One in a MILLION! One in a MILLION!
This week we’re celebrating the incredible story of Rosie Radwell, 46, from Bournemouth. She said...
Scrolling through a list of gorgeous hotels, my heart sank. There was simply nothing suitable. Myself and my brothers, Russell, 49, and James, 37, were planning a family holiday.
We wanted to give my mum Jennie, then 66, a special trip to look forward to.
Having been diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer, aged 63, she’d had a rocky few years to say the least.
And by 2015 she was in a wheelchair, having lost her mobility from the waist down.
‘This is impossible!’ I sighed, exasperated.
‘Well, our hotel isn’t accessible either...’ Russell admitted.
And he had a point – having run the Marsham Court Hotel for over 30 years, we too didn’t have accessible options.
Even Mum couldn’t stay in some of our rooms!
So, instead of looking elsewhere, we knew we had to make changes closer to home.
Only, Mum was ever the practical minded.
‘I don’t want all that money spent on me!’ she’d say.
So, we put a halt on the work for a while, especially with Mum passing away on 5 April 2017, aged just 68.
She had been my best friend, so I was devastated.
When Covid hit in 2020, it gave us thinking time.
‘Why don’t we try and make life easier for people like mum?’ I asked Russell and James.
So, we set to work the following week, putting in accessible toilets, a sensory room, ceiling hoists, laundry machines, and ramps into the outdoor pool.
We didn’t want anyone to miss out.
The response proved to be overwhelmingly positive, and the word soon spread, too.
The Dorset Children’s Foundation even donated a wheelchair buggy for our guests to use on the beach.
Now, everyone can dip their toes in the beautiful Bournemouth sea!
In May this year, I received an exciting email – we had been nominated for a Cateys award!
Walking into the Grosvenor Hotel in July, it felt surreal.
I couldn’t believe that we were here, alongside The Ritz and The Savoy.
‘And the winner for the accessibility award is...’ the announcement blared. ‘The Marsham Court Hotel!’ My jaw dropped.
It was enough to be nominated for an award, let alone win one!
I’m so proud of us all. And I hope Mum is, too. She’s truly been the inspiration behind it all.
●the Marsham Court Hotel is available for bookings at: marshamcourthotel.co.uk
There was simply nothing suitable...