East Grinstead care home takes resident on trip down memory lane to London

Ted, 87, has been a member of the YMCA Club in London for more than 20 years so the Stildon team arranged for him to return there to visit his old gym where he reunited with his friends who attend and work there.

He became a club member after he settled in London, his early life being spent travelling the world.

His father was in the Army so he and his mother followed him after he was posted to ports around South Africa such as Port Elizabeth. They returned to England when he was about 13 just as the bombs were falling in London during World War 2.

Ted left school when he was 18, thought about going into the law, but instead, he decided he wanted to travel more so started working for oil company Esso. He then joined the Royal Navy for 10 years as a purser on passenger ships, before returning to Esso.

While working in London, Ted joined the YMCA in Great Russell Street, just off Tottenham Court Road. He went there almost every day, playing badminton and squash and making many friends with whom he played.

He has been a member of the club for so long now, the organisers decided to make him an honorary member.

“I always had a good time there mixing with everyone and being social. It became half the reason I went there, the other half being to exercise,” Ted said.

After he joined, the female equivalent club was located opposite, so dances were arranged where the women could join them. In the end, the clubs amalgamated to become one club, which Ted thought was an excellent idea.

After the visit, Ted said: “It’s been a really good day. Everyone has had enough time for me to talk to them and I’ve really enjoyed my day.”

Betty Wood, Brendoncare Stildon’s Wellbeing Coordinator, adds: “It was a pleasure to take Ted back to a place which holds so many memories for him. It was a beautiful sunny day and we are so grateful to everyone at the YMCA for making Ted feel so welcome.”

The Brendoncare Foundation, a charitable organisation that provides care homes and community clubs for older people across the south of England, runs Brendoncare Stildon.