“Now’s my time to relax and enjoy an easy life”
92-year-old Reginald was the first to secure a retirement apartment at Oakingham Place, a Retirement Living community for the over 60s in Wokingham, Berkshire, and moved in in October 2023.
He says, “It felt so surreal when I first moved in, but I knew straight away that I’d made the right choice. I no longer have to worry about the upkeep of a larger property or the endless list of housework. I’ve worked hard all my life, taking care of my family and in my job as an accountant, and until recently, I even helped look after the church’s finances. Now’s my time to relax and enjoy an easy life.”
He continues: “I love my newspaper being delivered in the morning and reading it with a cup of coffee, it’s such a relaxing way to start the day. I’ll then spend my time watching the sport on the TV or doing a jigsaw or crossword. At times I think ‘should I be doing more?’ and that’s when I tell myself that I’m 92 and the only thing I should be doing is taking it easy.”
He has a social life on his doorstep when he fancies it
The balance of independent living and a thriving social scene perfectly suits Reginald, who says he is free to pick and choose which activities he takes part in.
“I really appreciate that there’s no pressure to get involved in any of the activities. I’ll join in from time to time and then on other evenings, I’m quite happy to be by myself in my apartment. That being said, I’m enjoying getting to know the other homeowners at the development, it’s nice that there’s always someone to talk to.”
Wokingham is a special place for Reginald
Reginald was just 10 years old when he was evacuated with his 12-year-old brother from East Ham in London to Wokingham during World War Two. And although his first impressions of the market town were not all that favourable–he and his brother were terribly homesick and couldn’t wait to go home to their parents–Wokingham has now become a deeply rooted part of who he is.
“I have a lot of history in Wokingham,” he adds, “After the war, I returned here and got a job, where I met my wife, Patricia. After two years, we married and bought a small house together, before moving into a four-bedroom detached house a few years later. We lived there for forty years, watching our children grow up.”
Sadly, Patricia passed away in 2021 and Reginald had to adjust to life on his own.
“The house we’d been living in was far too big for me on my own, so my daughter helped me search for properties in the area. It suited me to stay in Wokingham not only because of all the memories I’ve made here, but also because my daughter and her family live in Northamptonshire while my son lives in Surrey, so it’s a good middle ground,” he explains.
“Initially, we struggled to find anything suitable, but a while later I spotted the announcement that McCarthy Stone were building Oakingham Place…when they released contact details, I rang up straight away and put my name down for a plot.”
Downsizing has become somewhat of a natural progression in the UK, and according to reports nearly a quarter (24%) of retirees are considering moving to a smaller property*. But aside from wanting less upkeep, Reginald was drawn to his retirement apartment for far more personal reasons.
“The retirement development is located directly next door to the church that I’ve been going to for years and where my wife’s ashes are buried. It’s a particularly special place for me. I still feel close to her” he shares.
Relax and enjoy your retirement with a McCarthy Stone retirement home
Whether you choose an independent living apartment with Retirement Living or opt for the added services of Retirement Living PLUS, our low maintenance properties and thoughtful services make it easy to take a break from the harder chores and enjoy the relaxing retirement you deserve.
Learn more about our retirement homes near you, call our friendly team on 0800 201 4811 or contact us online for more information.
*Research carried out by LaingBuisson, 2018.
