"I Found That”: Richard's Viking Paddle Discovery

Here at Each Other Care, we’re always looking for ways to connect residents with local history. In Forfar, residents from Benholm Care Home recently enjoyed a wonderful day out at McManus Art Gallery & Museum in Dundee. After exploring the natural history section, whilst most residents sat down for a cup of tea, Richard continued on with Wellbeing Lead Tracey.

"Hold on Tracey, I'd like to look at this," Richard said quietly. In front of him was a large Viking boat paddle, in a glass display cabinet. "I found it," Richard explained. "On Tentsmuir Beach, when I was a young man." Richard went on to describe how he'd spotted the paddle on the beach in 1977, carefully digging it up, taking it home and soaking it in a basin before taking it to the museum.

Historians at the museum dated the paddle from 1340 - 1480 AD and it now sits in the medevial collection, complete with a label crediting Richard.

Discovering that Richard had quietly contributed a piece of history to the museum nearly fifty years ago shows why getting out into our local communities matters so much. Seeing familiar places and objects brings back stories that might otherwise stay untold.

Richard might never have mentioned the paddle if he hadn't seen it again in the museum. It's a reminder that our residents have lived full, rich lives with countless stories still waiting to be told. Here at Each Other Care, our onsite minibuses facilitate regular trips out into our communities to provide opportunities for discovery, whether that’s learning more about where we live, or more about each other.

For Richard, it meant so much for him to reconnect with that part of his life. Being able to share the memory with his friends, showing them something he'd found with his name beside it was a proud moment that we are grateful to have been a part of.