GIBRALTAR Nursing Home, based in Monmouth, Wales has shared the life story of one of its family members Adele, whose childhood was shaped by evacuation during the Second World War.

Written with the help of Adele’s daughter, Alison, the story traces her life from childhood in East London and wartime evacuation, through to family life, work and the interests that remain part of who she is today.

Life stories are written for family members who wish to share them, helping team members understand more about the person beyond their care needs. Knowing that someone once loved gardening, spent years knitting or has a favourite piece of music can influence everyday conversations and help familiar interests and routines part of life in the home.

Adele was born in December 1933 and was just five when war was declared in September 1939. Soon afterwards, she was separated from her family and evacuated by train from London to Caldicot.

Her first foster home proved difficult, but her life changed when a woman named Lizzie, who worked at the house, noticed how unsettled she was and offered to foster her herself.

The two became extremely close, and more than eight decades later, a photograph of Lizzie still sits in Adele’s room.

Adele eventually returned to London, only to be evacuated for a second time when V1 flying bombs began falling on the capital. She was set to Lytham St Anne’s, near Blackpool, before finally returning home in 1945, a few months before her twelfth birthday.

Those wartime years are only one part of Adele’s story. Her life since has included raising there children, working in nursing and catering, a love of art and needlework, gardening, learning Italian and even an encounter with Prince Philip.

Many of those interests still find their way into everyday life today. Adele takes part in art workshops with support from team members, spends time with the home’s gardening group, Sunshine and Soil, and continues to enjoy listening to music.

Her full story can be read on the Gibraltar Nursing Home website.