Care Home Resident Recalls Meeting Her Husband at Former Youth Club Where She Now Lives

Colleagues at HC-One’s Thamesfield care home in Henley have uncovered a lovely romantic story about a resident, Jean Young.

In the 1940s, the building where Thamesfield now resides was a youth club that Jean and her friends regularly attended.  One day while she was there having fun, a handsome young man entered through the front door. His name was Cyril Young, a former RAF recruit, and he and Jean hit it off immediately.

Fast forward 70 years, the former youth club is now a care home owned by HC-One and Jean is one of the lovely residents who lives there, in the very same building where she first locked eyes with Cyril.  She moved into the care home in November 2017.

After a few years of courting and going dancing at the youth club, the couple married in March 1949 at local St Mary’s Church. One of Jean and Cyril’s beautiful wedding photos is now on display in the Thamesfield reception area. Jean commented: “Every time I pass reception, it brings back happy memories.”

Their relationship and wedding day were a truly local affair. Jean’s wedding bouquet was even made by the father of Thamesfield’s current gardener all those years ago.

The newlyweds enjoyed a romantic honeymoon in London before living a beautiful life together. After many years, Jean eventually moved into the building, now a care home, where the pair met almost 70 years ago.  The couple were married for 53 years before Cyril sadly passed away in 2001.

Thamesfield Home Manager, Lina Nela, said: “Everyone has loved hearing this lovely story. How amazing that Mrs Young met her husband here and now, all those years later, lives here.  “It’s a story that warms your heart.”