Get to know Community Manager, Craig Lawson

Craig Lawson as MC for Classics in the Courtyard 2021

How many steps would you average each day?

An uneducated guess would be somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 per day. Each day brings new challenges and different paths travelled.

What do you look forward to most about coming to work?

There are multiple reasons I enjoy coming to work each day at The Clayfield retirement village. The Village itself is beautiful with historic buildings mixed in with modern architecture. Our Village staff are an absolute pleasure to work with, and of course the residents!

When you get time for a lunch break, where is your favourite place to go in the Village?

I enjoy sitting on the upstairs balcony of Whytecliffe House, switching off for a while and enjoying the views.

How have you seen the sense of community change during the pandemic?

We found that the Village Community actually became closer. Both residents and staff were very conscious of the risks and were always checking in on each other. While our Village community hubs were closed, our restaurant operated a take-away service only and we found that quite a number of residents crossed paths that normally would not, so many new friendships were born.

Describe the residents of The Clayfield in one sentence?

The residents at The Clayfield are very friendly, caring, social and are grateful to live in such a beautiful retirement village.

What social activity is the most popular with residents?

Events centred around our Village restaurant and courtyard are always the most popular. These events bring the whole Village together.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you’re not at work?

I enjoy playing golf, exercising, trying to keep fit, watching sport on TV and going on picnic adventures with my family. I have recently pulled out my old Lego sets from when I was young and have started rebuilding the models. I got these sets when I was about 7 years old.

What’s your ultimate three-course meal?

Entrée – Blue Cheese and Cauliflower Soup, Main – Roast Lamb with Roast Vegetables, Dessert – Apple Crumble and Ice Cream

If you had a private plane charter to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would take my family on a continuous around the world trip to visit and experience life in other countries.