Reg is a resident at Hunters Down Care Home in Cambridge and was recently delighted when his wife Joan, made the decision to come and live at the home too.
Joan used to visit Reg regularly before the COVID-19 pandemic, so she knows the home, the other residents and team members well.
Joan and Reg speak very highly of each other and have been married for over 65 years. When asked, they both agreed they would do it all over again.
To learn more about Joan and some of her most memorable moments, Lifestyle and Wellbeing Lead Pearl sat down with her as she was taken on a trip down memory lane.
With Christmas around the corner, Joan started off by sharing some of her favourite festive memories. One of these being the year when she was gifted some red wool and knitting needles. This ignited her passion for knitting, something she still enjoys to this day. Joan said chatting about this with Pearl made her smile, as she could relive the moment she pulled out the knitting needles from her Christmas stocking.
She said herself and Reg used to love Christmas, especially when their children were younger as they used to fill the house with Christmas decorations. She said Christmas seems to be more special when children are around, but even when they grew up and moved out she and reg would still decorate the house.
One tradition they both stuck to throughout the years, was going around to their friend’s house on Christmas eve and wishing them a Merry Christmas.
After discussing their Christmas memories, Joan talked to Pearl about her career and some of her other passions.
The first company Joan worked for was Klingers, a stocking factory where she did the stocktaking. She remembers being asked to model the stockings on occasion and was then able to take them home with her. She then moved to work in the payroll team at Klingers for a short time, before moving on to become a treasurer at the local council.
A passion that she and Reg shared for their whole lives was a love for dogs, particularly, German Shepherds. Together, they owned six in total and taught obedience lessons for Kennel Club showings.
With their own dogs, they would train and enter them into Crufts. Joan laughed as she said one of her dogs was very good in the scent category, but on the day when it mattered, it didn’t go too well. However, there were many other times when they were successful and one year, Joan remembers winning 145 rosettes.
Two of Joan’s treasured possessions are framed pictures of her dogs, Folly and Kerry. She enjoys looking at them and remembering their times together. Reg also has a picture of his beloved dogs in his room, but the picture is printed on a cushion instead.