Graham had an impressive career across the print industry, starting straight from school at a large company. He recalls that there was “a real buzz” in the industry at that time, with many parts of towns and cities dedicated to the print industry in all its forms, and businesses with huge buildings that housed the whole printing process under one roof.
He chose to come and live at Southwood Court, the Printing Charity’s sheltered Almshouse development in Basildon, Essex, because he was looking to the future and considering needs in that context.
“The home is its own sanctuary.”
He recalls his first viewing of his first floor Southwood apartment. “As soon as I walked in, I had that feeling – ‘this is for me’”, he remembers. “The home is its own sanctuary, you could be anywhere in the country at Southwood.” His niece, who joined him for the visit, also felt it was the perfect place for him.
There were a number of reasons for this, as Graham explains: “The huge floor to ceiling window in the lounge is fantastic. It’s a great space, fully-carpeted, and the kitchen – well, my niece says it’s better than the one she has in her house! In my privately-rented flat, the kitchen was nothing like that.”
Plenty of activities in the home and the local area
A relatively new resident, Graham is settling into life at Southwood. “It’s very quiet, very peaceful and very secure. I really appreciate that, the whole environment is well-suited to me now. I love my own space, music and reading, but it’s good to have activities in the home as an option as I’m also very active, getting up early to get out and about. I love my days out. I’ve already got a local bus pass!”.
Graham is enjoying getting to know the local area. “There’s an activity centre for over 55s advertised on the board in Southwood,” he says, “And I’ve been down to have a look, and might sign up. It’s very local, and a very sociable environment.” His nephew lives close by – “I can walk to him in 25 minutes”, and he’s already visited Leigh-On-Sea, which is only three stops away by train. “Leigh-On-Sea’s a lovely place,” he says. “You can get into London very easily, too.”
For people considering their next steps in retirement, Graham advises: “Come and see if for yourself to decide if it’s for you. I’d recommend it for people looking for a secure, peaceful environment.”
There are vacancies in our Almshouses in Basildon and in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes. Visit our independent living web pages to learn more, and contact our friendly team on support@theprintingcharity.org.uk