MALCOLM & DORIS PALMER
Malcolm and Doris Palmer spent the weekend in Taunton at a family wedding – and found their perfect home while they were here.
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MAIS & BILL HARRIS
Mais and Bill Harris love their retirement village lifestyle so much, they’ve bought again – this time at Blagdon Village in Taunton.
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JAYNE CAMPBELL
Having spent 50 years of her colourful life in Australia, Artist, Jayne Campbell has returned home and found the perfect place in which to retire on the Roseland Peninsula.
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PATRICK DRENNAN
The Dublin street where Patrick Drennan lived was changing. The neighbours he’d known for years were moving out. Young people – strangers – were moving in. The once bustling pavements were deserted during the day. No one had time to chat.
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ANN AYRES
Having viewed retirement properties she didn’t like, Ann Ayres had a very good idea what she was looking for. And she found it at Roseland Parc Retirement Village during a weekend stay on the Try Before You Buy scheme.
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JOAN PALMER
Mrs Joan Palmer rented her new home before taking the plunge and moving lock stock and barrel.
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MARY LANGFORD & MARY EAGLING
When Mary Langford bumped into her new neighbour at The Minstrels it proved a blast from the past. Mary recognised Mary Eagling from their days – and nights – in dance halls around Boston.
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ELSIE HILDRED
Elsie moved to her two bedroom ground floor apartment at The Minstrels three years ago. She retains her independence while enjoying living in a community of like-minded people.
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KATHLEEN GABRIEL
Kathleen Gabriel was a regular visitor to The Minstrels before she moved in – visiting her sister Thelma. “I had a big house and garden but it became too much to manage,” said Kathleen.
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JOHN & MARY SPALDING
John and Mary Spalding moved to Thamesfield in 2005. They are both in their 80s and Mr Spalding is chairman of the village Residents’ Association. Recently, Mr Spalding put pen to paper to explain the reasons why he and his wife decided to settle at Thamesfield.
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BOB LOWMAN
"After my wife died I spent a very lonely year in our house. Since moving to Cedars Village I have been astonished, not only at the beauty of the place and facilities available, but the kindness I’ve received from residents and also the management.
"I have made many friends and although I have been here a relatively short time, I now regard it as my home."
INA HOPKINS
"When we moved to Cedars Village we found we had bought not just a bungalow but a way of life. You can be as active or as laid back as you wish but there will always be a smile and a welcoming hand."
MAUREEN BURR
"When I made the decision to ‘downsize’ and first viewed Cedars Village I knew at once this was the place to be and was exactly what I was looking for.
"I have had no regrets about the move. It is indeed a wonderful environment to live in, you have your independence but are never lonely. The large house is a wonderful social club.
"The great thing is not to leave the moving challenge too late – move while you are still fit and able. I did!"
DOROTHY & RAY WOOLDRIDGE
"We have lived very happily in Cedars Village for over 10 years. It’s a place where you need never feel lonely. We meet people in the shop, or in the bar or at coffee mornings. We also have a lovely conservatory where we can make coffee or tea and meet friends and neighbours – an ideal place to live."
DON EKE & BRENDA JENNINGS
"The first thing we thought of was were we ready to move to a beautiful retirement village such as this, or were we too young?
"We soon realised there was no need to have worried with all the many varied activities that go on here to help us fulfil our retirement.
"To find all this plus meeting a whole new circle of friends was really too good to be true, but happily for us it is true!"
BRENDA WHITE & KEN WALKER
"As a couple or a single person there is plenty of social life, if so desired, or little to do, if that’s the way you like it.
"House and garden maintenance is a thing of the past so, relax in the atmosphere of a unique environment and when you go away, have peace of mind knowing your home is safe and secure.
"There is a secret to living at Castle Village – come while you can enjoy what it has to offer. Get some ‘me time’ and love it!"
ANN MCLARTY
"I have lived in the village since 2003 and feel very fortunate in being able to enjoy its many attractive facilities, a secure environment and a friendly atmosphere in beautiful surroundings where you can lead as social or private a life as you like."
DOUGIE BENSON
"It is easy living with security, convenience, comfort, beauty and friendship. It is a very uplifting place."
PAT AND LESLEY SAYERS
"From the day we arrived in 2007 we experienced a welcoming atmosphere within a mutually supportive community, and have gained many new friends and interests. We were quickly drawn in to village life, but without feeling any sense of pressure.
"Village activities are conceived and organised by residents through an active Residents’ Association, and include group visits and holidays. The mix of activities evolves with the changing population.
"It has certainly worked for us, but anyone contemplating such a move should bear in mind two things – do it whilst you are still active and, if you have a partner don’t wait until you are by yourself."
TED MOONEY
“My daughter lives in Honiton and she used to come by every day on her way to work at Sidmouth and she said ‘Dad they are building some new bungalows up the road would you like to see them?’ I said yes and came up and liked the setting. Having lived in London with noise, smog, and smoke all my life this place was unbelievable. I fell in love with it.
“It’s nice and everybody is nice and friendly, we get on well. I have some very, very close friends, but I won’t mention them by names in case it embarrasses them!
“The best part of living here I think is the tranquillity, when you want to rest and you want peace and quite you’ve got it, absolutely. All you can hear are the birds singing.
“I was the first person to move here, my bungalow is in a wonderful position, I get the sun first thing in the morning and right to the very last thing at night, a great spot.
“It’s a nice situation all round. You are near the local town, and if you don’t have your own transport there’s a minibus that goes to Honiton twice a week and then midweek goes to Seaton and Sidmouth. What more could you want when you’re retired? Its absolutely idyllic.”
MARY AND SID JERROME
“We moved from Cornwall where we had lived for 23 years. This is our 11th move and I hope it’s the last. Cornwall is beautiful but we had a bungalow, it was too big really and we couldn’t manage the garden, we couldn’t cut the grass. Then our son found this village on the internet.
“In Cornwall we had a big garden so we needed somewhere like this, open and beautiful. When we saw it we fell in love with it straight away so that’s where we’ve settled.
“We’ve made a lot of friends. We are very contented and the dog’s happy, that’s the main thing!
“What we like is the fact we have the support from the house if we need it. In Cornwall, we felt we were so on our own, there were neighbours but you can’t always depend on neighbours to help you in the middle of the night if you need it, and that’s what worried our son.
“There is always something going on in the house like coffee mornings and that’s nice because you all get together.
“We have had one or two friends come from Cornwall and they can’t get over how beautiful it is.”
DONALD AND DORRIE STREETON
“We lived in South Cadbury near Yeovil. It was a lovely village but there were no shops whatsoever. It was fine, I had the car and there was no problem but then the time came when we needed to make further plans. I said to Dorrie I was getting to the stage where I was going to pack the car in and we must think about getting somewhere close to amenities.
“We moved here and we have to say, we are far more active here, we get out and about a lot more. Our daughters say we can’t just call in on you, we don’t know when you’re going to be there. It’s made all the difference being here and I suppose it sounds silly but it makes you feel younger when you start going out and doing things.
“I started to think that if I departed I would feel happy to leave Dorrie here as there is plenty of support. The village manager, Carol, comes to see you straight away if you’re poorly. It is ideal – you have independent living but with the back-up and support if you want it.”