Retired teacher’s wish granted as care home organise Christmas market trip

Retired teacher’s wish granted as care home organise Christmas market trip zoom

Former German teacher Doreen Mortlock, who now lives at Cherry Wood Grange Care Home in Chelmsford, has always had a flare for languages and found a passion for the German language following a school exchange trip to Germany in her youth.

When the team at Cherry Wood Grange told Doreen about the local German Christmas market at Wickford, the 85-year-old expressed a wish to go.

Doreen is living with Alzheimer’s and has been a resident at the dementia specialist care home since January 2021. Cherry Wood Grange, located on Writtle Road in Chelmsford, provides residential, dementia and end of life care.

The home’s lifestyle lead, Bex Harmer, said: “Doreen’s face lit up when we told her about the German Christmas market. Although she struggles with memory loss, she remembers her life as a teacher.

“Doreen was in her element at the market, she loved browsing the stalls and sampling the food and drink. She got chatting to one stall holder who was fascinated when she discovered Doreen’s passion for the German language.

“The lady asked Doreen if she could teach her a few basic words of German, which she did. Straight away Doreen taught her the German words for hello, goodbye, goodnight, and how are you.

“Doreen had the best morning, and it was marvellous to see this side of her – the teacher fluent in a second language, enjoying the simple pleasure of teaching and sharing her love of the language.”

The former German teacher studied at Queen’s University Belfast. Once qualified as a teacher, Doreen taught in various senior schools, including Abbs Cross Senior in Hornchurch, Gaynes Secondary School in Upminster, and New Hall an independent school in Chelmsford.

Her son Michael explained that his mum “loved teaching” and in particular got a lot of joy from teaching sixth form students.

Sue Smith, manager at the home, added: “The German Christmas market was a real trip down memory lane for Doreen and we love that this experience sparked such joy for her.

“It’s our aim to create wonderful new memories for our residents, so we were delighted to organise the trip.”

Cherry Wood Grange are rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and received Highly Commended for Team of the Year at the Essex Care Sector Awards: The Prospers 2023.