20 May 2026
Residents from across Oakminster Healthcare care homes enjoyed a nostalgic trip down memory lane during a special visit to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust bus garage in Bridgeton.
Led by the wellbeing team at Chester Park Care Home in Kinning Park, the outing brought together residents and staff from Chester Park, Florence House in Govan, Oakbridge in Glasgow’s west end, Oakview Manor in the Pollokshields and Cumbrae House at St George’s Cross - all part of the Oakminster Healthcare group.
The group toured the historic Bridgeton garage, home to a collection of lovingly restored vintage Glasgow buses maintained by a dedicated team of Bridgeton Bus Garage volunteers.
Many residents shared memories sparked by the iconic vehicles, with conversations flowing about old routes, family outings and working lives connected to the city’s transport history.
One particularly moving moment came when Fred Whitehead 76, a resident from Cumbrae House’s and former member of Blue Watch at the North West Fire Station in Maryhill, discovered an engine identical to one he had worked on during his 16 years of service.
Fred Whitehead, aged 76, resident at Cumbrae House, said: “It brought back a lot of memories for me. Seeing the engine again was really special and I enjoyed sharing stories from my time in the fire service with everyone.”
The visit forms part of Oakminster’s wider commitment to delivering engaging, stimulating and varied experiences for residents through its dedicated teams of wellbeing enablers.
Alongside external visits, residents across the homes regularly enjoy activities including baking groups, yoga sessions, arts programmes and cultural events designed to support wellbeing, social connection and meaningful engagement.
Catherine Mackie, Wellbeing Enabler at Chester Park Care Home, said: “We wanted to organise something that would bring residents from across the care homes together while also creating opportunities for conversation, reminiscence and fun. The vintage buses sparked so many happy memories and stories from residents, and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the experience together.
“At Oakminster, we’re always looking for creative and meaningful ways to enrich daily life for residents, whether that’s through community visits, arts activities, gentle exercise or shared social experiences.”
Sunita Poddar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oakminster Healthcare, added: “Providing quality social care is about so much more than meeting physical needs - it is about supporting emotional wellbeing, maintaining connections to personal histories and creating moments of joy and purpose every day.
“Our wellbeing teams work incredibly hard to ensure residents continue to enjoy rich, fulfilling experiences and remain active members of their communities. Activities like this are invaluable in supporting memory, confidence, companionship and overall quality of life for our loved ones.”
The Bridgeton visit is one of a number of wellbeing-focused initiatives currently taking place across Oakminster Healthcare as the organisation continues to prioritise person-led care and meaningful resident experiences.
For further information about Oakminster Healthcare, visit: Oakminster Healthcare – Delivering high quality care within a relaxed atmosphere to people in need of both general and specialised care.
