Come home to a McCarthy and Stone retirement flat

By Heather Rose
Posted: 2009/04/13

THIS year's Homecoming Scotland celebrations marking Robert Burns' 250th anniversary are capturing the attention of tourists and visitors from around the world.

Many of them ex-pats coming back to their roots.

For most, the return to the old country is a nostalgic journey that will leave them with a host of wonderful memories.

But, for some, the Homecoming will be taken literally.

Ben and Maggie Dundas are one couple for whom Homecoming Scotland has already proved life changing.

The couple have recently moved home to one of McCarthy and Stone's private retirement, purpose-built developments, Belle-Vue Court in Dunbar.
To Maggie, this personal dimension to the Homecoming Scotland's celebrations carries special significance. Her granny used to tease her by telling her that the poet was her great, great grandfather.

Originally from Glasgow, Maggie and Ben were born not far from each other in the city.

They married in 1958. Shortly after their marriage Ben was posted away while on National Service with the RAF. A year later, he was posted to Feltwell, in Norfolk, and Maggie was able to join him there.

Life in the RAF led to the couple making a number of home moves - Hong Kong as well as Devon and Cornwall.

Following his service with the RAF Ben stepped into a very different way of life, becoming a bricklayer.

Now the couple are settling into their new retirement apartment in Dunbar.

Maggie said: "It is wonderful to be home and to be in a great location by the sea. It is not to say that we haven't enjoyed all the places we have been to but it's that sense of belonging and feeling content to come home."

The couple were also to discover their homecoming move carried a neighbourly note. "We recently discovered that our neighbour at Belle-Vue Court also spent time at Feltwell when her late husband was posted there as a military policeman.

"It's such a small world, " said Maggie. "We looked at McCarthy and Stone properties for three years and when we viewed Belle-Vue Court we knew this was where we wanted to be."

By joining the increasing number of people who are realising the benefits of specialist private retirement properties, Ben and Maggie are discovering their everyday living has taken on a more leisurely pace.

When they are not out and about in and around the Dunbar area, they are able to enjoy the array of events that take place within the development's hotel-style residents' lounge, such as whist drives and fish teas.

As Maggie put it: "We have come home and it seems like we've always been here."

The current release at BelleVue Court, Dunbar, features onebedroom apartments priced from £135,450 to £169,450.

Information: 01368-865745; www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk