Waterfield House Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, proudly celebrated Suffolk Day 2025 with a truly special guest, author, dialect coach and English spoken language historian, Charlie Haylock. The event, held on Saturday 21st June, marked an unforgettable afternoon of laughter, learning, and local pride for residents, staff, families, and members of the community.
Charlie Haylock is well known for his expertise in dialects and for his work coaching Ralph Fiennes on the Suffolk accent for the Netflix film The Dig. He delivered an engaging talk about his time on set, the intricacies of British and global accents, and shared a rich insight into the history and beauty of Suffolk’s spoken traditions.
Lifestyle Coordinator Vicki, who worked tirelessly for three years to secure Charlie’s visit, said, “Having Charlie Haylock at Waterfield House has been three years in the making. He has been busy touring and we had to prebook him years ago. Thankfully Charlie was able to come and visit our wonderful home in the year he is due to retire. His amazing stories and funny tales had our residents gripped to their seats and rolling around belly laughing. And a huge thank you to his lovely wife, Ruth, for her support. You really have made our year.”
The atmosphere during the event was filled with joy and enthusiasm, with guests captivated by Charlie’s storytelling and his effortless ability to switch between accents. One particularly memorable moment came when a resident arrived late, prompting Charlie to humorously quip, “Hello. Are you Michael? Michael ****?” To the surprise of the resident’s wife who asked how he knew, Charlie replied with a wink, “No, I saw his name on his wheelchair.” The room erupted with laughter, typical of the warmth and wit Charlie brought to the day.
For Vicki, booking Charlie was more than just organising a speaker, it was about giving residents an unforgettable experience rooted in local culture.
Waterfield House is honoured to have hosted one of Charlie Haylock’s final talks before his retirement and wishes both Charlie and Ruth a joyful and well-earned rest from touring.
