The people who made the magic happen for Eileen Pickering, a resident at Alexandra House in Poole, were Care South.

The birthday treat for the 102-year-old was arranged by Care South at the BH Live Cool Coast Ice Rink.

Eileen’s journey back to the ice rekindled fond memories from her childhood in London.

As a little girl, Eileen’s parents used to take her to watch ice hockey matches. The real magic happened post-game when she was allowed to glide freely on the ice. Her love for ice-skating grew, and her parents gifted her a pair of beautiful white leather skates.

Eileen’s ice-skating adventures were put on hold when her parents relocated to West Moors in the 1950s, where the absence of an ice rink left her unable to continue her passion.

However, her admiration for the art of ice-skating endured, fuelled by her enthusiasm for watching legends like Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

For her 102nd birthday, she received a DVD of Torvil and Dean’s performances from staff at Alexandra House.

Eileen’s dream of being on the ice again became the focal point for her birthday celebration. Alexandra House stepped in to make her wish come true by organising a special experience at the BH Live Cool Coast Ice Rink. Eileen was surrounded by loved ones and well-wishers to create new memories.

“I never thought I would get the chance to be on the ice again,” said Eileen. “It feels like a dream come true, and I’m incredibly thankful to Nicola and the team at Alexandra House for making this happen.”

Steve Turner, BH Live’s Associate Director of Venues commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Eileen to Bournemouth International Centre and to Cool Coast Ice Rink to make her 102nd birthday wish come true. Eileen is such an inspiration and really shows that skating can be fun for all ages and abilities. Thanks so much to the Care South team for choosing our venue to mark such a special occasion, we wish them and Eileen the very best.”

Nicola Bleach, activities lead at Alexandra House, added: “Witnessing Eileen being back on the ice at the BH Live Cool Coast Ice Rink was a heartwarming experience. Eileen’s joy was infectious, and it highlighted the power of fulfilling dreams, no matter the age. We are committed to creating moments that truly matter, and seeing Eileen rediscover the magic of her passion demonstrates the essence of enriching lives through thoughtful and personalised care.”

Care South is committed to safely enhancing the lives of its residents and celebrating their unique stories.