Southampton care home stages cow-themed 90th birthday party

Clifford Norris, who lives at the Knights Grove care home in North Baddeley, worked on a dairy farm in Somerset before inheriting it from his father.

He knew all the cows on the farm by name and was also familiar with their personalties, likes and dislikes.

Clifford said: “I loved being a dairy farmer. Over my entire lifetime I raised too many cows to count but my herds usually had 44 at a time. That’s a lot of cows to care for, but I loved each one."

Following his retirement Clifford moved to the Bupa-run Knights Grove in 2021.

Staff helped him adjust to his new life by providing him with farming magazines as well as ensuring he was able to watch farming programmes on TV.

Sam Roles, activities co-ordinator at Knights Grove, organises pet visits for Clifford and other animal lovers at the home.

Abbie Bell, Clifford’s carer at the home, said: “Looking after Clifford is a pure joy. He's a pleasure to be around and is always making jokes. We love sitting in the lounge together and chatting about the different types of cows he used to have.

“To make his birthday extra special we decided to decorate his room with a cow theme.

"We got a balloon and a cow-shaped cake to remind him of his old herd. When he saw the decorations, his face lit up - he thought the cake was hilarious."

Clifford added: “I had a brilliant 90th birthday.

"I thought the decorations were very funny and the homemade cake was delicious. I want to thank everyone for making my day so special, particularly my carer, Sam, who went above and beyond to bake my cake.”

The home's manager, Anne-mary Tolici, said: “Many staff members often spend their free time at Knights Grove to make each resident’s wish come true.

"The whole team made sure Clifford had an unforgettable birthday with joy and laughter."

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