A Wish Come True: Billingham Care Home Resident Skates Again After Decades

Residents from Green Lodge Care Home experienced an unforgettable day after taking to the ice at Billingham Forum last week – fulfilling lifelong dreams, rekindling cherished memories and, for some, trying something completely new.

The inspiration for the outing came from resident Pippa Lee (79), who shared with the Green Lodge care team that she had been an avid ice skater in her youth.

“I used to skate when I was younger, but I never thought I’d be able to do it again at my age,” Pippa said.

When the Green Lodge care team learned that the local authority was organising a special ice skating session for care homes in the Stockton area, the team knew this was the perfect opportunity to bring Pippa’s dream to life.

Pippa was joined on the ice by fellow residents Stan Bettley (85), Jen Cialis (76) and Pasquale Decrescenzo (93). Each enjoyed the experience in their own way, whether reminiscing, discovering something new or simply soaking up the excitement of the rink.

Residents were supported on the day by care colleagues Clair Osborne (Activities Coordinator), Natalie Burnett (Care Assistant) and Chidibere Nweze (Care Assistant). The team ensured everyone felt safe, warm and reassured, and even joined residents on the rink – pushing them around the ice and sharing in the fun. Chidibere, who had never been to an ice rink before, said the experience was “just as exciting” for him as it was for the residents.

The Billingham Forum Ice Rink was closed to the general public, giving local care homes exclusive use of the space. Experienced skaters from the venue were also on hand to support residents who wanted to glide a little faster – or try out something unexpected.

One of the standout moments came when Pippa was assisted by an experienced skater and found herself skating backwards across the ice. Initially shocked, she quickly burst into laughter. “I didn’t think I’d ever skate again, never mind backwards!” she said.

The day wasn’t short of friendly competition either – Stan and Pasquale enjoyed a light-hearted race, cheered on by fellow residents and the care team.

Activities Coordinator, Clair Osborne, said,
“It’s moments like these that make such a difference. Fulfilling Pippa’s wish was incredibly special, but seeing all of our residents smiling, laughing and experiencing something new made the day unforgettable.