Sandra and Graham

“It really does feel as though we’ve come home.” That’s how Sandra Ball describes life at The Newells, where she and husband Graham are enjoying being closer to family, reconnecting with old friends and looking ahead to the future. 

 The couple, both aged 79, have been married for more than 57 years. Together they have raised two daughters, built successful careers, enjoyed an active social life and forged lifelong connections with the Bedfordshire community they have always called home. More than a year after moving to The Newells, they say they cannot imagine living anywhere else. 

“We met through ten-pin bowling,” smiled Graham. “There used to be a bowling alley in Bedford called League West Lanes. That’s where we met.”  The couple married after buying their first home together six months earlier. “We spent every weekend doing it up,” said Sandra. “Graham did all the decorating.” 

Their careers took very different paths. Graham joined what was then the Post Office Telephones as an apprentice and spent his entire working life with the organisation as it evolved into BT. “I joined as an apprentice and worked my way through the engineering ranks before moving into management,” he said. “By the end of my career I was managing teams across Bedford, Luton, Oxford, Reading and Aldershot, with around a hundred people altogether.” 

 Sandra trained as a hairdresser before taking time out to raise the couple’s daughters. Later, she worked for Sainsbury’s in Kempston. “I worked there for nearly 30 years and absolutely loved it,” she said. “Everybody got on so well with each other. Most of us started out part-time and, as the girls got older, I gradually increased my hours. It was a wonderful place to work.” 

Away from work, both enjoyed busy, active lives. Graham played football, rugby, squash and badminton before discovering a passion for bowls that became a huge part of his retirement. “I’ve always been competitive,” he laughed. “I wanted everybody at the club to have the chance to play in county competitions.” 

His name still appears on honours boards at local bowls clubs and, after retiring from BT, he also spent 10 years working as a gardener at Bedford School before helping to maintain local bowling greens. Sandra enjoyed aquacise classes, cycling and singing with a local charity choir, where she has now been a member for more than 10 years. “We raise money for charity and perform across the area,” she said. “it’s something I’ve always really enjoyed.” 

When life changed 

The couple had already faced a number of health challenges in recent years when Graham began experiencing serious problems with his spine. “We’d already been through quite a lot, and then everything seemed to happen at once when Graham started having problems with his spine and began falling over,” said Sandra. 

What initially appeared to be a knee problem turned out to be a bony growth on Graham’s spine, pinching the nerve running down his right leg. “I gradually lost my confidence,” he said. “I couldn’t drive anymore and even getting in and out of our apartment became difficult. “If I wanted to go out, I had to go down 32 steps and then climb all the way back up again. The first time I really realised something was wrong was when I fell getting out of the shower. After that, everything became more and more difficult.” 

Leaving their riverside apartment overlooking the River Great Ouse was not an easy decision. “It was a beautiful apartment,” said Sandra. “It was light, unusual and we really loved living there. “But seeing Graham struggle every day was heartbreaking. I was losing weight and my sister became really worried about me. Eventually I said, ‘We’ve got to do something about this.'”  

Finding a way forward  

Although they knew The Newells was being built, retirement living had never been part of their plans. “We loved where we lived, so we never imagined we’d move here,” Sandra explained. In fact, when she first arranged to look around, she had no intention of liking it. “I went fully expecting not to like it,” she laughed. “I took one of my daughters with me and afterwards I asked her what she thought. “She said, ‘Oh my goodness, they’re beautiful.'” 

Sandra returned several more times with different members of the family before persuading Graham to visit. “I couldn’t make a decision without him,” she said. “But by then he couldn’t physically walk around.” The team arranged a wheelchair so Graham could see the community for himself. 

“The very first thing that impressed me was the gardens,” he said. “Everything looked so neat, tidy and beautifully cared for.” Having spent years working as a gardener at Bedford School and maintaining bowling greens, Graham immediately appreciated the care and attention that had gone into the landscaping. “I’m quite particular,” he admitted. “The gardens were absolutely lovely.” 

The couple moved into The Newells in June 2025 and, a few months later, Graham underwent successful spinal surgery. “From the moment I woke up, the pain I’d been living with had gone,” he said.  Although he continues to attend physiotherapy, his recovery has transformed everyday life. “I’m so much better now than I was.” 

Coming home 

For Sandra, returning to Kempston has felt like coming home. “It really does feel as though we’ve come home,” she said. “My friends from the choir all said, ‘You’ve come back home now, Sandra,’ and that’s exactly how it feels. “We’ve lived in Bedfordshire all our lives, our daughters are nearby and everything we need is here.” 

Being closer to family has made a real difference. “Our daughters both live in Kempston,” said Graham. “When we lived in Bedford it could easily take them an hour in traffic to come and see us. Now one of them walks round.” The couple also love spending time with their young great-grandson. “He’s absolutely beautiful,” said Sandra. 

Independence on their own terms 

Although they enjoy taking part in activities at The Newells, they particularly value the independence that comes with having their own apartment. “Once you close your front door, it’s your own home,” Sandra said. “You’ve still got your independence. “We join in with things when we want to, but we also enjoy spending time in our own apartment. It’s the best of both worlds.” 

The gardens remain one of their favourite places. “We often take a cup of tea outside and sit in the garden,” Sandra said. “We’ve made some lovely friends here, including Steve and Terri, and we enjoy playing cards together on sunny afternoons.” Sandra has also brought one of her favourite hobbies into the community by organising a performance from her charity choir. “I wasn’t sure how many people would come,” she said. “But it was absolutely lovely and the feedback afterwards was wonderful.” 

For both of them, however, it is the people who make The Newells special. “It’s the staff,” said Graham simply. “It’s the atmosphere.” Sandra agreed. “When friends come to visit, the staff will ask if we’d like the parasols putting up in the garden or the cushions bringing out. They really do go above and beyond for everyone. “They can’t do enough for you.” 

Looking ahead 

Although Graham is still working hard with his physiotherapy, he already has his sights set on the future. “My aim is to keep building up my exercises over the summer, have some practice roll-ups and hopefully get back into league bowls in September,” he said. After everything they have been through over the past few years, it is a goal that feels well within reach. “We’re so happy here,” said Sandra. “It’s peaceful, we’re close to our family and we’ve still got our independence. “It really does feel like we’ve come home.” 

For Graham, the prospect of stepping back onto the bowling green is a reminder of just how far he has come. “A year ago, I could barely walk properly,” he said. “Now I’m looking forward to getting back out onto the bowling green.”