Member Article

Dominos and tiddlywinks bring the ages together at The Croft care home in Finchfield

Memories of hopscotch and skipping were rediscovered by residents at a Finchfield care home when young friends from St Bartholomew’s CE primary school in Penn came to play.

The six year olds from the Sedgely Road school enjoyed games of dominos and trying out a kaleidoscope with residents at The Croft care home, and were thrilled to meet a Sweep glove puppet from the 1960s and ‘70s children’s TV series, The Sooty Show.

The event, organised by the home’s activity coordinator, Paul Hipwood, was the first time since the COVID pandemic that children have been able to visit.

“We’ve really missed children being part of life here at The Croft and it was lovely to see everyone having so much fun together,” he said. “It was great for our residents to be able to tell the children all about a time before electronics and tablets, and how they used to play.”

The Croft, on Castlecroft Road, provides residential and nursing care for up to 24 residents and is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.

As well as reminiscence being a source of comforting memories, sharing their knowledge and telling the children things they didn’t know, was empowering for residents like 84 year-old Peta Wilkinson. She fascinated the children with her memories of playing with a wooden spinning top.

“We used to chalk the rope in different colours, so when it was spinning the dust came off in a colourful cloud,” she remembers. “The children thought that was amazing!”

Old and young were brought together over games of jacks and glove puppets, brought to the event by Roy Simmons from family-run Windsor Avenue Toys in Penn.

“We do still sell skipping ropes and hula hoops, but most toys are much more sophisticated these days,” he said. “How lovely it was to see the children so engaged at the event and how they loved the traditional toys. It was great to see the residents’ eyes light up remembering what fun they had playing with them when they themselves were little.”

For Jeanne Jones, 93, it was skipping that she loved.

“I used to skip in the playground with my friends,” she recalled. “We did it in all different ways, and even with two ropes going in opposite directions. It was a challenge to stay on your feet!”

During their visit, the children also performed songs for the residents and shared their reading books with them.

“It was the best day of my life!” declared six year old Kara Jones. Classmate, Louis Thomas, also had a wonderful time with his new friends. “I want to go back and see them again,” he said, “it was so much fun!”

The residents are looking forward to the youngsters next visit and hearing if hopscotch has made a reappearance on the playground at St Bartholomew’s.

“We did enjoy your company. Thank you for such a marvellous event,” said 88 year old Brian Deacon. “You did your school proud.”

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