Taking a Deep Dive Into Culinary Tales With One of Our Residents!
This month at Ridgeway Rise we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Sheila Bradley, one of our wonderful residents, to hear about her culinary adventures and life experiences. Sheila recently charmed us all as Mrs Cratchit in our Christmas Pantomime, a heartwarming (and hilarious) retelling of A Christmas Carol. In this version, it was Sheila’s Mrs Cratchit who served her family a rather unorthodox dinner—her husband’s right shoe!
Inspired by her star turn on stage, we wanted to learn more about Sheila’s real-life culinary experiences, and what unfolded was a captivating conversation about food, culture, and the memories that have shaped her life.
A Journey Through Food and Time
Sheila’s passion for cooking began at the age of 11, during her Domestic Science lessons at Sherwood Hall School for Girls in Mansfield. With simple recipes like lemonade and cheese pudding as her starting point, she soon mastered everything from pastries to bread. Even though her school cake didn’t win the final exhibition, it was clear that cooking would remain a key part of her life.
After marrying, Sheila and her husband often cooked together and it became a shared joy that continued to strengthen their bond. However, it was her time living abroad that truly expanded her culinary horizons. From Papua New Guinea to Kuwait, Sheila experienced flavours and traditions far removed from those of her Nottinghamshire upbringing.
In Papua New Guinea, she encountered unusual local dishes, including roasted pig and pumpkin leaf-based recipes. While some experiences, like the sight of wallaby meat at the market, weren’t quite to her taste, Sheila adapted by even learning how to make her own yoghurt when it wasn’t available. Later, in Kuwait, she developed a fondness for Arabic cuisine, particularly fresh shrimp, though she still remembers the shock of seeing sheep sold directly outside stores.
How Times Have Changed
Sheila’s anecdotes reminded us how much life has changed. She recalled, with a smile, that olive oil was once sold only by Pharmacies for cleaning hearing aids—hardly the pantry staple we all know today! She also explained to us how biscuits in Kuwait needed to be frozen to remove insects which not only made us laugh but also gave us an insight into her resilience and resourcefulness.
Closer to home, Sheila’s most expensive food experience was a meal in a French restaurant in Nottingham but it proved to be a culinary letdown. Despite the hefty price tag, she found frog legs and cordon bleu to be underwhelming but is something she has always remembered.
After returning to the UK, Sheila spent four years as a primary school teacher, sharing her baking skills with eager young learners. And now, at Ridgeway Rise, she’s passed the baton to our talented chef, who Sheila says cooks deliciously.
Keeping Stories Alive
This interview was part of our ongoing effort to celebrate the incredible lives of our residents. Their stories provide a window into a world that has changed so much and offer valuable wisdom and historical insight for future generations. For Sheila, the interview was an opportunity to feel valued and appreciated and was an experience we were honoured to share with her.
At Ridgeway Rise, we know that every resident has a story, and it’s a privilege for us to ensure these memories are heard, celebrated, and preserved. We are proud to provide the utmost levels of care to each resident at Ridgeway Rise and offer them a caring environment where they can continue the things they love most and truly thrive. Come in, grab a hot drink, meet our wonderful team, get an insight into what life at Ridgeway Rise is like and see if we would be the right care home for you or your loved one.
