Testimonials

  • Second time lucky for Mr and Mrs Ridsdale Clevedon

    Brian and Christina Ridsdale moved to Audley Clevedon from the Lake District, having sold their family house. They first heard about Audley two years previously when they had been looking for a long term plan to find somewhere to retire to.

    Originally from Bradford, the Ridsdales initially moved to a retirement complex in Dorset when they first retired. However, this turned out to be too far from family and so they moved back to the Lake District. Clevedon has now provided them with the perfect solution - a retirement village close to their daughter who now lives in Bingley.

    Brian said, 'We wanted to be somewhere quiet, but close enough to town for getting out. We also enjoy walking, so having the Lake District countryside on our doorstep is perfect. Having a community on our doorstep, with like-minded people sharing common interests, is also a great attraction.'

    Christina continued, 'The facilities at Clevedon are beyond expectations and the spa and swimming pool definitely appealed. We're also looking forward to hosting our friends, having dinner in the restaurant and using the guest suite.'

  • Flete House's latest arrivals Flete House

    Welcome to Mr and Mrs Graeme McDiarmid who have just taken up residence in historic Flete House in Devon, having bought the 3-bedroom tower apartment. 'We snapped it up even though we weren't ready to move in at that time,' explained Graeme. 'There aren't that many tower apartments in castles for sale after all!'

    'We've always loved Devon, and Flete is a wonderful place to live. My wife and I love the countryside here and there are some very pretty villages roundabout which have a lot to offer. Being able to walk to the sea in 45 minutes through the Flete Estate is fantastic.'

    'Both Lorna and I love the idea of having our privacy when we want, but having the option of joining our new neighbours on the tennis court, croquet lawn, playing golf or snooker when we feel like it. We've made a lot of good friends here in the last two months and are looking forward to getting a lot out of life at Flete.'

  • A change for the better - Mr and Mrs Sears Mote House

    Mr and Mrs Sears moved into Mote House retirement village near Bearsted in Kent. The couple split their time between England and a second home in Cyprus and, as it was increasingly difficult to find someone to watch their house in the UK when abroad, they wanted something that would be more secure when they were away.

    They had looked at downsizing but were introduced to the retirement village concept by another expat in Cyprus, who had recently moved to a complex in Warwickshire. They started looking at the options and after viewing several plans, they finally found Audley Mote House, located in Mote Park. The active couple wanted independent living but with the reassurance that their home would be looked after, without having to rely on friends and neighbours. The proximity to amenities also appealed.

    Having experienced a vibrant community life in Cyprus, they were particularly encouraged by the social life that Audley Mote House will offer.

    Mrs Sears said, "We've moved from a family sized house to a home that has everything a couple could wish for. We've only downsized in the sense that we have fewer bedrooms; the actual living space is still quite large. Plus a luxury en-suite guest room, which is perfect for when family and friends come to visit.

    'Since we've moved here, we have spent time in the park and feel really privileged to have all of this open space on our doorstep. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and I feel completely at ease walking by myself.'

  • Where Downsizing is on the Up! St Elphin's Park

    Mr and Mrs Belk moved from their four bedroom house in Nottingham, home for the last 25 years, into a two bedroom house in St Elphin's Park, near Matlock in Derbyshire.

    The Belks, keen to move to Derbyshire, had seen the village when it was first in development. Mr Belk's sister in law had been head of the preparatory school at St Elphin's Park some years before. They were impressed with the proposed facilities the development would offer and therefore made the decision to put their house on the market.

    Mr Belk said: 'We were fortunate that our house was sold immediately and at the asking price. We had been thinking about moving to a smaller property for a while and decided to make the move to St Elphin's Park as it offered us the chance to maintain our independence and promised us wide ranging facilities including care and extra support if necessary.

    We felt strongly about downsizing, particularly as one of our two sons lives in San Francisco, and we did not want our family to have to deal with sorting out a large property in later years. Although the move was an upheaval, it seemed the right time to do it, so we can enjoy the rest of our retirement in our new home. The proposed guest suite available for use by friends and relatives means that having a smaller property will not be a problem."

    Mr and Mrs Belk go to the local leisure centre several times a week but look forward to having the fitness suite and pool facilities on their doorstep. They are also looking forward to hosting their Golden wedding anniversary at the Audley restaurant next year.

    Mr Belk continued: 'We are enjoying our new environment and have already taken part in events organised by the general manager, including a trip to the Buxton Opera House and Bakewell Show. Many bus journeys are possible from the bus stop outside the gate - Bakewell, Buxton, Derby, Manchester, Sheffield and even London, which means that we can continue with our normal lifestyle and stay active.'