Penguins make wish come true at care home party

Pringle and Widget were special guests at Amberley Hall Care Home in King's Lynn

Care home residents had a flipping good time when two penguins came to their party and made a wish come true.

Pringle and Widget were invited to the 10th anniversary of Amberley Hall in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on Tuesday.

Among the residents was Susan Fisher, 70, who was overjoyed to see them. She had told staff her wish was to see penguins in a zoo, but it was not possible due to her health, so they arranged the visit.

Sara Harrison, the home's lifestyle coordinator, said: "We ask every residents what would be their one wish... so we try and do them."

Haythrop Zoological Gardens in Oxfordshire, where the birds live, said it often receives requests to fulfil wishes for care homes residents.

Susan Fisher with one of the penguins, who had come to visit her in the care home

Mrs Fisher's wish to "go and see some penguins at the zoo"

Mrs Fisher, who moved into the home in March 2023, said: "I've always been fascinated by them. I never thought I would [see them]."

Ms Harrison, who helped organise Susan's wish, said they had managed to keep the wish a secret up until the day before.

"Susan said she wanted to go to the zoo, but it's not possible to take her, so we sent the wish to head office, and they arranged everything for us.

"When we told her yesterday, she cried, and she said, 'really?' and we said, 'yeah, we are bringing them in for you, because it's your wish'.

"We all have ambitions [regardless of age], and we try to make as many of them happen as we can. Obviously there's some we're not able to. Somebody wanted a monkey, so that's our next one!"

A zoo spokesperson said the penguin were given water and fish at hourly intervals during the journey to ensure their welfare was met.

A tree filled with wishes from residents at Amberley Hall Care Home in King's Lynn

Staff at Amberley Hall with Nicky Reeve in the centre holding one of the penguins

Nicky Reeve, who is the home's administration assistant, has a tattoo of two penguins just above her ankle.

She said: "It is my partner's favourite animal, and he is very upset he can't be here, and my son loves them as well and he said, 'mummy, enjoy the penguins at your work today'."

Standing next to a tree filled with wishes written on yellow card, Ms Reeve explained the project was designed to help residents fulfil their ambitions.

She added: "We've got a wish for a lady that she would like to be able to go swimming, as she used to teach swimming when she was in the WRAF [Women's Royal Air Force].

"We've also got a gentleman who would like to watch an aircraft and fly a plane again, and we've got a lady whose wish was to go to McDonalds."

Nicky Reeve, who has a tattoo of penguins on her ankle, said it was a special day