Not many people in their 90s would be brave enough to up sticks and move 350 miles away to a new town. But that’s exactly what George (92) and Marjorie (90) Kirkby did when they decided to move to Churchill Retirement Living’s Tregolls Lodge in Truro.
The couple were living in a two bedroom bungalow in Lincoln, East Midlands where they had lived since getting married in 1950. George explains: “Marjorie and I first met during the war when I was a serving in the Royal Navy as a wireless telegraphist. She was the sister of an RAF airman I knew and we started to write to each other. When the war was over we met in person for the first time at Kings Cross station and have been together ever since.
“I had lived in Lincoln since I was a child and after we got married we bought our first home together there. We were very happy but then five years ago our daughter and son-in-law relocated to St Austell for work and we began to think that maybe it was time for something new. Making such a long trip to see them was beginning to get a bit too much, and although we visited each other as often as we could it’s not the same as having family nearby.
“We started looking at properties in Cornwall but hadn’t found anything that really ticked all the boxes. Then my daughter saw an advertisement for Churchill’s new Tregolls Lodge in Truro and knew it would be perfect for us. We came down to take a look and decided this was where we wanted to be. The thought of leaving our home and moving hundreds of miles away was quite daunting, but we loved the idea of being closer to the family. We used Churchill’s Home Exchange scheme which was really easy and took away all the worry and hassle of selling our current home.
“We’re in our 90s so the last thing we wanted to worry about was DIY or maintenance. Moving to a brand new apartment that is geared towards older people is just perfect and having the Lodge Manager is really reassuring. She does a fantastic job and is always available to assist with so many things. At our age it is a huge relief to know there is someone on hand to help if we need it.
“There’s a wonderful community at the Lodge and we’ve made so many new friends since moving here. There’s always someone around for a chat and everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. It’s lovely being so close to our family again too. Our daughter lives 20mins away and our granddaughter is nursing in Bristol, so we get to see much more of them all now that we don’t live so far away.
“We are very happy in our new home and feel extremely lucky to be able to enjoy our retirement years together. We attend the local church and have plenty of time to visit the local attractions and spend time with family and friends. Some people thought we were crazy to move at our age but we’re so glad we took the plunge, it’s the best thing we ever did.”
Tregolls Lodge is Churchill Retirement Living’s first development in Cornwall and comprises 59 one and two bedroom privately owned retirement apartments and shared facilities, designed exclusively for the over 60s. Offering quality retirement accommodation and safe and independent living, the development is in a convenient location close to local shops and amenities.
Apartments have spacious rooms throughout and an ideal combination of design and functionality. The fully fitted, stylish kitchens include a built in fridge and freezer, hob and an oven, which is located at an easy-reach height. All of the properties benefit from illuminated light switches for added convenience. Owners also enjoy ultimate peace of mind from a fitted camera entry system for the highest level of security and a 24 hour emergency call system.
With less to worry about, Owners have more time to do the things they enjoy, including taking advantage of the host of other benefits which will be on offer including having family or friends to stay in the development’s well-appointed Guest Suite, enjoying a chat with neighbours, or attending one of the many events, in the Owners’ Lounge.
The Tregolls Lodge Show Complex on St Clements Hill is open daily from 10am to 5pm. For more information on Tregolls Lodge or Churchill Retirement Living, call 01872 464 298.