Jane told our Wellbeing Team about the fond memories she had of watching live wrestling matches with her late husband. These were special occasions for the couple and the outings meant a lot to them. She wished that she was still young enough to watch wrestling live and not just on the television. We don’t consider 97 to be too old for anything, so we organised a special trip to watch a special live wrestling match in Thornbury. Jane was in her element from the moment we arrived and her expressive reactions to the fight put a smile on everyone’s face. Jane was fully immersed in the match, laughing, gasping, punching the air and ‘high fiving’ wrestlers as they passed by. The highlight for Jane was meeting her heroes in a ‘meet and greet’ experience after the match.

Once a member of Bristol Vintage Bus Group, Roland remembered seeing a particular bus go past his house every day with a very specific registration number. He always wanted to ride that bus, but it was so long ago. After a bit of research, and with the help of the Bristol Vintage Bus Group, we managed to track down the exact vehicle. When the bus arrived at Katherine & Griffiths House with the driver in full vintage uniform, Roland was speechless, but only for a moment! He boarded the bus and invited staff and residents to join him for a guided tour of Bristol. We all had a fantastic ride, passing some of Roland’s favourite places, including the church where he married his beloved wife.

In her younger years, Betty spent time in the USA where she was a successful model and a dancer. Betty wished to be transported back in time to the hay day of her youth, so we threw a surprise Hollywood themed party, with a red carpet, catwalk, photoshoot, sparkly decorations, an amazing three-tier cake and live entertainment with a set entitled ‘hits from the silver screen’.

Betty was completely surprised and absolutely thrilled, even more so because it was her 100th birthday and she was presented with a letter from the Queen to top off a magical birthday.

Leonard and Meera wished for a romantic dinner to celebrate their long and happy marriage, so our head chef prepared a fantastic three course meal inspired by Leonard and Meera’s Asian heritage, while the Wellbeing Team created a beautiful setting and became waitresses for the afternoon.

With flowers, special decorations and romantic music, Leonard and Meera dressed up for the occasion and enjoyed every moment.

Margaret often speaks about her many happy family outings to Bristol Zoo and she was sad to hear that it was closing, fearing that she’d never have the opportunity to visit the Zoo again. Her wish was to visit the Zoo one last time before the doors closed forever, so we organised a special visit for Margaret and her friends. Everyone had a wonderful day out, with Margaret providing fascinating facts about the animals she remembered seeing at the Zoo in her youth.

Simon has been a huge fan of all things flora and fauna since he was a child, so when our Wellbeing Team suggested that he might enjoy a special visit to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, he couldn’t say yes fast enough!

Accompanied by fellow residents and members of staff, Simon’s One Wish experience included a tour of the many fascinating exhibits at the museum, a chance to discuss his favourite exhibits over tea and cake, and then VIP entry into the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which featured soundscapes, videos, expert insights and stunning photography that captured animal behaviour, spectacular species, and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

John was once the chairman of a music ‘Organ Society’ and he spent many years attending organ festivals and concerts with his late wife, creating wonderful memories that remain very close to John’s heart.

When a talented musician arrived at Katherine & Griffiths House to play all of John’s favourite songs, he was absolutely speechless! Joined by family members and fellow residents, John had a front row seat to watch and listen as the wonderful music created a merry atmosphere. Before long, everyone was singing along and dancing.

Anne is a huge nature enthusiast and as a member of the Avon Wildlife Trust, she has spent much of her life volunteering to protect wildlife and enabling it to thrive across the region. When our One Wish team suggested that she might enjoy an exciting exotic animal experience, Anne couldn’t wait!

Local company Rockin’ Reptiles arrived with a host of fascinating exotic animals including tiny chameleons, bearded dragons and snakes, not to mention the star of the show, a 12 ft Burmese python called Barry!