Riverdale Care Home makes (almost) 100-year old veteran’s wish come true!
If you live in Chesterfield, you may have spotted the unusual sight of a 99-year old man sat in the front of a police car with the blue lights on – well, that was our very own Colin: retired RAF police officer and all-round family man. He was able to revisit his time in the police after almost 80 years, thanks to the incredible team at Riverdale Care Home!
When residents at our Chesterfield care home were asked what their New Year’s wishes were, Colin told colleagues of his time in the RAF back in 1945, and how he wanted to go for one more ride in a police car before his 100th birthday. Originally stationed in Bückeburg, Germany, Colin was vital in maintaining order during the early post-war years, and provided support in the aftermath of World War II. The heart-warming and emotional tale of his time in the war made his story all the more inspiring, and colleagues were determined to help make his wish come true.
Wendy, Activities Coordinator, and Denise, Home Manager, were eager to fulfil his dream, and contacted Derbyshire Constabulary for support. Much to their delight, they were more than happy to support Riverdale’s birthday surprise!
PC Katie Robinson and PCSO Karl Marsh from Newbold Station in Chesterfield offered their services for the day, and planned an excursion around Chesterfield that Colin could enjoy.
When the police officers arrived, they surprised Colin with his very own Colin the Caterpillar Cake to commemorate his upcoming 100th birthday. They were also joined by Colin’s family, who were buzzing with excitement to see him back behind (or in this case, next to) the wheel of his beloved police vehicle.
Colin, PC Robinson and Wendy went on a drive through Chesterfield city centre, where he was able to sit in the front seat and point out all the local hotspots of his favourite town. After putting the sirens on, Colin told his companions about his time driving police jeeps in the RAF, and how it felt to be back behind the wheel of a police car after all these years.
When Colin and the team returned to Riverdale, he was smiling from ear to ear. “I can’t quite believe it - it brought back so many memories.”
Onlookers who witnessed the trip also shared their story online, saying how they noticed an ‘older man sat in the front of a police car with the lights on’ and joked about wondering what mischief he’d been up to. Once they read the story in their local newspaper, Derbyshire Times, they were blown away by the kind gesture from the team at Newbold Station.
Check out our video from the day, below:
The video of his trip has since gone viral on social media, with many viewers wishing him a happy 100th birthday and congratulating the team on exceptional person-centred care.
Colin’s son, Ian, also joined them for the event, and was honoured to witness his dad being able to get back in the action again. “We are incredibly grateful to the Riverdale Care Home team and Derbyshire Police for recognising how much this meant to my dad. This wasn’t just an early birthday treat; it was a powerful reminder of his service and a moment our family will treasure.”
Based in Chesterfield, Riverdale Care Home have always strived to create person-centred experiences for their residents, and this is just one shining example of their dedication to exceptional care. Although Colin’s birthday isn’t until October, they knew they wanted to organise the surprise for when he least expected it – and it worked perfectly!
Denise West, Home Manager at Riverdale Care Home, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support Colin in fulfilling his wish. Recognising and understanding the experiences of veterans living in our care is very important to us, and this was a meaningful way to acknowledge Colin’s service and celebrate his birthday early. As a home, we are committed to ensuring veterans feel recognised, valued and supported as part of our community.”
Recently accredited by the Veteran Friendly Framework, this special visit demonstrates Riverdale Care Home’s ongoing commitment to inclusive support for veterans, and we couldn’t be prouder of the Chesterfield team for organising this wonderful surprise.
A huge thank you to Denise, Wendy, PC Robinson and PCSO Marsh on volunteering their time to make Colin’s wish come true, and a big happy early birthday to the man of the hour, who will be 100 years old later this year. We hope you had a fantastic day!
PS - when families ask what they should look for in a care home, this is it: truly person-centred care that creates wonderful experiences such as this. Want to know more about Riverdale Care Home? Hit the button below.
