CareCare HomesCare ResidentsNewsSocial Care

Care Home Resident Reunites With Painting After Nearly 80 Years

A remarkable chain of events has led to a 105-year-old resident at an Otterbourne care home being reunited with a work of art she painted nearly 80 years ago.

Dorothy Fray moved into Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill near Winchester just over a year ago, where Leeanne Broyd works as the wellbeing supervisor.

Little did Leeanne know that she is the same Dorothy Fray who her grandparents Annie and Ernie Spreadbury once worked for. This was until her mother Margaret Brooks (84) pointed out her former home when they were driving through Bishopstoke near Eastleigh.

Margaret still has a picture of a cottage that Dorothy painted for her parents nearly 80 years ago. It even has Dorothy’s signature in the corner.

Leeanne explains: “I spent one morning with Dorothy talking about art and drawing. I printed off some pictures and was amazed when she started using artistic terms such as ‘depth of field’ which I thought was quite unusual.

“Afterwards I took my Mum out and that’s when she mentioned the house where Dorothy lived. The next day, I went to see Dorothy and asked her if she had lived in Bishopstoke. When she said ‘yes’. I said I think you might know my Mum and as soon as I mentioned my Nan’s name, she knew exactly who I was talking about!”

Margaret still lives in her late parents’ house in same road, Fair Oak Road, formerly known as Middle Street Hill in Bishopstoke.

Leeanne invited Margaret to visit Dorothy, who has two daughters, six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Margaret brought along her painting to show Dorothy as well as some photographs of her parents.

Margaret was about nine the last time she saw Dorothy but said she had not changed much in the ensuing 77 years. “It’s such an amazing coincidence. I remember Dorothy used to go across the road to the woods opposite where she lived where she did her painting. She used to love painting bluebells.”

Charlotte Chiutare, General Manager of Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill, comments: “None of us could believe it when Leeanne mentioned her family’s connection with one of our residents. There are some very close communities in this area, and this highlights again how our care home can sometimes feel like part of the extended family.”

“It is our pleasure to look after Dorothy and to learn more from her family about her paintings inspired by the place where she lived.”

 

Nestle