Nightingale Quarter resident finds land legs

A retired widower who for the last six years has been living on a narrow boat has finally found his ‘land legs’ at a new residential development in Derby created by Wavensmere Homes.

After his wife Ann passed away in 2018, Roy Smith opted for a lifestyle change, selling their traditional detached home to live full-time on a 58 ft long narrowboat.

Having enjoyed resident moorings at Droitwich Spa Marina and Mercia Marina Roy has now moved into a two-bedroom, first floor apartment at Wavensmere’s Nightingale Quarter scheme.

Set across the 18.5-acre former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site, once completed, the £175 million scheme will boast 925 new homes.

Roy, a former sergeant major who was originally born and raised in Tottenham, has taken an apartment at the newly completed Dalton House within the Nightingale Quarter development.

He said: “Narrow boat cruising has kept me fit and active, but I’m aware I’m not getting any younger.

“With the property market picking up again, the time felt right to look for a low maintenance home to buy that I would really enjoy living in.

“I am also mindful of the future investment potential for my two sons, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

“While I am not from Derby and hadn’t even spent quality time in the East Midlands until recent years, the city has captivated me.

“It is a really buzzy place that is easy to walk around, with so much going on.”

Roy, who lists the Cathedral Quarter among his favourite places, said that living in a new community appealed to him.

He said: “I planned to do my research and consider all the options, but once I’d visited Nightingale Quarter and realised how quickly the homes were selling, I made a reservation and didn’t look elsewhere.

“This is the third new home I’ve purchased in my lifetime and the quality stands apart.

“There are around 1,000 people already living at the development and moving into a new community was appealing.

“With Derby train station only a few minutes away, it will enable me to visit the Victory Services Club in London more frequently, as well as my family on the south coast.”

While Roy has secured himself a more permanent residence, he hasn’t totally turned his back on cruising the UK’s canal network.

He said: “I still have my narrow boat and am looking forward to regular cruising during the warmer months, but moving here is creating new opportunities, while giving me a secure base to call home.

“I am keen to discover new jogging routes and take friends to the city centre attractions.”