or in future.”
If you’d like more tips and advice on how to help older adults in your life to stay warm and well this winter, you can explore free resources at www.greensleeves.org.uk/WarmthOfCare
To find out more about Big Warm Up near you, visit www.greensleeves.org.uk/BigWarmUp