A POETRY anthology written by an activities co-ordinator at Laverstock Care Centre is being published after receiving excellent reviews by residents.

Barry Pentelow, works with dementia patients and started writing poetry as a way of helping them recall poignant memories.

The poems proved to be so successful that he decided to publish the collection into a book called The Good Old Days.

Mr Pentelow said: “It all started a few years ago when I wrote a poem called The Good Old Days and read it to residents.

“I noticed that the residents were engaged in the story contained within the poem and afterwards they started talking about it. It struck a chord with them and that was the start of it really.”

The anthology contains 22 poems and relate to subjects familiar to the residents, including a poem about the now shut high street retailer Woolworths.

Care home manager Helen Pessell said the residents at Laverstock enjoy their sessions with Mr Pentelow as it provides them with an opportunity to remember times that were poignant in their own lives.

She said: “We are very proud that we have a published poet here at Laverstock. Barry’s genuine care for our residents is what inspired him to write them and we are all touched by that.”

The anthology is available to purchase online at authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore.