Winchester Care Home Residents Take a Vintage Steam Train Trip for VE Day

Residents from Abbotts Barton, our Winchester care home, were inspired by VE Day to enjoy a nostalgic 1940s-style journey on a vintage steam train.

Scroll down to watch a special video of our day out on the Watercress Line!

A group from Abbotts Barton joined fellow passengers for a scenic ten-mile journey along the Watercress Line from Alresford to Alton. The railway was decorated with red, white, and blue bunting, and many passengers and volunteers wore period clothing to capture the spirit of the 1940s.

One of our residents, Edna ‘Ruth’ Williams, was particularly delighted to return to the Watercress Line—she used to travel this very route to school from Alresford to Winchester.

Ruth shared:

“This trip has brought back so many happy memories for me. And I remember everyone celebrating the end of the war so clearly, it was a special day to be part of.”

Back at our Worthy Road home, residents marked VE Day with a traditional tea party—a wonderful chance to reminisce and share life stories. Several had even been in Trafalgar Square on VE Day itself.

Dorothy Fendrick, who was working for social services in London at the time, said:

“I remember the happy atmosphere. There were so many people. We were all very emotional, singing and dancing in the square. It was quite a remarkable sight.”

Home Manager Dee Lovewell commented:

“Both the trip on the Watercress Line and our in-home party gave us the opportunity to do VE Day proud.”

Don’t forget to watch our video below to see the highlights from this special day!