Fareham care home resident meets Pompey legend

A Pompey legend has played football with care home residents in Fareham as part of an initiative to grant residents’ bucket list wishes.

Bert Gee, who lives at Hamble Heights, off Botley Road, asked to meet a Portsmouth footballer as part of the care home’s plan to grant wishes for each of the residents. Vanessa Duggan, wellbeing manager, got in contact with Alan Knight MBE, a former goalkeeper for Portsmouth FC, to invite him to meet the 88-year-old, and his friends in the care home, who was only too pleased to help.

Alan came in to chat to the residents about his record for the most appearances for a single club by a goalkeeper, having played 683 league games for Pompey between 1978 and 2000, and had a light kick about with some of the residents. He also signed a football for the residents to keep as a memento of the special day.

The Hamble Heights team provide care for residential, nursing, dementia and Alzheimer’s, palliative, and respite residents, with the dedicated Wellbeing team on hand to organise fun activities to support the residents’ physical, emotional, and holistic wellbeing.

It is part of the Encore Care Homes family, which also includes Great Oaks in Bournemouth, Oakdale in Poole, and Fairmile Grange in Christchurch.

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