The descendant of one of Surrey’s notable historic families had residents at a West Byfleet care home enthralled as she took them behind the name she and their residence share.
Pernille Makenzie-Charrington brought along family documents, photos, a family tree and an antique book on her relatives to show residents at Charrington Manor Care Home.
The group were gripped by tales of the brewing dynasty and its heir, Charles Charrington Junior, who bought the Broadoaks Estate in 1911, and spent years transforming it before his death in 1936.
A decade later, in 1946, the estate came under the Ministry of Supply, a government department responsible for the procurement and production of weapons and equipment, before control passed to the Ministry of Defence until the late ‘90s.
The talk took the group through a century of commerce, warfare and complicated family dynamics to today, where Charrington Manor Care Home now sits on the family’s former estate land.
Resident Colin Angwin, 94, said: “It was absolutely fascinating to learn about the history of the Charrington family from Pernille, who speaks so interestingly about her relatives. It’s quite a story and one that gave me a deeper understanding of the Broadoaks Estate and the history our home is now part of.”
Incredibly, during Pernille’s visit, resident Richard Bickerton realised he also shared a family connection with the Charringtons.
His son Henry is married to Pernille’s niece, a coincidence that gave the afternoon a deeply personal flavour for Richard in particular.
Meanwhile, Wellbeing & Lifestyle Coach Claudia Modiga said: “Some stories deserve to be told, and it was an absolute pleasure to welcome Pernille back to the home of her ancestors.
“It was fantastic to see the amount of curiosity and interest from the residents, who had no end of questions for Pernille. We couldn’t believe it when we discovered the family connection between Pernille and Richard, which was a lovely surprise for everyone.”