Care home resident's wish comes true with special convoy trip

The 78-year-old told staff at Colten Care's St Catherines View that he had previously owned an MG and recalled organised a similar outing for his late father when he reached the age of 90.  

After speaking with Ed’s wife Andrea about a suitable, last-minute treat for her husband’s approaching birthday, companionship team leader Laura Sheldrake passed on the couple’s request for another celebratory trip to the Winchester MG Owners’ Club.

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Steve Favell, club secretary, jumped at the idea and mobilised fellow members to arrive at the Stanmore Lane home ready to take Ed out.

As he stepped out to the St Catherines View car park, the former electrical engineer and software company boss was greeted with the sight of seven classic cars including MGs dating back to the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Ed Taylor ready for his classic car trip from St Catherines View care home (Image: Colten Care)

“It’s wonderful, I used to have one of those,” was Ed’s initial reaction, before taking his seat as Steve’s passenger in a bright red 1966 MGBGT accompanied by a carer. 

After the excursion, in and around Winchester, a delighted and grateful Ed said: “It was really good going for a drive. Thank you for my birthday present.”

Those involved in arranging the trip spoke of their joy at seeing how much it pleased Ed.

Andrea said: "It was truly amazing. I can’t believe how many members came out with their cars and at short notice. Ed was smiling ear to ear and to be able to do this for his birthday, as he did for his father’s, was beautiful.”

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Laura said: “This meant a lot to Ed. It was wonderful to see how happy it made him. We can’t thank Steve and the other club members enough for giving up their time and helping Ed relive some of his past.”

Steve said: “My mother suffered from dementia in her last years so it’s something I have personal experience of dealing with.  I especially realised how, sometimes, recognition of things that happened way back in the past, or even objects from the past, could suddenly trigger some long-term memories.

“When I received the request about Ed, I put it out to our membership and got a very good response.  But for the fact that a few were away on holiday or had other appointments that they had to keep, we would have had even more cars. 

“As it was, we had seven in total. As well as me, there was Chris Budden in his 1953 MG TD, John and Patricia Wheeler in their 2004 MG TF, Simon Burville in his 1970 MGB Roadster, Don Narramore in his 1972 MGB Roadster, and Andy Marsh in an MG TF from 2008. Alan Kingwell, who is without an MG at present, came along in a 1968 Daimler 250 saloon. 

"Ed seemed to enjoy his drive out and, being a 2+2, a familiar carer was able to sit in the backseat to accompany him, albeit a bit of a squeeze! 

“We were all really pleased to be of assistance and hope that seeing the old cars might have brought back some happy memories for Ed.”

On the convoy’s return to St Catherines View, Steve and the other members enjoyed tea and cake, chatting further with Ed about their shared love of classic motoring. 

Steve said: “We look forward to coming back for another trip perhaps as early as the summer and with even more cars!”

West Midlands-born Ed has qualifications in electrical engineering from Cardiff and Southampton universities. He worked in Brussels for five years, and after a period in England set up and ran his own computer software firm operating from New York and Denver, Colorado.

It was subsequently bought by an American company with offices worldwide and a UK headquarters in Maidenhead.

In retirement, Ed owned a variety of cars while pursuing other hobbies including skiing, singing and playing the recorder. 

An avid walker for years, he achieved his dream of doing the Coast to Coast Walk, from Carlisle to Whitby, in July 2006.