Residents at Cairdean House, a care home in Edinburgh, shared special poems with local children in a heartwarming intergenerational session. The children, from Colinton Primary School’s Year 3 class, visited the home on Redford Road for a reading session with the elderly residents.
One of the highlights was a reading by 92-year-old resident Rodger Beattie, who shared poems written by his late wife, Mary Beattie. Among the poems were “Moving House,” “Care,” “Dogs – Man’s Best Friend,” “Teddy,” and “Favourite Time of Day.”
Rodger and Mary, who married in 1976 after meeting at Edinburgh Zoo, had a deep connection through their shared love of poetry. Rodger said, “I thought the kids would enjoy the poems, especially the ones about animals. It brought back many memories of my wife, and I felt emotional and proud. We used to read these poems together on New Year’s Eve and at Christmas. It makes me proud to share her work with others. Poetry will always mean a lot to me.”
Taylor Baker, Deputy Manager at Cairdean House, expressed her joy at hosting the event. “It’s wonderful to welcome the local community into our home. Intergenerational activities like this are enriching for everyone. The children enjoyed the poems, and the residents appreciated the fresh perspective the young ones brought. It was a great opportunity for both generations to connect and spend time together.”
Baker added, “We were delighted to bring back fond memories for Rodger and hope the children left with a renewed love for reading.”
Cairdean House provides high-quality care, including full-time residential, nursing, and dementia care, as well as short-term respite services. The home is designed to help residents lead active, fulfilling lives.
