Local charity brings cider history to life
We’ve been working with Museum to You, a small, local charity who bring local history to life through multi-sensory experiences. They take artifacts and stories to people who would not usually get to experience them. And the latest mobile museum was all about cider!
Suzannah Cook, Museum to You said:
“With such a rich history and local presence, we were thrilled to partner with Thatcher’s and deliver a truly unique and multi-sensory presentation in care homes across Somerset. At Museum to You, we pride ourselves on bridging the gap for people who cannot access community learning.
“We were excited and a little nervous about how staff in care homes would respond when we told them we would be bringing in a variety of ciders for residents to taste. We need not have worried; the response was overwhelmingly positive!
Head Cider Maker, Richard Johnson, talks about the history of cider making
Starting with a brief history of Thatcher’s 120 years of cider making, Museum to You use headphones to allow everyone to hear directly from fourth generation cider maker, Martin Thatcher. Participants heard stories of cider making, from methods used to store and make the cider, to the history of buying it from the farmhouse’s back door, evoking wonderful memories and lively conversation.
Suzannah continues:
“Many older people had memories of the mill in Sandford and felt real ownership of a Somerset business and pride in shared identity.
“One resident had particularly complex needs, and he was smiling and delighted when he tasted the first sip of Thatcher’s Gold. It was a moment of sensory joy. Another resident who is normally ‘non-verbal’ clearly said ‘YES’ when we asked her if she wanted to try another cider. This response brought a tear to her daughter’s eye and ours.”
“Overall, we received many comments about how nice it was to be included in an activity that reminded people of a warm summer Somerset evening spent with friends.”
