A Day to Remember: John and Sheila Step Back in Time at the Black Country Living Museum
15 July 2025
Parklands Court Residents John and Sheila, a devoted husband and wife duo, enjoyed a truly memorable day out as they celebrated their birthdays with a special trip to the Black Country Living Museum — a nostalgic journey that took them back through the decades of their youth.
As a joint birthday treat, the couple were accompanied on Tuesday, 8th July, by Wellbeing Coordinator Allie, Senior Carer Jack, and Maintenance Team Member Ryan for a delightful trip filled with history, laughter, and fond memories.
The group enjoyed a gentle stroll around the museum, exploring historic buses, cars, and traditional machinery. They watched a fascinating steelwork demonstration and visited heritage homes styled from the 1930s through to the 1960s, sparking heartfelt memories of times gone by.
One of the highlights was spotting filming locations from the popular television series Peaky Blinders, adding a modern twist to their historic day out.
But the moment John and Sheila looked forward to most? The iconic fish and chips cooked in traditional beef dripping — just like they remembered from their youth. The group later relaxed outside a vintage-style pub under sunny skies, where John enjoyed a lager and Sheila savoured a refreshing bitter lemon.
Before heading home, they visited the souvenir and sweet shop to pick up some nostalgic treats and explored the old co-op store, complete with ration books and 1960s pricing. Sheila recalled shopping there in her younger days, and John shared that he earned just £13 a week during his early working life — sparking warm conversations about life in their 20s and 30s.
“It’s been years since we last came here,” said Sheila. “It brought back so many memories.” John added, “It really was a lovely day out. We’ve enjoyed every minute.”
Mark Dale, Head of Hospitality shared his appreciation, saying:
“A huge thank you to everyone who made this heartwarming day so special — from our dedicated team at Parklands to the generous financial support of our supplier EF Group. The Day to Remember Scheme allows Residents to spend a day living their dreams or reliving memories of days gone by”
Naomi Daglish, Lead Happiness Ambassador, added:
‘A Day to Remember’ fits perfectly into our B Happie initiative, which focuses on helping our residents feel Safe, Connected, Relaxed and, most importantly, Happy. This trip embodied all of those values, and it was a joy to see John and Sheila so engaged, sharing memories and creating new ones”
A heartfelt thank you to all involved in making this day unforgettable — proving once again that happiness and meaningful connection lie at the heart of everything we do.
We are looking forward to sharing more stories from our ‘Day to Remember’ Scheme soon as more Residents are able to choose special days and opportunities for lasting memories, all made possible by EF Group.
