Care home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for him.

Paul, who lives at the Thistle Hill Care Centre in Knaresborough, had always wanted to return to the holiday resort as it held many happy memories for him. 

He has lived at at Thistle Hill for 11-years and staff at the home were determined to make his dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to him.

Staff first found out about Paul’s dream two years ago when discussing favourite holiday memories with him.

The Northern Echo: Care home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for himCare home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for him

He reminisced about his stay at the Bond Hotel in 1995.

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He spoke fondly of the people of Blackpool and how kind and welcoming they were to him and, ever since then, staff have been dedicated to helping him return there.

They maganed to arrange a trip, accompanied by two Thistle Hill staff members, and Paul said he 'was on the verge of tears' when he was told.

The Northern Echo: Care home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for himCare home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for him

He added: "It is such an amazing feeling to know that such a loving group of people care so much about me that they helped me to live out a dream – and I didn’t even ask.”

Mandy Scott, general manager at the home, said: “We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here at the Thistle Hill Care Centre.

"It was so nice to see how happy Paul was – and the staff loved being a part of this as well.”

The Northern Echo: Care home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for himCare home staff have helped resident Paul Barker re-live his holiday memories after arranging a surprise trip to Blackpool for him

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