Cheltenham care home serves up ping-pong reunion

Cheltenham

Venue: Sandfields Care Home

Three old friends at a care home in Cheltenham reunited over their love of table tennis with the chance to return to the game.

Harry, Hilary and Caroline, who live at Care UK’s Sandfields on St George’s Road, rediscovered their shared hobby as they took to the table tennis table once again.

Harry established a local table tennis group in Cheltenham 11 years ago, with members from his keep-fit group. Former headteacher Harry quickly recruited Hilary, a retired teacher, along with 12 other members and the group banded together to buy a second-hand table for £400. Caroline joined the group shortly after.

By chance, all three friends now find themselves reunited at Sandfields care home. The home team thought it only right to mark the reunited friends with some games of table tennis to reignite everyone’s competitive spirit.

All three were surprised by how quickly their skills came back to them.

Harry said: “It was great to play again, and it brought back fond memories.

Hilary added: “I would love to start up a new league.”

The team at Sandfields are now working to bring table tennis sessions to the home on a regular basis by starting up a league in the Winter months and would like to encourage any local groups who could help with this to get in touch. 

The experience was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to suggest ideas for 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.

Malaika Charles, Home Manager at Sandfields, said: “We were absolutely delighted to bring table tennis back to Harry, Hilary and Caroline. Seeing them light up while holding a bat again was wonderful.

“The three have so many memories of playing table tennis with friends to keep active and it was lovely to hear them reminisce on times gone by. It wouldn’t surprise me if more residents spotted the fun and wanted to join in – Hilary may get her wish for a new league after all!”

Sandfields is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The building incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and café.

For more information on Sandfields, please call Customer Relations Manager David Blake on 01242 808 034, email david.blake@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/sandfields

 

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