From the comfort of home
Up until only 12 months ago, John Burdett was still a season ticket holder at his beloved Leeds United at the ripe old age of 90. Although mobility issues mean John has not been able to be at Elland Road to see Leeds’s return to the Premier League, he has still been watching their progress. He does this from the comfort of the home he now lives in on his granddaughter Nicola’s property. He receives support from Caremark Kirklees.
Nicola jokes that she never used to like football. However, having her beloved grandad at home means she now watches the games with him.
“I saw my first game in 1950 when you paid a half a crown at the turnstile to get in, and I got my first season ticket in 1959,” says John.
“I had several different seats in the west stand until I got the one I had always coveted. However, the stairs to my seat finally got the better of me. It was harder getting in and out of cars. So now I am an armchair supporter.
“I have lots of nice memories of seeing great players like John Charles and some of the great Leeds team that played in Europe. Although we don’t talk about the European Cup final of 1975 when we were robbed!”
An interesting and colourful life
John spent his entire working life as an electrician. He started with the Yorkshire Electricity Board (YEB) and then eventually ran his own business.
“My dad told me I should be a plumber because he said I would make more money outside of work with that trade. But I had my heart set on being an electrician,” says John.
“My mum took me to the YEB on a Friday and said my son wants to be electrician. I started work the following Monday.”
John also did National Service for the RAF during the Korean War. And whilst he was never posted abroad, he jokes that he helped to win it, and that he flew American fighter planes because they were “short of pilots.”
“I like to tell stories and sometimes a few lies are better than the actual truth,” he jokes.
The Care Assistants are absolutely fantastic
John moved in his lovely annexe home around 18 months ago after finding it more difficult to manage in his previous home.
We began providing support to John recently and our Care Assistants visit him three times a day.
“I think they’re absolutely fantastic,” he says.
This is echoed by Nicola who says: “They are very thorough in whatever they do. We couldn’t have coped without the support.
“They do exactly what Grandad asks of them and they are incredibly helpful.”
About Caremark Kirklees
If you are interested in finding out more about our home care in Kirklees services, please do not hesitate to get in touch today on 01484 211281 or contact Caremark Kirklees.