Memories of maintaining milk trucks at the North Staffs Dairy are being kept alive for our resident, Barry Webb, 83, thanks to a specialist kit to help him reminisce.

Barry is transported back to his years as a mechanic at the Cooperative dairy in Sneyd Green in the 1980s with a ‘Scentscape’.

Designed to recreate the smells of Barry’s career the kit includes scents of engine oil, sawdust and car polish. It even includes a soundtrack which plays sound effects of someone working on a car engine.

A photograph of the Cooperative dairy hangs in Barry’s room at Barrowhill Hall and our team researched Barry’s life story with him and his family and discovered his love of vehicles went back even further.

Prior to working at the dairy he spent his days working with his dad, who owned a mechanic business repairing and servicing cars.

Barry’s son, Andrew, says, “Dad loves cars! He loved working with them and fixing them. He used to love visiting any scrap yard he could find and his favourite car was a Saab. It’s brilliant the staff at Barrowhill Hall are able to bring so much joy to him by recreating his memories through his favourite smells.”

The combination of using smell and sound together, gives Barry access to memories that may otherwise be difficult to reach.

Ruth Hoult, activities coordinator at the home explains,

“Smell is very evocative and it can be used to evoke memories, which is great for our residents living with dementia and memory loss. As well as recalling memories, sensory experiences help to improve communication as it encourages conversation. Smell can also create a warm feeling of familiarity for our residents and that can be very comforting.

“We always want to support our residents with their hobbies. We know Barry loves cars and so this sensory kit is perfect for him. When he uses it, it really brings his memories of fixing and working on cars to life. It certainly got him talking about car mechanics!”

When Barry uses the sensory kit he says, “I love the smell of engine oil and car polish!” He talks about his time as a mechanic and he tells the staff and other residents how to maintain their cars.

Ruth says, “It’s great hearing Barry’s stories and on a practical note I now know how to fix my car if I get an oil leak!”