"Working here is very rewarding. You can make a real difference"

........says Churchill Lodge Manager Linda Collingwood

Linda Collingwood, Lodge Manager at Churchill Retirement Living's Churchill Lodge in Lilliput, near Sandbanks in Poole, has been in this post for three months, but has worked for Churchill for rather longer, previously as Lodge Manager at St Peter's Lodge in Portishead. However, she brings to the job around twenty years' professional experience in retirement homes, and is therefore very well qualified to assess the Churchill lifestyle and what it can offer people of retirement age.

Linda and her husband have worked together in retirement villages and homes in America, which are on a much larger scale than those in the UK. Following this, they moved back to the UK and ran a care village near Bath, owned by a South African company. Linda then reached retirement herself, but admits, "I didn't like it much” and decided to set herself a new challenge by going to Churchill Retirement Living, whom she says are "doing a great job.”

Of her new job, she says: "It's very interesting and very rewarding. You can make a real difference. You touch people's lives and they touch yours.” She is full of admiration for the Churchill Lodge Owners and their pro-active attitude to life, and their social scene certainly sounds engaging. A cocktail party and a wine and cheese evening are imminent, a Christmas lunch is in the process of being planned, and the summer has just been rounded off with a barbeque. Another idea is to hold a recipe exchange event with the local WI, something inspired by television's ‘Hairy Bikers' cookery duo.

Asked if she arranges the events, Linda says she prefers to just make a suggestion and let the Owners organise things themselves or develop their own ideas. In her opinion, they find this very stimulating and enjoyable. Linda sees the Owners making new friends in the process, the more reserved people starting to join in, and find their own niche in what she regards as a "real little community.” She realises however, that communal sociability may not be to everyone's taste. "You can get involved if you want to. It's up to you to find the right balance.”

Of Churchill Lodge itself, Linda says; "It's a beautiful site in a lovely area. There's a Tesco Express, doctors, banks, shops, and some nice places to eat, within walking distance. And of course, it's got the water, the Blue Lagoon, just a few minutes away.” The location has certainly attracted buyers from far and wide. One Owner has moved down from Scotland, another from Wales, another from Durham. The internet allows them to keep in touch with friends and loved ones, however. One way in which Linda helps is by showing them how to ‘Skype'; something which she readily admits is also something of a personal learning curve!

There are a number of one and two bedroom apartments still available at Churchill Lodge. All have the benefits of the Owners' Lounge, professionally maintained landscaped gardens, a Guest Suite, 24 hour Careline, and of course, the thoughtful attentions of Linda Collingwood.