Bunny, 96, Enjoys Birthday Visit From Reality TV Presenter
A Chichester care home enabled a 96-year-old resident to spend her birthday with a presenter from her favourite reality TV show.
Bunny Storrar, who lives at Colten Care’s Wellington Grange, is a huge fan of BBC Two’s The Repair Shop which invites expert craftspeople to restore viewers’ precious family heirlooms.
When staff at the home asked her for a birthday wish, Bunny said she would either like to go to the barn at the Weald and Downland Living Museum, in Singleton, where the programme is filmed, or have someone from the show visit her.
The Companionship team at the Broyle Road home got in touch with The Repair Shop and the upshot was a special surprise visit to Bunny by presenter and gramophone specialist Tim Weeks.
Tim brought along a restored gramophone and the pair spent a happy afternoon chatting and playing old vinyl records.
“I am so very pleased,” said Bunny. “I never thought I’d qualify for something like this.”
Emily Hudson, Senior Companionship Team Leader, said: “Bunny had a brilliant 96th birthday.
“She never misses an episode of The Repair Shop and so to have Tim actually come and see her was just marvellous. He was more than happy to meet her and play her some records.
“She had a great time asking lots of questions about the programme. For example she wanted to know if the moments showing people crying after seeing their restored items were genuine, and she asked how many people apply to be on the show.
“We strongly believe that living in a care home shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying the things you love.
“Bunny’s visit from her favourite TV show is a prime example of us making a resident’s wish come true.”
As well as gramophones, items restored by expert craftspeople on The Repair Shop have included clocks, typewriters, pinball machines, clothes, furniture, ceramics and musical instruments.