Interviewer

Can I start by asking your name, the Friends Group that you’re part of,  and your age if you’re comfortable with sharing.

Marie Pearson

My name – Marie Pearson. My age – 84. What was the last one?

Interviewer

The Friends Group that you’re part of?

Marie Pearson

Oh, League of Friends.

Interviewer

So, what first inspired you to get involved with Friends of Oaklands?

Marie Pearson

Well, I used to work at Oaklands, and I retired when I was about 75 and, but I still wanted to do a little bit, so I used to come back here twice a week just to help out and like volunteer there. And that’s when I met Catherine and David, and they asked me to join the League of Friends, which I did.

Interviewer

Were you able to continue, I guess, what you were doing before, when you started volunteering? What was your favourite part of working here?

Marie Pearson

I don’t know, it was, I was only on the domestic side, because I worked for 22 years in MK Electrics. Then I took redundancy and came here. I was on the domestic side. I used to clean the rooms, and everything, and it was just me. And I suppose because my Mum was older, and it was like looking after my Mum. And you know, the people, the, like, the residents were really nice and it was, it was a lovely place to work. And then when Catherine and David came here, I decided to, they asked me to join, which I did.

Interviewer

So now that you’ve transitioned to volunteering, what’s your role with the Friends of Oaklands?

Marie Pearson

Well, we just come – I come up – and help with the, taking the drinks around. Getting the drinks and then cakes, and everything. And also, sometimes we come and do the gardens and then we have bazaars. We have bazaars, and things like that. Every time we’re needed, we come.

Interviewer

And what kind of impact do you think that that’s had on the residents?

Marie Pearson

Well, I think the residents enjoy it, because sometimes some of them don’t have anyone. And, you know, it’s nice for someone to come up and I, I think the residents enjoy it.

Interviewer

Do you have a favourite memory from, I guess, either when you were working here or when you started to volunteer?

Marie Pearson

Well, there’s lots of memories really. There’s lots of memories. It’s, I just, you know, I think because I’m 84, I’m getting to the age where things happen and I think it’s a good, it keeps your mind young. Well try to anyway <Laugh>, but, yes. I just like being with older people, I think.

Interviewer

Do you think the Friends Group has changed over time? Like, is it different today than it was maybe 20, 30 years ago?

Marie Pearson

Oh, I don’t know about that long. No, I don’t think it’s changed. Catherine and David’s not changed. And the others, you know, because we’ve had quite a few different ones. But no, I don’t think it’s changed that much.

Interviewer

Do you think there’s still the same need for the Friends Groups?

Marie Pearson

Yes. Yes I do. because David and Catherine do an awful lot of things and you know, if we didn’t volunteer, they might not be able to carry it on. So, yes.

Interviewer

How do you think you could encourage other people to join Friends Groups, in general?

Marie Pearson

Well, I think if, perhaps, you can bring them along to one, and they could see how it works, and what we do, then perhaps you’d, like, get them to come in.

Interviewer

That’s great. Well, those are all the questions I have today. Thank you for meeting with me.

Marie Pearson

Oh, thank you. Thank you.