Buckingham Lodge Care Home residents write new adventure for Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh has moved house from Hundred Acre Wood to Buckingham Lodge Care Home in a new version of the children’s classic penned by residents.

The idea, inspired by National Story Telling Week, in February, was eagerly taken up by a group of residents who have fond childhood memories of the A.A. Milne classic.

Terri Breen, activities coordinator at the Kingsley Healthcare home, in Norwich Road, Carbrooke, said: “Winnie the Pooh was written in the 1920s so we decided it was time for a new adventure – with Winnie living at Buckingham Lodge of course.”

Residents including retired Dereham firefighter Don Allison, 85, and his wife Iris, 87, quickly had their creative juices flowing and a plot emerged where Winnie and his familiar gang – Christopher Robin, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore et al – hunt for valuables that have mysteriously disappeared from Buckingham Lodge.

After searching the care home and garden they finally discover the missing treasure in a magpie’s nest at the top of a tree.

Nurses obviously feature prominently in a care home so it was fitting that one was called upon to treat an unfortunate blister Winnie sustained during his adventures.

Mrs Breen said: “We needed help with an illustration for our front cover, so we posted an appeal on Facebook. We were thrilled to receive a positive response from Helen Mills, who is a professional artist living in Devizes, Wiltshire.”

Mrs Mills kindly provided a colourful illustration, incorporating Buckingham Lodge and Winnie the Pooh, in exchange for a gift of (of course) honey.

She said: “I have fond memories of collecting Winnie the Pooh toys with my twin sister Sarah as children. When I saw the Facebook post reaching out for an illustration for Buckingham Lodge, I immediately wanted to be part of the project.

She added that she loves to connect to others through drawing, bringing smiles to people’s faces.

A paper edition of the book has been distributed among families and friends of the residents, and it is now planned to have it printed properly.

Mrs Breen said: “Writing within the home is now an ongoing project with a Winter Warmer recipe book planned for later in the year reminiscing about favourite foods and diets from different eras.”