Former builder Walter Green of Care UK’s Carpathia Grange home visits Beaulieu Estate buildings he helped restore

A FORMER bricklayer who lives in Hythe took a trip down memory lane as he revisited buildings on the Beaulieu Estate he helped restore 50 years ago.

Staff at Carpathia Grange care home arranged the day out for 91-year-old Walter Green after he told them he wanted to rekindle his love for construction.

Growing up in nearby Emery Down, Walter’s interest in building began when he started an apprenticeship in bricklaying after leaving school.

During his National Service in the 1950s, he joined the RAF Airfield Construction Branch in Germany, but later returned to his hometown to begin restoration work on Beaulieu’s church as the site foreman.

In 1972, Walter began what he described as his “favourite job” at Beaulieu Estate, demolishing outbuildings to create a pathway between what is now the National Motor Museum building and the main house. The team dubbed the path ‘the hole in the wall’.

At the same time, Walter and his team repaired the features on one of the estate’s water fountains.

In 1976, Walter moved on to the renovation of the Domas building, laying all the paving slabs and building the wall and archway leading to the abbey ruins.

During his day out, Walter, who retired in 1998, said: “All my working days were happy days, and I always enjoyed and took great pride in my work.

“Going back to Beaulieu brought back a lot of memories that I will cherish forever. It made me incredibly proud to see that the work I carried out is still standing today.”

Walter’s estate visit was organised as part of the Wishing Tree initiative run by Carpathia Grange operator Care UK, which encourages residents to reconnect with a past hobby or activity, or to try something new.

Carpathia Grange manager Jodie Farr said: “Walter’s life stories have always captivated us, so we were thrilled to help him relive those memories.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is all about creating special moments for residents, and it was heartwarming to see how much this visit meant to Walter.”