Pat Langford, an 84 year old resident at Cherry Garth care home in Holmer Green, stepped back in time to revisit her career as a switchboard operator at the Holiday Inn London - Heathrow M4, Jct.4, 20 years after she retired.
A resident at Cherry Garth, Pat took part in The Trust’s 25th anniversary Wishes and Dreams campaign, created to help make 25 people’s wishes come true across its services.
Pat’s wish was to revisit the hotel which held so many fond memories for her from her working life. In a surprise twist, the Trust’s interim operational change director, Andrew Paul, worked alongside Pat at the hotel in the late 1990s and is still in touch with members of the team, so was able to help make her dream become a reality.
Pat was accompanied by her daughter, Sandra, and key worker, Sia, in a chauffeur-driven car to the hotel, where she was greeted by Andrew and a number of former colleagues.
She was treated to a guided tour of the hotel and was presented with a beautiful gold-wrapped, tiered box of chocolates by director of sales, Elena Frison. Pat really enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce with old friends and share stories of their time together at the hotel.
Commenting on the experience, Andrew Paul said:
“Our Wishes and Dreams campaign focuses on making people feel really special, as each experience is as unique as the individual. It was such a privilege to work with the team at the hotel to make Pat’s dream come true. She literally didn’t stop smiling all day!”
Pat’s daughter, Sandra, added:
“We thoroughly enjoyed our day and would like to thank everyone for making it happen. It was great for mum to have the opportunity to go back to that chapter in her life as it brought back some really happy memories.”
Paul Duggan, general manager of the Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4,Jct.4, commented:
“We were delighted to open our doors and welcome back Pat. It’s really special for us that she remembers her time at the hotel so fondly and chose to visit again as her wish.”