Since his days as an entrepreneurial Second World War evacuee and in his career following National Service, Stan has liked keeping busy. Now a resident at Royal Star & Garter, he enjoys outings with his old friend, Fred, and helping in the home’s garden. Royal Star & Garter provides quality care and therapies for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. Our grant of £80,000 towards the charity’s Wellbeing Programme enables daily activities, physiotherapy-led exercises, and meaningful social opportunities that promote independence and fulfilment.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Stan, aged 8, was evacuated from Birmingham with his brother and two sisters, to Herefordshire. While he did not enjoy school, Stan liked living in the countryside and his entrepreneurial side soon became apparent. To earn money, Stan bought traps to catch rabbits, which the farmer then took to market. Stan received half a crown a rabbit, which he invested in more traps to earn more money.

Stan finished school after returning home to Birmingham once the bombing had ended in 1944. He remembers seeing a city scarred by war and the German Luftwaffe. However, Stan would see worse during his National Service.

Stan joined the Army at 18 for his National Service and served in the Royal Signals. After his initial training in Catterick, he was moved to Germany. Stan remembered:

“We arrived at an airfield in Uetersen, a few miles out of Hamburg, which was flattened and full of rubble. It was much worse than Birmingham. It was terrible.” Stan spent much of his service driving load-carrying vehicles, from Jeeps to three-tonne trucks.

Stan stayed for two years, before demobbing in 1951. He worked in a variety of jobs after leaving the Army, until 1959, when Stan joined the Longbridge car plant in Birmingham. He worked there for 23 years, helping produce the iconic Minis.

Out of work at 60, Stan struggled to get employment. But hiring a high-pressure jet washer to clean his patio, he spotted a business opportunity. He bought a jet washer and started advertising locally. He recalls: “It said ‘Stan, Stan, the patio man. Have your patio gleaming for the spring!’ The phone never stopped ringing, and I didn’t stop until I was 88!”

Stan married his wife Maureen in 1956, and they went on to have three children. His daughter, Jayne, got married, and Stan and his wife became great friends with their son-in-law’s parents, Fred and Dot. The families holidayed together, and Stan and Fred would regularly go fishing together.

Early in the pandemic, Stan was hospitalised with Covid. He said: “I never thought I’d survive it, but I did.” Stan and Maureen went to live with their daughter, but the couple’s health deteriorated. Stan returned to hospital and Maureen had been diagnosed with dementia.

By this time, Jayne’s father-in-law, Fred, who had joined the Army in 1944 and served for 10 years, was already a resident at one of Royal Star & Garter’s three homes. Stan’s wife, Maureen, was offered a room in the dementia care part of the Solihull Home, and Stan joined her in the nursing facility a few weeks later.

Stan says he takes enormous comfort from knowing his wife is receiving outstanding care at Royal Star & Garter, which provides quality care and therapies for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. He also enjoys spending time with Fred, with whom he has so much in common. Stan and Fred like reminiscing about the old days and taking part in activities. Stan says: “We go on outings together. It’s nice to be here with him.”

Stan keeps himself busy, working in the home’s garden and even making a skittles alley for the other residents. Stan said: “I like having something to do.” He loves living at Royal Star & Garter, saying: “It’s wonderful. I love every one of the carers, the management, the caterers, the housekeeping team – they’re just lovely people.”