Staff at Vecta House care home in Newport made a green-fingered resident’s dreams come true with a trip to the Chillerton Village Show this Summer.
Right up until the age of 88, Harold, now resident at Vecta House, would tend to the large garden at the family home, he looked after the same garden in Chillerton for 64 years. His daughters remember vividly the colourful garden that was always full of flowers and home grown vegetables.
The garden became Harold’s pride and joy after retiring from his job as a bricklayer. He grew potatoes, onions, runner beans, carrots and peas. In his treasured greenhouse he would sow flower seeds like sweet peas, statice, calendula and he was a prize winner with his beautiful gladioli. Harold enjoyed competing in the local village show where he would often win prizes, medals and cups.
In later life Harold took up judging at other Island shows and became an expert on how to grow veg and flowers to perfection. Harold retired from judging in his late 80s, but would still give advice to whoever needed it. Every July would see the preparation for the village show, a special day for the whole family. Harold loved chatting and exchanging hints and tips with the locals and old friends.
Harold’s children and grandchildren still carry on the tradition each July preparing and organising the village show. In the past year, Harold’s health has deteriorated and he has moved to Vecta House but, happily, outside his bedroom window, there is a raised area of the garden where his family have planted some of his favourite flowers to remind him of his garden at Chillerton.
In July of this year Harold’s daughters were preparing for the show and asked the activities team of Vecta House if it was possible for Harold to attend the village flower show, so everyone jumped on board to organise this special outing.
Tanya Everson, Head of Activities at Vecta House, comments:
“On the day of the show Harold was treated like royalty by the organisers of the show. As he entered the show ground he was greeted by family, friends and fellow judges he had once worked with.
Article continues below this advertisement “Harold enjoyed walking around the tents looking at all the flowers and vegetables on display, giving his opinion on what displays he thought were winners and telling us names of the flowers that surrounded us.
“It was such a pleasure to bring Harold back to something he once loved so much and to see the joy it had brought to both him and his family. It was such a truly special day.”
