It’s our 30th anniversary. In some ways it doesn’t seem that long until you reflect just how much life has changed over the years for all of us. The manner in which Newlands came into being and became the keystone for modern bespoke retirement living is a fascinating story. And who better to relate it than Amar, one of the two visionary founding directors.
It was early in March 1989 when we first arrived in this very beautiful part of the world. Unexpectedly Stow-on-the-Wold had snow on the ground. Not knowing where the property was, as this was in pre sat nav days, we ended up at a police station to ask directions to Newlands. Little did we know that many people knew the house because the last incumbent, Harold Hay, had been a very charitable man. Some of his family suffered with Parkinson’s Disease and he left his entire legacy to the Winged Fellowship Trust charity (now Revitalise) who provided high quality respite breaks. The house and its immaculate gardens used to be opened to residents of Stow on fund raising days.
Cream Aga and white coffee
After looking around, and being very impressed by the property and its proximity to Stow, my fellow director, Momin and I ended up standing in the kitchen right next to a huge cream-coloured Aga drinking coffee. The house had that kind of ambience that it still has today of wrapping its arms around you as you walked through the door. Even on that cold day it evoked that emotion in both of us of a warm, welcoming, tranquil place that almost gave you a refuge from the outside world.
Our journey for the future begins
The property was on the market with Knight Frank and there was considerable competition. We put in our best and final offer. Later we found out that one of the other bidders was the Chair of Rolls Royce who wanted the property for his private house. Our wish was to make it a great care home with the potential of some external building in this setting that was rather magical. Luckily, we came out with the chance to acquire it as the Winged Fellowship Trust accepted our offer. And we set about beginning our journey to create our vision for the future.
Ahead of our time
We managed to secure planning permission for the site. I think that it’s fair to say in the contemporary history of retirement villages, Newlands was the first site with a care home and thirty to forty, ‘close care’ as they were called at the time, cottages and apartments adjacent. It was the very first planning permission that resembles anything like the retirement village model that we see today.
In 1991 we opened our doors with our small twelve-bed Nursing Home in the converted country house. Every single room was more than twenty square metres. This was more than twice the size of the government requirements of the day. It set our vision as to what we saw was the future of what people would want to buy in terms of providing for their retirement and what they wanted in later life.
Establishing care delivery
Right from those early years we set out to know the community and be accepted in the neighbourhood - as this was a highly unusual and novel development in those days. We forged links with local providers for fresh produce that literally came from just down the road. Just as importantly, we became known for our high standards of care and warm, professional staff, almost all of whom are also local.
Undoubtedly the success of Newlands has to be primarily down to our staff. Because no matter how beautiful the surroundings, the buildings, the gardens, the chandeliers, the fixtures and fittings, without the warmth of experience, the quality of service and the kindness and sheer professionalism of the staff, you would only have less than half of the equation. Our vision, and subsequent reputation, would not have been possible without their huge amount of work. That’s why we’re justly proud of our hard-working, reliable staff who are an undeniable part of our extended Newlands family.
Linking needs
In 1997/8 we started to work in detail on our next stage of fifteen hand-built traditional Cotswold stone cottages. These were built and effectively occupied in 1999. Each property was bespoke to individual requirements and offered truly spacious living. That’s something others are only just developing now.
Each property was also linked to Newlands Nursing Home so that it could offer connectivity to full 24-hour nursing care and emergency assistance if required - all of it just a few yards away from any residence. It meant that those in the Stow/Cotswolds area who were maybe under occupying their present homes could move closer to services yet retain their independence in their later years.
To give a recent example, in 2000 a lady moved to join two other friends who were already residents at Newlands. She lived very independently in her cottage for almost twenty years until, at the age of 101 and a half, she moved into our Nursing Home. To her and her family it was really no move at all as the trust and relationship were already truly established with everyone at Newlands.
Bespoke in every sense
Maybe you remember the banking crisis of 2008? Even in those times we had people knocking at our doors asking when we would complete our remaining phase of building our apartments. These were completed the following year and incorporated the latest features that people had told us they wanted.
Listening to our residents and implementing their individual wishes is very much at the heart of what we do at Newlands. We are able to completely refurbish any cottage for example on behalf of the occupant who may find it difficult to implement otherwise or on the behalf of a vendor or buyer. New kitchens, new decor, new blinds and fabrics, whatever is wanted to keep every element relevant for the future. All can be as bespoke as you want to the nth degree. We ensure that individuality is never eroded. Even breakfast can be served anyway you wish. As the vast number of different very breakfasts that whizz out of our kitchen every morning can testify. Because we’re small and independent we get to know your exact needs and that’s an important difference. One that singles us out again.
30 years on
Over the last 30 years of Newlands we’ve had the privilege of meeting remarkable individuals and their families who have made huge contributions to British life. During this time our vision has never changed. We are totally committed to ensuring that we create the best environment, hospitality and care that’s conducive to our residents’ well-being.
When Dame Janet Trotter conducted our opening ceremony of the apartments in 2010 she said,” I can see that people at Newlands are ageing very well”.
I feel that rather says it all.
