Full steam ahead as Mike, 83, takes to the footplate

Mike, 83, a resident at Colten Care’s Fernhill home in Longham, enjoyed a behind-the-scenes ride on the footplate of one of the heritage railway’s steam locomotives.

He also had exclusive access to watch the driver and fireman in action as the loco covered the five and a half miles between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden and then back again.

Ann-Marie Knight, a member of Fernhill’s companionship team who accompanied Mike said, “He absolutely loved it and hasn’t stopped talking about it ever since,”

She added, “Swanage Railway pulled out all the stops to give Mike a fantastic experience, even presenting him with a goody bag with a framed certificate and driver experience mug.

“In regular meetings with residents that we call ‘My Time’ we ask if they have any particular wishes and then, wherever possible, try to fulfil them. Mike’s Swanage Railway wish came out of the blue. He now wants to visit Salisbury Cathedral so that will be our next challenge.”

Family-owned Colten Care has 20 quality care homes across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Sussex, including Fernhill, and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care.