Rude health: how Rudie Lewis became a flag-bearer at 92

At 92, Rudie Lewis is a few decades older than the average flag-bearer at a football match. An AFC Bournemouth fan, Rudie says carrying the standard onto the pitch earlier this year was one of the best days of his long life – even though his beloved Cherries lost 2-0.

As the oldest man present at the match against Manchester United in April, Rudie received a special shout-out as he brought the flag out onto the pitch, helped by two members of staff from St Ives House, the care home where he lives.

The magic moment came about for Rudie because St Ives House is owned and managed by Care South, which has close links with AFC Bournemouth. And both the Premier League and Care South are supported by Barclays.

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Weekly visits

Under a long-running partnership between Care South and AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust, residents in Care South homes benefit from regular player visits, coffee mornings at the club’s Vitality Stadium and other activities. Cherries midfielder Marc Pugh, the club’s ambassador to Care South, even played seated football with the residents of Wickmeads care home in Southbourne earlier this year.

“We were delighted to have Marc join us,” said Karen Taylor, manager of Wickmeads. “Many of the residents are lifelong AFC Bournemouth fans so they thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and challenging him to a game of football with a difference!

“The Community Sports Trust visit us on a regular basis. The residents always really enjoy the sessions which encourage them to take part in light exercise, as well as encouraging social interaction.”

An easy decision

Rudie’s home, St Ives House was built with funding provided by Barclays alongside St Ives Place, an assisted living facility also run by Care South.

Glenn Sargent, relationship director at the healthcare division of Barclays Corporate Banking, says the decision to get involved with was an easy one.

“When we first visited the St Ives development, near the edge of the New Forest, we saw they would benefit from a purpose-built facility to fit the ethos of this well-managed charity and provide first-class supported living and residential care in a beautiful park setting,” he recalls.

“The facility is a success in every possible way and as Care South is a not-for-profit organisation, it is able to reinvest capital in improving the lives of the people they support.”

As well as St Ives House, Care South runs a number of other residential care homes across the south of England. It has also set up assisted living communities, which “give residents the freedom and independence of living in their own homes, but with the security and peace of mind that comes from having professional care and assistance on their doorsteps”, says Susan Willoughby, the charity’s chief executive.

Barclays announced its Shared Growth Ambition two years ago, declaring its business “cannot succeed or prosper unless the societies and communities in which we live and work also succeed and prosper”.

As well as funding the construction of St Ives House, Barclays has close ties to the Premier League as Official Banking Partner.

Find out how Barclays Corporate Banking’s industry experts are supporting clients to achieve their ambitions at barclayscorporate.com

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