90-Year-Old Fan Returns to the Rink – ‘I Loved Cheering for The Panthers and Booing The Devils”
90-year-old Nottingham Panthers superfan returns to the ice after six years to relive special memories shared with her children and grandchildren.
Local lady, Heather Swain returned to watch her beloved Nottingham Panthers at the Motorpoint Arena for the first time in six years – thanks to a special wish made possible by her care home.
A resident at Beeston Rise care home in Nottingham, Heather was reunited with the sport she has loved for decades when she attended the Nottingham Panthers’ game against the Cardiff Devils on Saturday, September 5th.
A former season ticket holder, Heather spent many weekends taking her children and grandchildren to the arena to support the Panthers.
Growing up in the area, the arena holds even more special memories for Heather. She first stepped foot into the arena when her mother took her for tap dancing lessons when she was a little girl – making her return a trip down memory lane in more ways than one.
Heather’s sons have followed in her footsteps and continue to support the team – attending games whenever they can.
Heather was given the chance to soak up the atmosphere once again as part of Beeston Rise’s Make A Wish commitment, which encourages residents to share something they would love to do, with the care team then working to make those wishes happen.
During the game, Heather met the Nottingham Panthers’ much-loved mascot, Paws, and was thrilled to win a Nottingham Panthers jersey.
Speaking about her experience, Heather said, “My favourite part was watching the players whizz around on the ice and watching an ice skater doing a dance performance during the breaks.”
She added, “I loved cheering for the Nottingham Panthers and booing for the Cardiff Devils – it brought back a lot of happy memories.”
For Heather’s family and the team at Beeston Rise, the evening was about much more than watching a hockey match. It gave her the opportunity to reconnect with a huge part of her life and revisit a place filled with memories and her younger years.
Lifestyle assistant at Beeston Rise, Jess Brear said, “Heather had the biggest smile on her face throughout the whole trip and she hasn’t stopped talking about it since she got back.
“She has been telling the carers and the other residents all about meeting Paws, winning her Panthers jersey and, of course, cheering on her team. It was so lovely to see how much the experience meant to her and to hear her talking about all the memories it brought back.
“Being able to make Heather’s wish come true is exactly why our Make A Wish commitment is so important to us. We want our residents to continue doing the things they love, creating new memories and enjoying experiences that are meaningful to them. Heather’s love of the Panthers has been such a big part of her life, so being able to give her the chance to return to the arena was incredibly special.”
Heather’s sons were also delighted to see their mum return to supporting the team and continue a family tradition that has lasted for generations.
Other wishes the home has made come true, included a trip to Skegness sea front for a resident who wanted to return as this was where they went on family holidays as a child.
