A MEETING between Westmead Residential Care Home activities coordinator Kate Lockwood and resident Eileen Collett proved the age-old adage that it really is a small world.
Eileen began work at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Factory aged just 13, where she became friends with Kate’s grandfather Owen, who passed away when Kate was only three.
While talking one day, Kate showed Eileen some photos of Owen, which brought memories flooding back.
Kate said her heart melted when she first found out about her special connection with Eileen.
The pair now enjoy sharing stories about Owen, who was 15 when he met Eileen.
Eileen was there when Owen had a terrible accident at the porcelain works which resulted in him losing his arm.
Someone had turned on a lathe Owen was repairing, but he survived and was offered a job for life.
Kate has shared newspaper cuttings about the accident as there were many articles and fund-raising events held for Owen at the time.
The new friends now often reminisce with Eileen telling Kate tales about her times in the Women’s Land Army during the war picking crops in the fields.
Kate said: “It has been so interesting meeting someone outside our family who knew him and can tell me stories about him.
“Eileen has told me about when he and my grandmother got together and how in love they were.”
