Beckett Intake assist Community
Beckett Intake, from RAF Halton’s Recruit Training Squadron, has carried out a community project at The Cherry Tree Nursing Home in Wendover. They undertook various manual jobs including fence painting, general maintenance of the property and sanding down the sheds and woodwork in preparation for painting. Later in the day they spent time with the residents.
AC Lund said: “On Saturday, 50 volunteers from Beckett Intake, including myself, chose to help out at The Cherry Tree Nursing Home to offer assistance with our 100 spare hands. As well as doing manual work we spent time with the residents, gaining an insight into their past and also offering our own stories about previous escapades prior to joining the Royal Air Force. The occupants of Cherry Tree welcomed us with a sandwich lunch for our work, which only encouraged us to complete our jobs with the upmost diligence.
After lunch we repainted the sheds and made sure all areas were tidied away and left immaculate (better than most of our Halton bed spaces). After saying our farewells, and posing for a team photo with both recruits and residents, I caught up with some of the troops and asked them how they felt about the experience. AC peacock said: ‘It was nice to help out the older generation.’ AC Scott added: ‘We thoroughly enjoyed doing something for the community representing the Royal Air Force.’ All in all, it was a great afternoon and a pleasure for us all to give something back to the community.”
Cpl Kym Williams who supervised the visit, said: “I think the day was incredibly successful, getting a significant amount of work done and building what will hopefully be a lasting relationship with the home. They have already expressed an interest in Beckett returning again in the future.”
Nichola Gill, Manager of the nursing home, said: “The residents and staff felt really uplifted by the visit from Beckett Intake and we hope to see them back again as it has remained a talking point for days and the effort put into the chores was first rate. One resident’s daughter commented that her Mum had worked at Halton for over 20 years and was thrilled to tell us about her visitors from the Royal Air Force. It seemed to put a sparkle back in her eyes and excitement in her voice; it is amazing what a person in uniform can do.”
