Beechwood Park hosts its very own Antiques Roadshow with silver expert and resident Marianne

Friends and neighbours at Brio Retirement Living’s Beechwood Park enjoyed their very own ‘Antiques Roadshow’ with resident Marianne Turk who’s celebrated her 95th birthday earlier this month.

Marianne, who has lived at Beechwood Park in Stow-on-the-Wold for almost two years, hosted the event and invited guests to bring items of silver along to find out more about their history.

Guests on the day, at the development in the pretty Cotswold market town, brought along several items – some inherited – including silver milk jugs, spoons and condiment sets for Marianne to look at and share her knowledge. She also talked to guests about her love of antiques, and how she became to be an expert.

Although it had been a while since Marianne has hosted such an event, she overcame her understandable nerves and here, she shares more about the day. “It was wonderful to talk about silver antiques to so many interested people. Admittedly I did have butterflies to start with, but once I was in the swing of things, I remembered how much I love talking about my passion. My fellow residents brought along lots of interesting items, and it was a joy to share my knowledge with them all.”

Marianne, previously a fully qualified teacher, decided to embrace her passion for antiques once she’d married and was focussing on bringing up her three children. “Antiques wasn’t a career as such, but it was a hobby that was financially advantageous and made me enough pocket money!” she laughed. “I’ve always loved things made by hand – beautiful craftmanship appeals to me hugely. I found antiques fitted in well with family life and it was a subject I loved exploring. I initially started by visiting antiques shops near my parent’s home – so I’d happily trawl the shops in Sussex and Kent looking for items that interested me. 

As one of the first cohorts of residents to move into Beechwood Park, Marianne, with the help of her family, decided that the two-bedroom show flat was just what she wanted. When she was advised it was for sale – that’s exactly what she bought. “It really was the perfect move for me. I was living in a large four-bedroom detached and was poorly at the time but equally I staunchly wanted to keep my independence! I wasn’t interested in retirement homes so moving to the beautiful development of Beechwood Park was the perfect option. I have a son and two daughters, and they’re all very happy with my decision and feel at ease that I can access professional support here if or when I need it.

“I’ve furnished my apartment just how I like it, and after many years of living in my previous house, I now happily call Beechwood Park my home. I celebrated my 95^th birthday here last week – alongside another two other residents who share the same birth date with me. A group of us went out to celebrate together and we had such a lovely time! I’ve made lots of friends here, I’m very happy, and I love my life here in beautiful Stow-on-the-Wold. Beechwood Park is certainly my silver lining!” Marianne chuckled happily.  

Trish Staite, General Manager at Beechwood Park, added: “Marianne’s zest for life is infectious and we all enjoyed her ‘Beechwood Antiques Roadshow’ very much. As I learn more and more about our residents here – I’m uncovering so many talents and fantastic stories and we will continue to help them share their knowledge and passions with others. I love my role here and it’s most certainly and education I’m thrilled to embrace.”

Beechwood Park offers one, two and three-bedroom apartments which are available to buy, rent, or part buy, part rent. All two and three-bedroom bungalows at Beechwood Park are now sold – with the development recently welcoming the new owners.  

All of the homes here come with their own outdoor space as well as access to landscaped gardens; there is also an extensive range of facilities including a contemporary wellness suite, hobby room, roof terrace, landscaped gardens, fitness suite and outdoor exercise trail, plus the popular Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge. 

Sales and Marketing Manager at Brio Retirement Living, Jess Nicoll, concluded: “We’re keen to support our residents in continuing to embrace their interests and careers past retirement age – it ignites a new passion in us all and I’m honoured to be able to learn so much about so many interesting subjects. Marianne is a fabulous, talented lady, and we were all very impressed by her knowledge of antiques. Beechwood Park is a fabulous place to enjoy modern retirement as it should be, and I’m looking forward to Marianne’s next talk already!”

For further information, please call 01451 885494.