Beautiful surroundings without the housework

John and Jean were finding their five bedroom house and big garden difficult to maintain. They wanted to spend less time and energy on gardening, cleaning and DIY and more time going out and doing things.

John and Jean met at a cycling dance in 1959, three years after John had brought home a bronze medal for Team GB at the 1956 Olympics.

Jean, an accomplished dancer and member of TV’s famous Billy Martin team, forgave John his ‘two left feet’ and the couple married in 1962.

Having lived in their family home for 46 years, they recently decided to move to a retirement living community.

The couple had brought up their three children in their five-bedroom home in Widnes and whilst the decision to downsize was a tough one, their big house and large garden had become too much and they decided to start their property search.

“We were living in a massive five bedroom, two bathroom house and it was just getting too much for Jean” says John, now 83.

“I couldn’t do much and she was doing all the work. She didn’t realise but she would come in of a night and she was exhausted.”

Jean explains: “I was never done. There was always something to do. It was a big garden and I was doing everything. I was out all afternoon and half the night. I used to come in for Escape to the Country, have a coffee and go out again.”

When the couple painted the exterior of their house, two years before they moved, it had cost them £5000 due to the size of the house and the scaffolding required. Even the indoor cleaning was hard to maintain with eight-foot-high ceilings. The maintenance of the house and garden was becoming a full-time job for Jean and left her with no time or energy to do anything else: “I didn’t want to be tied to the house. I wanted to go out and do things.”

John and Jean had initially looked at a retirement community two years earlier but had decided they weren’t ready to move. When they visited The Sailings, a new luxury development from Adlington Retirement Living in Southport, John said they made their decision straight away:

“A friend of mine lives in Maghull and we saw an advertisement for The Sailings in the local paper. We’d been to see an apartment that our friend was looking at and it was a nice place, but we wanted somewhere with a bit more community, where we can go down to the lounge and talk to people. I came in to see Karen and she took me round and I knew right away that I wanted it.”

Having lived in Ormskirk before they moved to Widnes John and Jean already had some friends in the local area. Jean’s two sisters also live nearby in Ainsdale but Jean thought the hardest part of moving after 46 years would be making new friends and building a new social life. “I like people” Jean explains.

Soon after moving, they’ve already got a busy social life: “I’m making friends here. I do a lot myself. I go swimming, I go to Chi Ball – it’s T’ai Chi with a bit of Pilates and a bit of Yoga. I go out and join things so I’m helping myself. I go to the church every Sunday morning and I walk into town. We’re getting a pilates class here soon. When the weather gets better we’ll go out on our bikes together.”

John adds: “She goes once a fortnight to Knit and Natter in the lounge and they never stop. They’re chatting and chatting away. I’m doing my jigsaw here and she’s happy! We had a coffee morning the other day and all the new neighbours came and she was chatting away to them all. I think it’s really good here.”

They’ve also entertained some of their friends and family in their new home.

“Our youngest daughter Rachael, lives in Brighton now and she came for Christmas with her son Luca who’s 11, and her partner Martyn. They stayed in the guest suite here and they’re coming again this weekend.

“Helen, our middle daughter lives in the Wirral and she came last weekend with her husband, David. Their children, Oliver and Philippa came up here the day we were moving in and the restaurant here made us a lovely dinner.

“Our son, Martin, lives in Perth in Australia now, so he comes back to visit every three years.”

They’ve also had some old friends come to visit them.

John: “I had three blokes come across yesterday who all used to ride bikes with me. One was 88, one was 83, and one was 82 and we came and sat in the lounge, had a good talk, had some light bites in the restaurant, finished talking and they all went home. They’re all friends from way back.

“It’s better for both of us here. I can go cycling. Jean can walk to the shops, use her bike and go for a ride if she wants to and there are plenty of people here who she can talk to. We’ve made friends already and I can tell they’re going to be like a second family. We should have moved years ago.”

Downsizing maintenance free

Why retirement living

Philip and Edna

Philip and Edna’s daughters were worried about their parents and wanted to make sure that help would always be on hand if they ever need it.   Philip and Edna have known each other for 76 years. They were 10 years old when they first met. “My father was a lay preacher and he used […]

Ann and Harry

Ann and Harry moved to The Sidings in December 2022 and were married on Ann’s 80th birthday in February 2023. Ann said: “We’ve known...

Continue Reading
The Bridges Macclesfield Homeowners

Eddie and Mabel

Eddie and Mabel love walking in the great outdoors. They wanted less hilly terrain to explore, a beautiful view, lovely gardens and more free...

Continue Reading

Margaret

Margaret moved to a three bedroomed apartment at The Folds in January 2022, having previously lived in in Marple Bridge for 35 years in...

Continue Reading

Dr Cath

Dr Cath, aged 80, appreciates having a supportive community since she moved to The Sidings, in Lytham, in February 2023. “It all seemed to...

Continue Reading
The Folds Romiley retirement apartments

Audrey

Audrey wanted a fresh start in a new apartment with a friendly community. Originally from Norfolk, Audrey moved to the area in the 1960s,...

Continue Reading

Angela and Tim

When Angela and Tim moved to The Spindles, they looked forward to having support on hand whenever they need it and to leaving behind...

Continue Reading

Lesley

Lesley moved to The Newells in November 2023 to maintain her independent lifestyle with support in place for the future. “I’m 75 but in...

Continue Reading

John and Marcia

John and Marcia had been looking for a bungalow until they heard about The Cottons. They quickly decided the beautiful apartments, stunning gardens and...

Continue Reading

Anne

When Anne moved to The Sidings in January 2023, she looked forward to new friendships and the support of a community whilst remaining independent....

Continue Reading

Bess

Bess had never considered living in a retirement community, but since moving to The Woodlands in June 2022, she has been enjoying a better...

Continue Reading
Downsizing maintenance free

John and Jean

John and Jean were finding their five bedroom house and big garden difficult to maintain. They wanted to spend less time and energy on...

Continue Reading
Stockport retirees

Pat and Michael

Being surrounded by a wonderful group of friends and supportive staff has exceeded Michael and Pat’s expectations since they moved to The Woodlands in...

Continue Reading
Well-being Dr Trevor

Dr Trevor

Since moving to The Sidings in April, Trevor has enjoyed becoming part of a thriving community. “I’m more socially active here than I have...

Continue Reading

Joan and Bill

“We weren’t getting older, the neighbours were getting younger!” Joan and her husband Bill wanted to live life to the full without the worries...

Continue Reading

David

David moved to The Spindles at the end of April 2024, following his late wife’s advice: ‘Don’t become a slave to the house’.  The...

Continue Reading

Edna

After a major life event in February 2019, Edna wanted to move to an apartment with a friendly community and some practical support. Edna...

Continue Reading

Pam and Mike (and Honey the dog)

When Pam and Mike started looking at retirement communities, finding somewhere pet-friendly was an absolute must. Pam and Mike met for a drink in...

Continue Reading

John and Margaret

Before moving to The Woodlands in May 2022, John and Margaret had lived in their family house in Heald Green for 47 years. They...

Continue Reading
Why retirement living

Philip and Edna

Philip and Edna’s daughters were worried about their parents and wanted to make sure that help would always be on hand if they ever...

Continue Reading

Margaret and Keith

Since moving to The Spindles in November 2023, Margaret and Keith have made new friends and enjoyed entertaining old ones. Margaret: “It’s like an...

Continue Reading

Jane

When Jane moved to The Sidings in November 2022, she looked forward to becoming part of a thriving community.   “When you’ve had a very...

Continue Reading

Sue

Sue moved to The Woodlands in June 2022 to be closer to her family. “My decision to move here was a combination of wanting...

Continue Reading
Mrs-Sheffield-and-Daughter-Gill

Pauline and her daughter Gill

“I was a long way away from my daughter. Moving gave both myself and my daughter Gill a great peace of mind! I can...

Continue Reading
Dog friendly retirement community

Mavis

Moving to a retirement community with a canine companion At just six months old, Poppy is the youngest resident of Jacobs Gate, Adlington Retirement...

Continue Reading
Sheffield retirement living

Nigel and his daughter Maria

Nigel moved to Jacobs Gate in December 2020. His children, Maria and David, wanted to make sure he would be happy in his new...

Continue Reading
Sheffield retirement community homeowner

Anne

Anne wanted to join a thriving community and be closer to her family in Sheffield. Originally from Denton in Greater Manchester, Anne spent three...

Continue Reading
icon-leaf icon-minus-white icon-minus icon-plus-white icon-plus icon-quote-close icon-quote-open icon-quote play-single zoom-in zoom-out