Frances Blair, a 101-year-old Marks & Spencer superfan from Aberdeen, received VIP treatment during a special trip to her favourite branch of the retailer.
Frances, who has lived at the Tor-Na-Dee care home in Milltimber for the past four years, had hoped to revisit the M&S on St Nicholas Street, where she used to spend hours browsing clothing, jewellery, and gifts with her daughters and friends.
Red-carpet welcome and pampering
When staff at Tor-Na-Dee learned of the centenarian's wish, they organised a day out in August. On arrival, Frances, along with her daughter Pat and fellow residents Katherine Clark and May Bremner, received a red-carpet-worthy welcome complete with flowers and alcohol-free fizz.
The group then enjoyed a pamper session in the beauty department, with hand massages and facials, before spending the afternoon browsing the latest clothing and jewellery collections. Before leaving, shop manager Grace Barnett presented the guests with goodie bags filled with treats including shortbread, sweets, and skincare products.
Wishing Tree initiative
Frances said: “I enjoyed the cafe and being shown around the different departments. I loved the pampering; it made me feel special and like a VIP.”
The visit was made possible through Care UK's Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies, places to visit, or activities linked to past careers.
Sue Jones-Wood, home manager at Tor-Na-Dee, said: “We were delighted to create such a memorable day for Frances and her guests by taking them on a trip to remember to Marks & Spencer. The visit enabled her to reconnect with something so special and to reminisce about cherished memories.
“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and passions. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make these a reality. From the luxurious pamper session to afternoon tea, Frances really was truly treated like a VIP. She is certainly our resident M&S superfan.”
