Reaching his 90^th birthday just weeks ago was no signal to stop skating for former ice dancer, Brian Tuffney. He celebrated reaching the milestone with a glide around the rink with friends from Maplewood Court, the care home where he now lives in Maidstone.

“I regularly go skating with my son, but it was lovely to have friends alongside me,” said Brian.  “It’s what I’ve always done and I can’t imagine a time when I won’t want to put my skates on!”

Brian has been skating for more than 80 years.  Growing up in Shepherd’s Bush, Brian followed other local children to the Queen’s ice rink in Bayswater.  He remembers the day when a visitor to the rink started him on the path to a thrilling career.

“I came off the ice one day for a coffee and a man sat next to me and said how good I was and ‘how would you like to earn a lot of money?’  I was a bit suspicious at first, until he told me he was Gerald Palmer, the general manager for Tom Arnold.”

Tom Arnold OBE was known as ‘The King of Pantomime’ and in the post-War period through to the 1960s, his pantomimes on ice at the Empire Pool in Wembley were among the most lavish and popular in England.

“I said to Gerald, ‘make me an offer and I’ll talk to my mum and dad,’” remembered Brian.  “My dad was a good man and ran a pub. I knew he had the business sense to help me decide whether to take Gerald up on his offer.”

Brian’s career on the ice saw him skate in shows such as ‘Babes in the Wood’ and ‘Humpty Dumpty’, alongside other talented performers and even Olympic medallists.

After years on skates, Brian then went to work at Sloman & Pettit camera shop in Pudding Lane in Maidstone and finished his working life running his own security system business.  He continued to skate as a hobby at Guildford Ice Club, entering competitions and getting up for 7.00am training sessions at Planet Ice in Gillingham.

Since moving into Maplewood Court on Northumberland Road, Brian has continued to skate at least once a week with his son, Simon, at the Planet Ice rink.

“Brian loves to be active and he’s very sociable so we thought we’d take some company along to the ice rink,” said Lifestyles Team Leader, Laura Taylor.  “We support people to continue doing things they love and it was wonderful to see Brian enjoying himself so much.”

The home also creates new experiences for residents.  For Hilda Howes, who is 100 this month, it was the first time she’d ever been on the ice.  Laura and Lifestyles Assistant, Jo Morgan, glided her round the rink in her wheelchair, together with fellow residents Elizabeth Lockwood and Betty Wimble.

“I couldn’t stop laughing!” Hilda said.  “I’ve never been skating and I thought it was great.  I’m so grateful for Laura for taking me, it was wonderful.”

 

Find out more about our residents’ activities at Maplewood Court