The secret of seniors week

From archery lessons to steam train rides, and from the cacophony of cabaret shows to quiet reflection at military memorials, Seniors Week packs a lot into seven days.

The weeks are full of activity, but are carefully constructed so that those who take part – most recently a party of 10 Members and two wives – have plenty of time to build friendships and share their own personal stories of the ups and downs of military life.

Seniors Week has been a regular, not to mention a hugely popular, part of the Activities Programme for some years now. Open to both Members and Widow(er)s over the age of 60, there are two a year – one in Spring, and the other in Autumn – with a focus on relaxing and socialising, as well as taking part in a number of gentle activities and sightseeing.

The most recent Week took place in October and was based at Alvaston Hall Hotel, near Nantwich in Cheshire. Set in award-winning gardens and featuring a spa, several restaurants and evening entertainment, it provided the Blesma party with the perfect base for a week that took in, amongst other things, visits to the Imperial War Museum North, the National Memorial Arboretum, a canal trip, and a steam train journey. Spa visits were arranged for the ladies one day, while the men were taken to a barbers for a hair cut and beard trim. There was even the opportunity to try archery and crossbow shooting. The result didn’t matter, claimed the men’s team – mainly because they lost to the sharp-eyed ladies!

The events and logistics, which included meticulous attention to both dietary and accessibility needs, had been taken care of months in advance by BSOs Kevin Long and Paul Findlay. It was the second time they had been responsible for Seniors Week and were determined that everything would go according to schedule so all the group had to do was enjoy each other’s company.

“Seniors Week was the first activity I took part in after I joined Blesma, and it has really evolved over the last four-anda-half years,” says Paul, BSO for London and the South East. “It was held at the Blackpool Home back then, which was great, but of its time. It could be difficult for Members in the South to get to, so many simply didn’t apply. Now, we move the venue around the country each time which has allowed us to think outside the box in terms of the activities we provide. The different facilities of each venue give us the opportunity to try different activities and get more people involved.”

Recent Seniors Weeks have been held in Scotland, Brighton and Cheshire, while the next one will be in Berkshire in May 2020.

“The activities are great but the most valuable times during the week are often the downtimes when the Members are just spending time together. That is so important! Some of the best comments I’ve heard this week have been whilst the Members have been sitting together at dinner,” adds Paul. “They have so much in common that there’s not the slightest hint of awkwardness. Some have been Members for years and some are new to Blesma, but before long they were swapping information and making friends with each other – soon it was like they’d known each other forever. We know from previous events that the Members stay in touch and continue to support each other long after they’ve gone their separate ways at the end of the week.”

A week that's tailored to you 

The events put on during the week are carefully spaced to give Members the time to relax and recover. As well as mixing as a group there is plenty of time to enjoy the hotel and spend time on their own.

“We tailor each week to the people on it and plan the activities so that everyone can enjoy them, making sure everything is accessible for everyone – even if they use a wheelchair or can’t walk too far,” says Paul. “I tell everyone at the start of the week that I guarantee they’ll leave with new friends having tried something they’ve never done before. This week, we’ve had people in their 90s trying archery and crossbow shooting for the first time. There are always a few who think: ‘I’m not sure I can do that’ or ‘That’s not for me’, but they surprise themselves when they give it a go.”

A visit to the poignant National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield in Staffordshire, was the highlight of the week for many. It offered Members a chance to pay tribute to fallen friends and relatives, and show their respect for the wider military community. Motorised buggies, complete with guides, were provided so Members could navigate around the 150-acre site and stop off at the relevant memorials, which includes the Blesma Garden and Armed Forces Memorial.

Sharing experiences at any age 

“Everyone we met during the week was in the same boat, and it was great that couples could take part because they could share advice and experiences too,” said 69-year-old former Grenadier Guardsman Eric Edwards, who took part with his wife Jennifer. He was full of praise for his first Seniors Week: “It was great to visit the Imperial War Museum, where I got chatting with a guy who had been a Tail-end Charlie in a Lancaster Bomber. He enthused about how the camaraderie in the RAF at the time was similar to that of Blesma now.

“It is also good to get together with other Members to have a natter about things, listen to different ideas, and share experiences. People would say: ‘Have you ever thought about this or that?’ and it is often a completely different way to approach a problem. It is like an information superhighway for Blesma Members!”

Kevin Long, BSO for the East, says that organising Seniors Week is an exercise in learning and refinement. “You’ve got to think about couples, amputees, people who can’t transfer easily… and we have to recce everywhere fully to make sure it is appropriate and accessible for everyone.

“We’ve had two arm amputees with us during the week and they’ve been able to share tips and tricks on how they cope with the challenges of life. Even at 90 years of age they are sharing, and that is the great thing about Blesma – you can share experiences whatever your age.

“We got great feedback from last year’s events, with a number of Members saying that Seniors Week is one of Blesma’s bestkept secrets. It gets people out of their home for a week – away from the same four walls in some cases – whilst others have not been on holiday for ages. Seniors Week is especially important for those who aren’t often able to get out and about."  

“How the Members bond is fantastic to watch – you can see the camaraderie develop. The socialising is empowering; they talk to each other and help each other. They are able to try things with confidence as they know Paul and I have checked the activities are all suitable, and having people around them is reassuring. We are opening a door for them to try new activities and the reward is seeing people really enjoying themselves, getting on, and experiencing something they may not have done on their own. That is fantastic!”