“I’ve had such an enjoyable time being part of this event and it was great being able to see the ship’s engine room and all its workings.”
Ivybank House Care Home in Bath has been bringing historic moments to life for residents as part of its ‘Heroes and Heroines’ activity, exploring some of the events and people that have built history, making for a fascinating and fun trip down memory lane.
Residents decided to find out more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, born in Portsmouth but widely considered a local lad for his work as Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway, including Box Tunnel.
Residents created a model of one of Brunel’s most famous landmarks, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was a particularly special activity for resident Don. Don used to be an engineer and worked on the Tamar Bridge in Saltash which opened in 1962, 103 years after the completion of the nearby Royal Albert Bridge, designed by Brunel.
There was also a trip to Bristol to visit Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the largest passenger ship in the world when it launched in 1845 and the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Don, said: “I’ve had such an enjoyable time being part of this event and it was great being able to see the ship’s engine room and all its workings.”
Resident, Joan, said: “I’ve spent many an hour going across the Clifton Suspension Bridge and we studied Brunel at school in my younger days, he’s a big icon and it’s been really interesting learning even more about him.”
Magic Moments Club Coordinator, Sue, said: “Our residents and team members have really enjoyed getting involved in this project, sharing their expertise and memories to help bring history to life in a fun and entertaining way."
Ivybank House Care Home is located in Bath, Somerset and provides residential and respite care and is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
