Residents from Old Charlton House, in Cowes, recently went sailing, made possible by 2 charities – WetWheels, in Hamble and Cowes Sailability, via the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.
It took many of the residents back to the days when they were able to sail their boats and enjoy life at sea. Many shared beautiful memories of that time. One of the residents, Joy, worked for celebrated boat designer Uffa Fox, and she recalled that he gifted her with a boat which she loved to sail.
16 residents took to the seas and thoroughly enjoyed their experiences. The weather smiled on us and was glorious without being too hot.
One group went out to sea and sailed as far as Ryde Pier and had a great view of Osborne House and the surrounding coastline.
The residents asked if anyone wanted to pilot the boat once we were out at sea, there was only one volunteer. “Captain” Tony was delighted to pilot the boat, and looked very dapper in his captains hat, which he had to wear as he was in charge!
The second group had a leisurely jaunt down the River Medina and loved seeing the way that the coastline had changed over the years since their sailing days.
Joanie and her husband Adrian shared their trip and their daughter, Karen, was so thrilled she said, “That is so wonderful to see. They both look so happy and so glad that they could do this experience together. Thank you so much for giving my parents such happiness and enjoyment”.
Resident, Brenda, said:
“It is a lovely different thing to do and we see all sorts of things as we go down the river”.
Activity Coordinator, Debbie Webb, said:
“What wonderful experiences they have had, I can’t thank the volunteers from both charities enough. They give our residents the opportunity to relive a life gone by and watching the joy and magic in their faces is just so uplifting”.
