Retirees Enjoy Visit from Furry Four-legged Friends!

There was a meet and greet with a difference for residents, family members and staff at Thamesfield retirement village last Wednesday.

VIPs for the day were Enzo and Scally, alpaca half-brothers from Wyld Court Farm near Reading.

The highly-anticipated visit certainly didn’t disappoint residents and guests at the village, with the cheeky chaps making a grand entrance to the packed lounge.

Valerie Johnson, well-being co-ordinator at Thamesfield, said: “The lounge was full of residents and everyone got a turn in stroking the alpacas; surprised at how very well behaved they were and how thick their fur was!”

They then visited residents in their rooms in the village’s nursing home, including Mrs Hurley – who at almost 100 years-old was invited to feed the two-and-a-half-year-old alpacas and learned a little about them; including that their fur is cut each May.

Valerie added: “Everyone really enjoyed meeting them and have asked for them to return very soon.”