A resident's tale
Whilst a resident at Lakeside Care Home, John Fisher, now 91 completed writing his memoir in 2022.
“I started this about a couple of months after I came here, having had a stroke, I recovered very well and I kept my faculties, I didn’t lose speech or eyesight or hearing and fortunately do happen to have a good long-term memory.
“And so, I decided I’d do it, just for my family. It is not for any public circulation. What happens with old people is that they intend to do something like this if they’re capable and leave memories for their children, but they don’t, and the Almighty carries them off, so to speak.”
With anecdotes from his early life, school, industry and Technical College, John went on to university to start a career in dentistry, mainly teaching clinical work and research. One example of the last was six months spent on Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, where he carried out dental treatment for the inhabitants of this remote island and conducted research.
“I’ve missed opportunities in my time, and you always kick yourself for your timidity. So, when the chance came to go to a remote place, I took it straight away.”
Known around the home for his dry humour, his memoirs continue in the same style.
The memoir, initially written in hand by John and typed up by his sister-in-law, is something for his family for years to come, a chance for them to learn more about him, and associated social history. Some of the text reflects his interest in climbing at home and abroad, a big feature of his life.
“I’m not a historian making a big deal of it, it’s just that if my boys have children, they’ll say what did your grandad get up to then, so this is something to show them.”
To learn more about Lakeside Care Home, click here.
