My Abbeyfield Journey: Marjorie Fagg

From Committee Member to Resident

Marjorie Fagg, an 89-year-old former committee member, now a resident at Speedwell Court dementia-friendly care home in Southampton, shares her story of coming to live at Abbeyfield.

Early Life

"For many years, I lived on the Isle of Wight, while my children were all on the mainland. After my husband passed away, I worried that if I had a fall or an accident, it would be a long way for them to come and look after me or sort things out. I promised them that if it became a regular occurrence, I'd move back to the mainland, closer to where I could get the care I needed. That time eventually came, and I kept my promise, returning to Southampton."

Finding a Home at Abbeyfield

"One of the reasons I chose Speedwell Court as my new home was because of my previous involvement with Abbeyfield. While living on the Isle of Wight, I was on the committee of one of the houses run by the Abbeyfield Shanklin Society – the first of its kind to open on the island.

"My husband, Alec, was a member of the Shanklin Rotary Club and a local council accountant. Another Rotarian asked him to join Abbeyfield Shanklin as their Treasurer, and he agreed. Being the wife of a Rotarian, I was a member of the Inner Wheel (their sister organisation), and a friend of mine was on the committee of the other Shanklin house. With all this going on, I felt a double dose of pressure to get involved too! I took on a secretarial role, taking minutes at meetings and the like.

Life at Speedwell Court

"They look after everyone here wonderfully well, not just me! There are loads of activities to get involved in if you want. I particularly enjoy the quizzes and attending church services. It's good to have that sense of community. You don't have to join in with everything, but there are always options available, and the peace of mind of knowing the support is there if you need it. I'm not one for constant socialising – I quite enjoy my own company sometimes – so having the option of privacy is also incredibly important to me.

"The food here is very good too. You wouldn't expect Michelin-starred meals in a care home, but it's a very good standard nonetheless. There's a lot of variety on the menu, and if there's something I don't fancy, they'll always be happy to make me something else.

"The staff are excellent – they help me as much as they can, and I consider many of them friends. They also let me do things for myself as much as I can, while I'm still able. It's important to keep doing things for myself and be independent for as long as possible, and it's enough for them to just keep an eye on me to make sure I don't take a tumble."

89 Years Young

"I haven't a clue what the secret is to living this long! I still enjoy a glass of wine every evening, maybe that helps! I've lived through a world war, a cold war, and various recessions. I've learned that you just have to get on with it to get through things. And as for the future, well, I've decided I've got a long way to go yet!"

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