PHOTO: © Trevor Williams, L-R: Julie Welsh, Manager; Cllr Steve Rippon Swaine, Mayor of Ringwood, Emma Budd
“It must have been a couple of years ago I had this dream,” said Emma, “that if I could open a shop this would greatly benefit the independence of all the residents living here.”
Emma Budd, the occupational therapist at Bickerley Green nursing home, Ringwood gave much thought to the project and even asked the local Rotary Club of Ringwood to provide funds for a mobile trolley, which they were pleased to do. Time went by, but Emma never lost sight of her main objective.
Finally after two years of negotiations, she was allocated a special room on the ground floor which was painted and fitted with shelving and a coffee bar. Thanks to the generosity of Sainsburys and Ringwood & District Older Peoples Welfare Association and others, the shelves soon became stocked up with many of the day-to-day items likely to be required by the residents.
Yet, it was no ordinary shop. With coffee tables under a colourful canopy and artefacts inside from yesteryear, the shop also acted as a reminder of the residents’ younger days.
“I am so grateful,” said Emma, “that organisations like Rotary helped us from the start and gave us the encouragement we needed.”
