‘I learnt to swim with princesses’, says Glebe House resident Iris

As a young child, Iris Barlow, aged 91, learnt to swim with two young princesses – Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret.

Now a resident at Glebe House Residential Care Home, it was during conversations with Iris that the care team discovered her fascinating childhood.

Glebe House, located on Rectory Road in Hollesley, is a 20-bed care home that offers residential, respite and dementia care.

The care home manager organised for Iris’ nephew Robin to bring in some of his aunt’s favourite photographs and albums to encourage Iris to share her many treasured memories with the team and her fellow residents.

Iris said: “What a joy it was to look through all of my old photos. And everyone enjoyed hearing about my time swimming with the two princesses!”

Jane Barlow, activities coordinator at Glebe House, said: “Getting to know our residents and discovering their wonderful life experiences is honestly one of the best parts of our job! For those residents living with dementia, it allows us to support them to retain their sense of who they are and what they love.

“Although Iris is living with dementia and struggles with memory loss, she remembers her time swimming with the Queen and Princess Margaret. Robin was able to fill in the gaps and tell us more about Iris and her remarkable childhood.”

Born in 1933, Iris grew up in Kensington with her mother Nina, father Sydney, and two older sisters Anne and Betty. As a child, Iris was a keen swimmer and was part of a swimming group at the prestigious Bath Club, located on Dover Street in London’s West End. At that time, one of the few establishments in London with a swimming pool.

Robin explained: “The young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret also belonged to the group. My aunt has always been very proud of her time spent with the late Queen and her sister.

“As part of the ladies programme they learnt lifesaving methods. Iris was Princess Margaret’s ‘buddy’, and each had to take turns in saving the other to qualify and gain their medals.”

Iris’ idyllic childhood changed forever on the outbreak of World War II when the seven-year-old and her two sisters were sent alone by ship to stay with relatives in America. Robin continued: “Iris and her sisters had to say goodbye to their parents and the London life they had known.

“The journey was perilous with the U-boat threat forcing their route northwards into the freezing North Atlantic. The sisters recalled having to use blankets from their bunks to keep them warm as their packed clothes just did not suffice.”

Iris spent six years with her aunts in America, initially in Philadelphia and then Santa Barbara in California. Anne and Betty returned to England in 1945, and Iris spent a further two years with her Aunt Susan in California. On her return to England the family moved to Leatherhead in Surrey.

Dawn Barnes, manager at Glebe House, added: “Iris loved showing everyone her collection of old photos, especially those of her old rescue dogs – Bonnie, Pippin and Whiskers.

“Our deputy manager Rachael often brings her dog Harley into work with her, and Iris just loves spending time with him, giving Harley strokes and chatting to him.

“The afternoon looking through Iris’ photos was a real trip down memory lane for her and we love that getting to share her memories has sparked such joy for her.”

Located in the village of Hollesley near to Woodbridge, the team at Glebe House support each resident to live active and fulfilling lives.

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