An 89-year-old Timperley resident has rekindled her lifelong passion for American wrestling - thanks to the thoughtful staff at her care home.
Brenda Shaughnessy, a resident at Timperley Care Home, was recently treated to a special night out at a wrestling show at Wythenshawe Forum in Manchester, fulfilling a wish that brought back cherished memories from her past.
Unlike many of her peers, Brenda's passion isn't for typical elderly pastimes. Her love for American wrestling dates back to the 1970s when she and friends regularly visited Stamford Hall in Altrincham to watch the high-energy spectacle.
The tradition began even earlier at her Nana's house, where every Saturday at 3 o'clock, the family would gather around the television to watch the action.
"From the moment she arrived at the venue, Brenda was in her element," said Iwona Pawelczyk, Lifestyle Co-ordinator at the care home.
"She cheered, she booed, and got fully involved in the excitement of the night, shouting phrases like 'Fight, fight, fight!' and even cheekily chanting 'Cheat, cheat, cheat!' just like in the old days."
Brenda particularly enjoyed seeing families and children at the event, noting that while the sport hasn't changed drastically over the years, "the opponents look a lot tougher now!".
Tracy Mitchell, Manager at Timperley Care Home, said: "Brenda's experience reminds us all that age is just a number. Her love for wrestling, her enthusiasm, and her youthful spirit prove that passion never fades. It was an honour to bring back such wonderful memories for her."
The special outing was organised by the Lifestyle Team at Timperley Care Home, part of the Kingsley Healthcare Group, who focus on incorporating residents' past hobbies and interests into their activities programme.
