CARE home residents from Signature at Hendon Hall in North London shared their love of reading and powerful life stories with children from The Orion Primary School as part of World Book Day celebrations.
The special event saw children and residents sitting together to read, led by 89-year-old Adair Butchins, who went into a classroom to answer the children’s questions covering his passion for history, and his time as an RAF officer and astrophysicist.
This covered Adair’s experiences and asked him about his favourite sports, his job as a bomber commander, his favourite toy when he was younger, and his collection of stamps and foreign currencies.
Adair also shared his love of Shakespeare’s plays, particularly Anthony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. When asked about the importance of friendship, Adair emphasised the importance of trust and understanding in maintaining good relationships.
“I had a wonderful time reading with the children and answering their questions,” he said. “It was a joy to see their enthusiasm for books, and it reminded me of my own love for reading.
“It was a great opportunity to connect with the younger generation, and I hope to do it again soon.”