Combs Ford Primary School

During the Christmas period of December 2020, we asked their pupils if they would be so kind to send letters to the residents at Chilton Meadows. In the early period of December, they were overwhelmed by all the Christmas letters they had received from us. The activities team equally distributed these lovely Christmas letters amongst the residents, after leaving them in isolation following the Government guidelines at the time.

When the residents received these beautiful heart felt letters that brought them joy and boosted their spirits especially since being in Lockdown and unable to see their own loved ones unless under certain circumstances during the festive period leading and not until Government lifted restrictions after the New Year of 2021.

One of the residents, Rosemary, responded to the letter she was provided with, as they had a return address for residents to reach out and speak to someone new to prevent the feeling of loneliness with their fond community. Nadin, aged 10, was extremely happy when she received a letter back from Rosemary, one of Chiltons residents. They since then have become penpals, sending and receiving letters weekly. Nadin took up a new hobby of crocheting, where she self-taught herself different patterns while school was shut. Nadin sent a crochet flower within one of her responses to Rosemary knowing that Rosemary hobby is flower planting.

Rosemary has educated Nadin about peg feeding and why she has one, and she also arranged with Mary a staff member here at Chilton to purchase an easter egg and for Mary to deliver it to Nadin two days before easter. Nadin and her mother Monica arranged a surprise visit to meet Rosemary for the first time. Rosemary was overwhelmed and totally surprised when a staff member Robert knocked on her door to inform her that Nadin is on site and would like to see her. Rosemary shot up at the chance and set off to the garden where Nadin, her little sister and mother Monica were.

Nadin got a present for Rosemary, knowing that Rosemary is unable to eat due to her peg feed and knowing her hobby is flower arranging and planting, she brought a beautiful bunch of flowers. Nadin was also overwhelmed and seeing Rosemary brought a tear to her eye. She was who she thought she would be and loved being able to put a face to the person. Nadin since has changed her view on care homes and was happy to see residents being able to be independent and still be able to get involved with their hobbies. They arranged to see each other again in the summer holiday and still stay in contact.

Well done Nadin!