Phil Chaney (70) and his wife Jan (73) decided to swap a pretty coastal village in Spain for a leafy village in Surrey and couldn’t be happier with their decision to move back to the UK. Phil is a retired Aviation Manager, a…
Paul Zetter moved into Elmbridge Village in March 2019 is delighted with his new one-bedroom apartment. Originally from the East End of London, Paul enjoyed a colourful life leaving public school in 1941 to join the British army, where he served for…
Helen and Mike Aveline moved into Lime Tree Village just a few months ago after spending the last eighteen years travelling around the world. Retiring at 60, the couple who are both 78, have really enjoyed life to the full and do not…
Laurie Cook has done his fair share of moving around since his wife passed away nearly a decade ago. Laurie takes up his story: “I’ve moved around a lot since I lost my wife and I needed a place where I had other…
There are many misconceptions about retirement villages, one of them being you actually have to be retired to live in one. But some of Elmbridge Village’s newest residents are certainly challenging this stereotype. Full-time workers and residents Both aged 64, Jane and Gordon…
Former civil servant Maureen Baxter had her daughter on hand to help her research her next retirement move. She opted to rent a two bedroom apartment at Elmbridge Village. Maureen said: “In today’s economic climate, I wasn’t prepared to buy. I’m 79 now,…
Lime Tree Village, in Dunchurch, is more familiar to new residents 84-year-old Maurice and 86-year-old Patricia Green, than most villagers. Maurice explained: “I was the chairman on the Dunchurch Parish Council when some space became available for a new development. “It used to…
After Irene Heckle fell ill and is now permanently in a wheelchair, her husband, Desmond, knew their three-bedroom detached bungalow was no longer going to work for them. Desmond, 85, and Irene Heckle, 89, originally from Yorkshire, have been living in Honiton, in…
Both retired and in their seventies, couple Barbara, a former teacher, and Brian Radesk, an engineer, decided they needed to think about what their next move would be. Originally from Yorkshire but living in Burbage in Leicestershire for the last twenty-seven years –…
Ann Phillips moved to Guildford with her family in 1965. Once their children had grown up and left home, Ann and her husband moved into a two–bedroom flat in Burpham. After the passing of Ann’s husband, she realised she was living too far away from her…
After over three decades in the same house, Dr and Mrs Finnegan decided to move for an easier life when Dr David Finnegan developed a lung condition. David & Jeny Finnegan, both 71, previously lived in a detached house in Holmbury St Mary…
Don’t leave it until it’s too late and you’re too old, says Elmbridge resident. David Thomas, who formerly worked in industrial relations, decided it was time to downsize and move into a more manageable property after the death of his wife. In the…
‘Try Before You Buy’ stay offered Lady Barclay the perfect insight into retirement village life. Before moving to Avonpark, in Wiltshire, 90-year-old Lady Barclay lived in Bath for 20 years. She worked many of her years as a psychotherapist and had three children with her husband. She was married to…
The varied living options at Avonpark means this resident can live closely to his wife whilst she receives the care she needs. After living in Sutton for 51 years and then moving to a care-home in Croydon, 87-year-old Michael Dolbear and his wife…
“Moving here has created peace of mind,” says resident. After working in HR for 14 years, living in a gorgeous flat overlooking the River Thames in Kingston Upon Thames for 35 years, one experience prompted 69-year-old Marilyn Jones to move to a retirement village, in June. Marilyn’s former neighbour, a woman in her 80s, hit…
The reassurance of care on-site and being close to family were the key factors for John Kidwell and his wife Peggy when they moved to Charters Village three years ago. John and Peggy previously lived in a large four-bedroom house in Woking, Surrey which had been their family…
Bob and Marion Butler spent many years retired in the South of England but finally decided to move back to Warwickshire to be closer to family. The couple originally met in Coventry when Bob (87) worked as a maintenance manager for Renault and…
Apartment living is the perfect situation for Ann Romaine who moved into Moat Park two and a half years ago and feels right at home. Ann and her late husband Brian lived in The Rodings, Essex, in a large five-bedroom house with a…
Buying an apartment off-plan was the perfect solution for Sir Moray and Lady Stewart who relocated from Fife to be closer to family. Retired couple Sir Moray and Lady Stewart recently moved into Arun House, to a beautiful two-bedroom ground floor apartment in…
Steve and Jenny Lawrence are pleased to call Lime Tree Village their forever home after moving into the village this July. The couple met online in 2004 embarking on a very modern courtship with lots of phone calls before finally meeting up, after…
Prue Wescombe met her husband Tony whilst working in a bank in London. The pair lived a very fulfilling life together, raising two children; one boy and one girl in several places around the country, finally settling in a large family home in…
Ken and Brenda Walker met in 1981 whilst they were both working at a sound system company. Both were very career minded and excelled in their roles, enjoying fantastic travel opportunities to Japan, Tokyo and America. Ken was even given an MBE from…
Wolsey and Merrill Jameson first met in their student years at Queen’s University Belfast; Wolsey was studying engineering, while Merrill was also immersed in her studies. After graduating, the young couple lived in Northern Ireland, before their careers saw them moving across the…
After his father became ill with dementia and his mobility was significantly reduced following a hip operation, Michael O’Connor felt his parents should consider moving, and somewhere closer to his home in Bath would be ideal. John (86) and Rosemary (79) O’Connor were…
“Make the move as young as possible so you can enjoy this unique retirement lifestyle for as long as possible” says Marian Walter, a resident living at Elmbridge Village. Marian Walter lived in the Wimbledon area for 25 years prior to moving to…
Marjory Derrick and her friend Norman have been close friends for over 30 years and rather amazingly they have lived next door to each other twice before. First in WestHill when their respective spouses were alive, and then later, in neighbouring apartments in…
Moving to Gittisham Hill Park to be closer to her family was the perfect solution for Mrs Evelyn Brighton after her husband passed away. Now she has been living at the village for the past seven years and is only six miles from…
Former Trowbridge science teacher John Phillips opted for Avonpark Village over Bath when it came to choosing his retirement apartment in 2014. His reasoning – he needed parking for his visiting friends and family! A keen socialiser, John (71) has the best of…
“A home for then, now and the future” says resident who has called Elmbridge Village her home for the last six years. A former maths and science teacher, Margaret Franklin lived with her husband, a hotel manager in Croydon for many happy years….
German by birth. Found love in Cambridge. Lived in Switzerland for 50 years. Resident Heidi Calder proves Retirement Villages is a real melting pot of unique people and stories. “My daughter didn’t exactly make the decision for me, but she ‘encouraged’ me to…
Living and loving your retirement Alan and Carol Murray, a retired couple from Feltham, Middlesex, with a real lust for life, chose Lime Tree Village in Dunchurch near Rugby as their new home. Following their move in October 2017 Alan said: “We know…
Helen and Paul Baker have already had a taste of retirement village living. Helen’s mother lived in a village in the south of the UK, but sadly passed away just two years after moving in. “We loved the concept, and mum’s experience made…
Val Richards was just 56 when she moved to Lime Tree Village with her husband Paddy, making her the youngest resident ever to buy there. So young in fact that she only just qualified to buy a property in this age-exclusive development! “Our…
Having lived in 17 different houses prior to arriving at Elmbridge Village, Pam and Gordon are ready to settle. Pam and Gordon have recently moved to Elmbridge Manor after selling their large four-bedroom house in Somerset. Having met at a local dance in…
I wanted to be near my grandchildren, says resident. Longstanding Elmbridge resident Joan Penning, who recently celebrated her 85th birthday, moved to our retirement village in 2007. She wanted to be near her daughter Janet and son-in-law Mick, who live at Hunterswood Farm…
Location, location, location! For Alan and Sue Dunkley location was one of the main reasons they chose to purchase a brand new two-bedroom property in The Polo Field, Lime Tree Village’s recently-opened development. “We are an active couple and like to travel,…
Resident says make the move to a retirement village while you’re young enough to make the most of it. When Wendy de Smit (72) moved to Elmbridge Village with her husband Peter (73) in 2005 they were looking for a comfortable home in…
Charters resident says she has an excellent social life in the community. For 82 year old Charters Village resident Dorothy Creelman, every day can feel like a holiday. “I participate in an enormous range of social events and activities, which keeps me active…
Judith Parvin is a longstanding Elmbridge resident and kindly tells us her story….
Realising that you need a little practical support in later life, accepting this and moving into a care home is often a very difficult and emotional experience for all involved. This is true of Rachael Murphy, who is 86 and a resident…
Village residents say being close to family is most important. Former business owner Ron Boulton (84) and his wife Sandy (66) were enjoying a blissful retirement in Menorca, one of the Balaeric Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. However, they decided to move back…
Elmbridge excellent value for money, says resident. Pip and Jean Calvert have been married for 64 years and have three daughters. When Pip retired from a career in the Navy (in cruisers, submarines and in command of a minesweeper) and with British American Tobacco,…
New village residents looked far and wide before deciding on Elmbridge. For Gavin and Margaret Martin, both 78, moving to Cranleigh-based Elmbridge Village was a decision borne out of many years of careful consideration. “What to do and where to go when you…
Avonpark provides safe haven for long-suffering Wiltshire resident. When Wiltshire resident Tony Slee, 76, decided to buy a home at Avonpark retirement village in 2016 he had just emerged from one of the most difficult periods of his life. “It all started about…
Former RAF pilot and flying instructor settles in retirement village. Thamesfield’s newest resident is Briant Holland (80), a former RAF pilot and flying instructor who decided to sell his large property in London and downsize into a retirement village. Briant joined the RAF…
Jean Burnett, 84 and originally from Yorkshire, bought one of the new build properties at Charters Village and moved in soon after it opened in 2014. Jean likes the safety and security of having a permanent base in such a close community,…
Emma Cornelisse, daughter of longstanding Elmbridge resident Judith Parvin, travels a lot with her husband Eelco and her sister lives in New Zealand. So it gives Emma great peace of mind to know that mum has the support and friendship of the village’s…
I couldn’t be happier, says Judith Judith Parvin, 78, a former NHS medical worker, moved to Elmbridge Village with her late husband Peter in 2004. After living in their nearby Bramley family home for 12 years they wanted to downsize and came across…
One of Charters Village’s newest couples have moved in, but as they are still involved in a family business specialising in electronics and factory solutions they are nowhere near ready to retire. In fact Leonard and Norma Hilborne, 85 and 76 years old…
Mrs Lesley Emmerson describes her experiences in moving to Lime Tree Village and life at the village so far….
Enjoying independent living while remaining close to the family. Benefitting from the very best of both worlds at the popular Elmbridge Village in Surrey is resident Audrey Leede – who enjoys independent living while being close to her family. Mrs Leede is a…
“Everybody should have an Elmbridge Village.” – says retiree resident Shirley. Life has changed quite dramatically for Shirley Porter in recent times. The cheerful 74-year-old has had her ups and downs over the past few years – but the future is now looking…
Moving in retirement to be closer to family. Life in the West Yorkshire hamlet of Howarth was as close to idyllic for Lew Case and wife Jean as they could hope to imagine. Then the bubble burst. Jean was diagnosed with Leukaemia and…
Margaret and her family find peace of mind at Avonpark. When Margaret Wyatt’s husband Maurice died in 2004, she initially chose to stay in their old home in Beckington, near Bath but then decided to sell the property because it was simply too…
Roseland Parc offered me independence and freedom. Pat Hodson lived in a two-bedroom cottage overlooking the sea in Fowey. She had a large garden with open fires but when her neighbours offered to buy her property, she decided to take the opportunity and…
Why we just love it at Roseland Parc now… Roy and Mary Conner had lived in a large bungalow in Porthleven for 25 years before they chose to move to Roseland Parc. “We didn’t like any of the other retirement operators and loved…
Early residents look back over the first ten years. David and Margaret Couzens were one of the first couples to move into Lime Tree Village back in June 2004. David was 61 at the time and wife Margaret 57 when they made the…
“If I won the pools I wouldn’t want to move.” – says Cynthia. Cynthia Richards and her late partner Bryn purchased the 100th new property at Lime Tree Village when it was first constructed a decade ago. “From the minute we drove through…
Making the 580-mile move to live at The Priory. Shortly after moving from Cornwall to Scotland Sandra Braznell found herself widowed when her husband Derek passed away. 12 years later in October 2014, the former art teacher decided it was time to make…
Living in a retirement village is not just for the retired! In July 2013 Jenny Pardington made the decision to swap her high-rise city apartment for a ground floor two-bedroom apartment at Cedars retirement village. With her long-term future in mind, she carried…
“Despite being active, we decided it was time to downsize.” Michael Jackson and his wife Pamela, made the three mile move to Charters Village from their six-bedroom detached house in East Grinstead in September 2014. “Even though we are both still very active…
Why we swapped our South Devon beach home for a Taunton retirement village. Michael and Pauline Pettet set themselves a target – to move to a new home by the age of 75. “We were living in South Devon, 400 yards from the…
Can’t fault Avonpark Village lifestyle. John and Elise Hardwick moved into their two bedroom retirement apartment at Avonpark Village in Winsley in summer 2013. “I have to say I can’t fault a thing,” says Mrs Hardwick, 83. The Hardwicks moved just a hop…
Realising the benefits of living at Thamesfield – Mrs. Wheeler’s story. Great grandmother Ellie Wheeler, 88, moved to Thamesfield from Bray in Berkshire in November 2013. “My husband passed away in the May and I sold my five bedroom home and moved to…
“There’s so much to it, it’s wonderful!” With a son in Bovey Tracy, The Priory a short distance away in Abbotskerswell, was perfectly located for Mary Harries. But her move from a property in a small Scottish village wasn’t just about pinpointing the…
Why Peter and Rosemary Smith chose Charters Village. Peter and Rosemary Smith moved into their Charters Village apartment in January. Rosemary, 79, a former registered nurse, and Peter, 83, a wine importer, moved from their five-bedroom coach house in Forest Row where they…
“It’s made all the difference being here.” When Joe and Nadia Young married, they decided to move in order to be together whenever Naval commitments allowed in various appointments. Over the years they mainly managed to do this in many houses and married…
“It’s the perfect place for a new start.” David and Teresa Baverstock have lived in rambling detached homes ‘in the middle of nowhere’. They’ve also enjoyed ultra modern living in a Far Eastern apartment block under endless blue skies. Now they’re living in…
