Life in Chapelton through the eyes of a retiree

Chapelton is home to people of all ages, from newborn babies to the elderly. Our vibrant community welcomes people from all walks of life. With this in mind, we wanted to find out what life in Chapelton is like for an older resident.

So, we’re excited to introduce Frances – a colourful and much-loved member of our Chapelton community, who lives at Brio Landale Court. You may or may not know Frances, but here she shares more about her life, what brought her to Chapelton, and why she loves to call it home.

Born in Leeds in 1942, Frances moved to Edinburgh in early adulthood, where she married her first husband and had her two daughters. She began working as a librarian and pursued a wide range of hobbies, always maintaining a strong interest in art. It was this passion that led her husband, a geologist, to put her forward for a role as a cartographic draughtsman – a professional map maker – with the British Geological Survey.

“I was so excited when I got the job,” she explains. “In those days, nothing was done on computers – everything was done by hand.” She was given detailed information from geologists and tasked with bringing it all together on meticulously layered maps. “It was incredible. I loved it. It was all about attention to detail – taking the information you’ve been given and making sense of it.” Through this work, Frances discovered that her artistic ability and precision were perfectly suited to the role.

Alongside her professional life, music played a hugely important role for Frances. While living in Edinburgh, she sang with the Edinburgh Grand Opera Group, an amateur company, for nine years. Singing became a lifelong passion and a defining part of her identity.

During the 1970s, she went on to create seabed maps for the rapidly expanding North Sea oil industry, compiling geological data gathered by offshore drilling teams.

“After a while, we moved to Aberdeenshire,” she recalls. Frances worked briefly in planning before joining Offshore Design Limited in Aberdeen, where she managed and organised a series of technical manuals for the Magnus oil platform. 

During this time, she was offered the opportunity to go offshore, but first had to complete helicopter safety training. “I was the only woman, and I was in my fifties,” she says. “At the time, I thought, well, that’s something to tell my grandchildren. I was quite proud of that.” Despite being well outside her comfort zone, Frances completed her training and spent several days offshore – an experience she still looks back on with pride.

It was also around this time that she met her second husband. And after more than 30 years living together in Catterline, Frances and her husband began to think about the future. With a large garden becoming harder to manage and daughters living further afield – one in Switzerland and the other in St Albans – they wanted somewhere that offered security, independence and community.

By chance, they discovered Brio Landale Court during an open day. “We came along to have a look, and it was just perfect for us – and we still love it. It’s an amazing place,” Frances says. Although they wanted to downsize, they didn’t feel suited to apartment living, so when they set eyes on their cottage, they immediately knew it was the right fit.

After two years in Chapelton, Frances describes the community as “like one big family”. She particularly enjoys the layout and design of the town, especially how easy it is to walk everywhere – one of her favourite aspects of daily life.

“It’s perfect for going out for walks, the way it’s been designed. I’m so proud of what the Duke and Duchess have done with Chapelton. It’s a wonderful town for any age, and I would recommend it to anybody.”

There is always something going on, from coffee mornings and craft sessions to music and organised trips. The gym has become a surprising favourite. “I’m not a gym person,” Frances says, “but I’ll go three times a week.” She especially enjoys the gentle movement and Tai Chi-style classes. “It’s use it or lose it,” she laughs.

What makes it work, she believes, is accessibility. “If it’s accessible, you’ll use it. I don’t have to get in a car and go miles – it’s just down below. Two minutes, and I’m there. I really feel very lucky!”

If she’s ever in need of a blether, Frances knows exactly where to go. “You just come into Slate and Grain for a coffee,” she says. “There’ll always be somebody there, or a member of staff who’ll stop for a chat. You’re never lonely here.”

“My favourite thing about Chapelton is the people – they’re lovely,” Frances adds. She explains that there’s also a coffee morning every Tuesday, which is a great chance to catch up. Not everyone comes every week – you come when you can – but if someone isn’t there, you notice. “You wonder where they are and you look out for them.”

With a lifelong passion for art – including having her own garden studio and taking part in North East Open Studios – creativity remains an important part of who Frances is. She now enjoys the community craft classes available at Brio Landale Court. “There’s a craft class where we make all sorts of things,” she says. “There’s something almost every day if you want to do it.”

Music continues to be just as central. After moving to the Stonehaven area, Frances joined the Stonehaven Chorus, where she sang for 37 years. During that time, she took part in many singing tours across the UK and Europe, performing in numerous cathedrals – experiences she looks back on with great pride. 

For Frances, Chapelton isn’t just a place to live – it’s a place where she feels connected, supported and at home. “I feel really lucky,” she says. “I’m just so happy here.”

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