New and old friendships thrive at Wimborne’s newest retirement community
Since the first homeowners moved into Wimborne’s newest retirement community, The Old Market Village is thriving with new friendships, shared experiences, and even chance reunions.
One heartwarming story is that of Judith Kent and Shirley Barber, who discovered they were former classmates from Bournemouth School for Girls after a chance meeting at a coffee morning. The pair shared all their lessons during their early years before eventually losing touch.
Their paths never crossed in the six decades that followed.
Shirley moved to London where she lived for over 30 years before returning to Bournemouth in 2003.
By chance, both Judith and Shirley, now 76, relocated to McCarthy Stone’s The Old Market Village independently, seeking a more manageable and fulfilling lifestyle in retirement.
Judith, a former personal tax professional, was one of the first residents to move in, drawn by the supportive community and comfortable apartments.
Meanwhile, Shirley, who worked for 33 years as a librarian with her partner John, 92, moved to downsize to a safer and more practical home.
“On chatting to each other, it was such a surprise to realise we’d gone to school together all those years ago,” Judith shares.
“Moving to a new place can be daunting, but reconnecting with Shirley and seeing a familiar face around has made The Old Market Village feel even more like home.”
Shirley adds: “When I realised it was the Judith Kent from our school days, I was completely stunned. It felt like such a remarkable coincidence.
“Seeing Judith here instantly made me feel at ease—it was like having a little piece of my past with me.”
Since their chance reunion, Judith (pictured left) and Shirley have enjoyed reminiscing about their school days, while also embracing the new vibrant community that has quickly been established at the retirement community since it opened its doors to residents last Autumn.
Shirley is a regular attendee at the film club and never misses the weekly coffee mornings. Meanwhile, Judith spends her time researching family ancestries and creating family trees for her friends to keep and cherish.
She also keeps busy with a daily Sudoku, regular exercise, and attending craft workshops. Both also love spending time with new-found-friends in the beautifully maintained gardens, which has come into its own this summer.
For Judith and Shirley, moving to The Old Market Village has been about so much more than just having a new address – it’s acted as a gateway to building meaningful connections in retirement.
Talking about the supportive new community that has formed at The Old Market Village, Judith smiles: “There’s always someone to chat with, whether it’s Shirley, one of my new friends, or the wonderful staff. It’s such a warm and welcoming environment. I feel so lucky to be here”
Reflecting on the benefits of making the move, Shirley concludes: “It’s good having people around; that feeling of security, knowing there’s always someone there if you need them, and the social things you can do if you want. And if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. It’s the perfect balance.”
The Old Market Gardens has 32 bungalows, while Market House, offers a selection of spacious one and two-bedroom apartments where both Shirley and Judith live. The combined offering, known as The Old Market Village, was rated as one of the best retirement villages in Britain by the Daily Mail earlier in the year.
Those living in both the bungalows and apartments have access to a communal lounge, on-site bistro, wellness zone and a hair and beauty salon.
For peace of mind, an Estate Management Team is on-site around the clock to provide tailored domestic support and personal care to suit individual needs, giving retirees the independence they desire while ensuring support is readily available.
Each property is also fitted with a 24/7 emergency call system, door camera entry, and an intruder alarm as standard.
With a range of purchase options available, a limited number of apartments and bungalows are still available for sale or to rent at The Old Market Village. To discover more about Retirement Living at McCarthy Stone, to arrange a viewing or to attend the birthday party on 7th October, please call 0800 153 3076 or visit www.mccarthystone.co.uk/the-old-market-village
