A Lowestoft care home recently turned one of its residents' dreams into a reality with the help of a local haulage company, Martello Transport. 

Malcolm Brown, 73, a former HGV driver and resident at The Dell Care Home, part of Wellbeing Care, enjoyed a nostalgic day out in one of the company’s lorries, giving him the chance to relive how he once felt on the open road. 

Malcolm spent much of his working life driving lorries across the country and often shares stories about the friendships between drivers, the long-distance routes and the memorable places he visited. When Martello Transport learned how much Malcolm missed the experience, the team stepped forward to help him relive the feeling of being back in a haulage cab.

The company provided a lorry and driver for the morning, giving Malcolm the chance to enjoy the familiar sounds, movement and atmosphere of life on the road.  A member of staff from The Dell followed by car, staying in radio contact throughout to ensure Malcolm felt safe, supported and could fully enjoy the moment.  

Malcolm described the experience as a powerful reminder of his working life, saying it brought back vivid memories of the engine, the mirrors and the feel of the HGV. He shared how grateful he was to everyone involved for making the day possible. 

Joy Henshaw, Regional Director at The Dell Care Home, said: “Experiences like this reconnect residents with the identities and memories that matter most to them. Seeing Malcolm’s excitement and hearing him share his stories with the team was incredibly special. Reminiscence plays a powerful role in emotional wellbeing and this day truly highlighted that.” 

Mark Walsh from Martello Transport, who helped organise the experience, said, "As a transport company, we know that driving becomes part of who you are and it was clear how much life on the road meant to Malcolm. When The Dell’s team approached us, we were more than happy to help. Seeing the smile on Malcolm's face as he climbed back into the cab and shared his stories made it a truly special experience for everyone involved."

The Dell Care Home expresses its sincere thanks to the team at Martello Transport, especially Mark Walsh, for going above and beyond to create a memorable and meaningful experience for Malcolm.