Celebrating Muir's Lockdown Heroes - Barbara Koffman
AMID the many COVID-19 lockdowns, we asked Muir residents to vote for their Lockdown Heroes - both residents and non-residents who had helped and brought joy to the people living with Muir.
We're delighted to celebrate those you thought deserved Hero status!
Congratulations and thank you to Barbara Koffman!
WHEN Barbara Koffman moved to McCartney House, she knew she would be able to enjoy having a garden for the first time in years.
But little did she know how important her efforts would become to fellow residents during lockdown.
She was nominated after helping to maintain the beautiful garden area at the Muir Living location in Godmanchester, which was revamped in 2019 to give residents greater access to the grounds.
Barbara has grown flowers and vegetables during lockdown, and along with some of her fellow residents, ensured it remained in top condition for all of them to enjoy.
“I’m very surprised to receive an award,” Barbara, 70, said. “I’m delighted.”
“McCartney House benefits from a wraparound garden and as an active retiree I was looking for something to do.
“I just started pottering about and then discovered a shed with some amazing garden tools and it really went from there.
“Some of the residents who enjoyed looking after the garden in the past find it more difficult to do as they get older, so many of them have really appreciated looking at the flowers.”
Despite having some success growing vegetables which were made available for residents to enjoy, Barbara admitted that caterpillars had been first to the cabbages - something she hopes to improve on this year.
She and other residents have also renovated a circular patio into a memorial area where residents and families can plant roses for loved ones, with a commemoration event planned for when COVID restrictions allow.
“We are all enjoying the garden and it is really nice to know other people are getting such pleasure from it,” Barbara said.