Local care home residents have created a giant art collage to celebrate their happy memories spent at the seaside.
Sun, sea and smiles inspired the residents to create the bright piece of art which is now decorating their home.
The art therapy project has also helped the residents of Abbots Wood Manor Care Home in London Road use their memories and stories to seal their friendship.
Conversations between residents and staff uncovered the ‘moments’ that were used as the inspiration for each detail adding to the colourful collage.
Resident Marie Fuller, aged 89, spoke about how she was inspired by her happy memories of the seaside and her childhood in Scotland.
The former leisure and tourist agent said: “There was a sense of freedom going to the seaside, where my six brothers and I would swim and play in the sand. Every year we went to Whitley Bay for our holidays.”
Marie always remained active and even became a champion hurdler in her youth. She lived in Hailsham before moving to Abbots Wood.
Resident Betty Bryant, aged 90, also recalled her seaside memories and was inspired by memories of her mum who would take a group of excited children to the beach.
She said: “I remember how cold the sea was and how a lunch of sandwiches was difficult to eat as the sand got into the food, which I didn’t much like.”
Betty even ended up living with her late husband in a pretty cottage on the coast in Normans Bay in the Pevensey Levels area but admits she but preferred what nearby towns had to offer.
She added: “It all felt a bit remote, we didn’t have running hot water and would collect water from a standby pipe in buckets, which needed to be boiled before use.”
One-hundred-year-old Lancashire born resident Donald Greenwood, added his personal touch to the collage inspired by his memories of taking his family to Blackpool, where they would enjoy the illuminations, a stick of rock, fish & chips, cockles, and eating jellied eels.
Resident Betty Turner, aged 90, took her inspiration from holidays spent at her family caravan near Winchelsea beach and her memories of collecting seashells and stones which she used to decorate her garden.
The communal project has been created over the summer period, with each resident invited to add their creative hand to the collage, inspired by happy memories spent by the sea.
Wellbeing and Lifestyle Coach Janet Stead said: “This project was about getting people together and helped forge some fun and close friendships.
“It’s been a bit like making a giant communal quilt with everyone adding their own signature.
“It’s often the small moments and memories that can actually make the most difference to someone’s life, and those are the ones we cherish. They give meaning, bring hope and really support our wellbeing.”
Abbots Wood home manager Helena Barrow said: “This activity was about bringing together everything that has been important to our residents over the past year, reflecting upon that and being creative.
“The seaside is generally such a happy place and this project helped everyone reflect upon those magical times.”
