Cowes Care Home Residents Enjoy Special Day On The Water Thanks To Local Charities

Residents from Old Charlton House in Cowes have been given the chance to relive treasured memories of life at sea thanks to two charities helping them get back on the water.

Sixteen residents enjoyed sailing trips made possible by WetWheels and Cowes Sailability, through the support of Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

For many, the outing brought back memories of days spent sailing their own boats.

One resident, Joy, recalled working for renowned boat designer Uffa Fox, who once gifted her a boat that she loved sailing.

The sunny weather provided ideal conditions for the trips, with one group sailing as far as Ryde Pier, taking in views of Osborne House and the Island's coastline.

During the voyage, residents were invited to take the helm. Tony was the only volunteer and happily stepped up to become "Captain" for the day, complete with a captain's hat.

A second group enjoyed a leisurely cruise along the River Medina, reminiscing about how much the coastline had changed since they last spent time on the water.

Joanie and her husband Adrian were able to enjoy the experience together, much to the delight of their family.

Their daughter, Karen, 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 also praised the trip, saying:

"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 thanked everyone involved in making the day possible.

She 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."