Roy relives top-secret MOD days
Roy relives top-secret MOD days
The team at Woodley Grange were so pleased to see resident, Dr Roy Fitzgeorge, return to the MOD’s (Ministry of Defense’s) top-secret science and technology laboratory for the first time in almost 30 years, as part of the Wish Maker Initiative.
As a former MOD microbiologist, Roy enjoyed revisiting Porton Down, near Salisbury, accompanied by his daughter. Roy, aged 92, toured the facility and met with current staff members to speak about his time with the MOD, as well as meeting some familiar faces from his old team!
Woodley Grange’s Manager, Liliana Macieira, said: “Roy is so proud of his time with the MOD and is always talking about it and showing off his old pictures and stories to staff and residents.”
Since his visit, Roy remarked: “Well it’s been very nice to come back to this. I don’t think many people can say, ‘that was a lovely place to work’, but I think this is. And still is, by the looks of it. I hope it stays that way.”
Roy was amazed at how the place had expanded, continuing; “I’m so pleased that Porton Down has kept its place. It’s three or four times the size it was. I think you ought to be proud of yourselves. I’m proud I worked here.
“Thank you all for a nice episode in my life. Quite a big one.”
Woodley Granges’ Activities Coordinator, Erica Orchard, said: “He’s lived an incredible life and has done so many amazing things and we were all delighted to be able to arrange this trip for him.
“Reminiscence therapy forms a key part of what we do here at Woodley Grange and it’s so important for our residents to engage in these activities and spark such brilliant memories.
“I want to say a huge thank you to our wonderful team who arranged this for Roy as well as to the MOD for facilitating this experience. I’m sure we’ll never get him to stop talking about it now!”
Roy’s story made it into the Romsey Advertiser, click here for more details about his inspiring life.