Happy 70th Anniversary

To Gordon and Linda, at Parsons Grange in Shinfield

by The Care Uk Team

Love was in the air recently at Shinfield care home as two residents celebrated a very special milestone. Gordon Lovegrove and his wife Linda toasted their 70th wedding anniversary at Care UK’s Parsons Grange on Westall Street in Shinfield.

When asked the secret to their long-lasting marriage, the couple responded with “never go to bed on an argument.”

At the tender age of 20 and 17, dance lovers Gordon and Linda started their lives together after meeting at the old Olympia Ballroom in Reading. Gordon said:

“I will always remember the day we met. The thing I liked most about Linda was her smile.”

The pair were married at St John the Evangelist on Watlington Street on 24th July 1954, and later expanded their family, and welcomed two wonderful daughters into the world. They now have four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Former lorry driver Gordon reflected on the vital factors that have helped their marriage to thrive and survive through seven decades. He said:

“I would say the two main qualities that have helped our marriage to stand the test of time are patience and compromise. These are the most important aspects of a relationship. Of course, it also helps that the word ‘love’ is in our name.”

To celebrate the special milestone, the team at Parsons Grange decorated the home’s lounge with balloons and banners. The couple were surrounded

“I will always remember the day we met. The thing I liked most about Linda was her smile.”

← Gordon and Linda celebrated their 70th anniversary surrounded by family

The beautiful colourful interiors and delightful exteriors of Parsons Grange→ by loved ones, including their two daughters, as they reminisced on happy memories and enjoyed a delicious cake created by the home’s Head Chef.

Rozina Ali, Home Manager at Parsons Grange, said:

“We were honoured to be a part of such a special moment for Gordon and Linda. They are a wonderful couple, with lots of wisdom about building a strong and successful marriage that I think we could all learn from.”

We regularly celebrate big anniversaries and understand the importance of maintaining relationships and marking life’s milestones. The atmosphere in the home was wonderful and prompted many residents to reminisce and share fond memories of their own weddings.

“Happy anniversary, Gordon and Linda!”

To enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Parsons Grange has been designed with the residents in mind, the home has plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies as well as a café, hair salon, bar and a cinema for the residents to enjoy.

Jacqui Priestley spends five minutes with Wokingham based business owner, entrepreneur and family man - Jim Moore

How long have you lived in Wokingham, and what do you like best about it?

I moved to Wokingham in 2018 from the Camberley area. I like the market town atmosphere, and Wokingham has great transport links with easy access to the countryside.

Tell us about Hamilton Nash, how did that come about?

Dealing with the psychology of conflict and working with workplace disputes has always been interesting to me. Hamilton Nash was founded as an HR firm to focus difficult and sensitive workplace specific issues.

These can be difficult to deal with in-house if senior management are involved, even if you have an HR department, because the status and influence of the senior leader can make it difficult for witnesses to speak freely, and affect the perceived impartiality of the investigation. We’ve carried out a number of investigations involving senior executives, VPs and CEOs, including in well-known brands and multinationals. These need particularly careful handling! We’ve also expanded into offering employment law support, and we have lawyers within our team that can support employers with Employment Tribunal claims and settlements.

How did your business empire grow from the area of HR and employment law to the Lazy Frog Thai massage and spa located on the town’s Denmark Street?

My wife, Tassie, had worked as a massage therapist in London for many years but found herself stuck at home during lockdown. We talked about her dream of opening a truly authentic Thai massage salon, and I suggested that Wokingham was an ideal location. One thing led to another, and The Lazy Frog was opened in September 2021. Tassie is proud of her culture, and we really wanted to give people an experience that lived up to the best that Thailand has to offer. We’re delighted and grateful for the support we’ve had from the local community and our regular guests!

↑ Jim’s wife Tassie brings the many benefits of traditional Thai massage to the wonderful people of Wokingham. She uses scented oils, body scrubs, and more to create an experience that harmonises Thai and Western cultures

← The Lazy Frog is one of our favourite local businesses, and many of you will recognise them from many of our previous issues!

Where do you gain inspiration?

I’ve always been inspired by people who have shown great resilience; those who don’t give up, who pick themselves up after stumbling, and persevere until they succeed. We all have dark days, when we feel like throwing in the towel, and those people inspire me to find the strength to keep going.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

American playwright Wilson Mizner once said:

“Always be nice to people on your way up, because you’ll meet them again on your way down.”

It’s good advice! People may forget the specifics about what you said or did, but they won’t forget how you made them feel.

What would you say to someone starting out in business today?

Business is about calculated risk taking, not gambling. Know your market, do your research, and have a plan. That way, if you stumble, and we all do from time to time, you’ll recover more quickly.

What do you do to relax?

When I get the time, which isn’t often, I love composing music – both classical and modern.

What is your future ambition?

Ever since I saw the James Bond movie Moonraker in my youth, I’ve wanted an orbital fortress.

But in the meantime, I’ll settle for finishing the book I’m writing, and building up the business so it reaches the point where I can let my leadership team take care of day to day operations, and I can spend more time with my family.