“Coming home” – Pat’s story of finding fulfilment at Landale Court in Chapelton

“As soon as I stepped foot inside Landale Court, I knew I’d come home.” Those were the heartfelt words from Pat, one of our cherished residents here at Landale Court. His sentiment perfectly captures the unique sense of belonging so many feel upon arriving at the vibrant Brio Retirement community offered at Chapelton.

After a rich life of family, career and personal growth, Pat has come full circle, returning to a part of the world that has always felt like home. He shared: “You never know what life may throw at you, but I’m embracing everything on offer here at Landale Court and I am finding life much more fulfilling now I live within this beautiful community.”

Born into a family with strong ties to farming, Pat pursued his passion for agriculture with a degree from Aberdeen University. His path later led him to London for a postgraduate qualification in plant physiology from Imperial College London. After marrying, he settled in Yorkshire, raised a family and built a rewarding career in the agricultural chemicals industry. Yet, Scotland was always calling him home.

With the arrival of grandchildren and the desire to be closer to loved ones, Pat returned north to work at the local agricultural college, working his way up to a Senior Tutor before retiring. Today, he is a proud father to two sons, two stepsons and a doting grandfather to eight grandchildren scattered across the UK and beyond.

Expanding on his deep love for family, Pat spoke of how the devastating deterioration of his wife’s health prompted him to move to Landale Court: “You try your utmost, but I had become utterly exhausted, and my health began to suffer – it’s a very difficult decision to make but she’s ever so well looked after.”

Pat admits he struggled with loneliness without his wife and didn’t enjoy living alone. That’s when he made the decision to move to a community that offered independence, with the reassurance of care if or when it’s ever needed. From the moment he arrived, Pat felt something special. “Landale Court has it all,” he said.

Now settled into a spacious three-bedroom home in Phase 2, Pat enjoys the perfect balance of privacy, comfort and community. One room serves as his study, while another is ready for visiting family. His youngest son and grandchildren live just 20 miles away – close enough for spontaneous babysitting and cherished family time.

Far from slowing down, Pat has embraced all that Landale Court has to offer. From coffee mornings and quiz nights to themed events and the Chapelton Men’s social group, there’s always something on the calendar. This spring, he’s looking forward to joining the gardening club and digging into another of his lifelong passions. “I’ll be 80 in May, but I feel younger than I have done for a long time,” he beams.

That first visit sealed the deal for Pat. He said: “From the moment I stepped foot into Landale Court I knew I had to move here! The team is so welcoming and eager to help. The entire place is so relaxing because everyone is so easy going – nothing is ever too much trouble … a very different experience from other retirement developments I’d viewed previously!”

What really sets Landale Court apart for Pat – and for many of our residents – is the peace of mind it brings. He said: “I moved here with my long-term head on – thinking I may not be as able in the future, but for now I’m very independent and plan to stay that way! It’s also peace of mind for my kids too – knowing support can be on my doorstep within minutes if I ever need it. We all feel much more content and that’s how life should feel.”

He concluded: “I must say how delighted I am to be here – the staff are just wonderful and go out of their way each and every day to make life here so easy and enjoyable. I had a small fall a little while ago and the team were amazing – attending to me immediately and they came to check the bump on my knee the next day too. I really can’t express how appreciative I am of all they do – everyone is so jolly and it’s a pleasure to be in their company. Our General Manager, Morag, and her entire team are just superb. I genuinely cannot recommend Landale Court highly enough to anyone. I’m very, very happy I came home.”

Brio Retirement at Landale Court is a community dedicated to improving the quality and experience of later life. It features a community hub with a range of facilities including Slate & Grain Brasserie and Bar, wellbeing suite, arts and crafts room, a Club House for events and socialising, and more. 

Brio has built retirement living with your needs at heart, whether that be living an independent lifestyle, or with more tailored care if required. Homes start at £173,250, with renting options also available.

Interested in learning more about Brio Retirement in Chapelton? Visit: https://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/partners/brio-retirement-living/

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