Sculpture unveiled at Suffolk care home

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Jul 20, 2017

A beautiful outdoor sculpture, commissioned by Care UK from a talented local artist, has been unveiled at a care home in Bury St. Edmunds.

The artwork entitled ‘Tree of Life’ was commissioned to celebrate the ground-breaking partnership between Suffolk County Council and Care UK to deliver 10 new care homes to the region.

Senior representatives from the local authority and the care home provider joined with residents for the celebration which marked the success of the first stage of the 25 year partnership.

Glastonbury Court was selected as the site for the sculpture because it was the tenth and final new care home to open as part of the £80 million development project.

Bury St. Edmunds-based sculpture artist Nigel Kaines from metalwork company, Designs On Metal, was appointed to design the centrepiece for Glastonbury Court’s gardens.

The bespoke sculpture was officially unveiled by Andrew Knight, Care UK’s managing director of residential care, Phillip Steyn, regional director at Care UK, Beccy Hopfensperger, Suffolk County Council councillor and cabinet member for adult social care, Sharlene Van Tonder, Glastonbury Court home manager, and resident, Evelyn Riordan. They were also joined by Jo Churchill, MP for Bury St. Edmunds.

After the unveiling, guests enjoyed a special buffet prepared by the culinary team at Glastonbury Court, with live music from harpist, Danielle.

The sculpture has been made from stainless steel and bronze, and is adorned with leaves and acorns representing growth, stability and the enjoyment of spending time with nature. In addition, a representative from each of the other nine Suffolk homes was gifted a small acorn sculpture to take back to their own home to celebrate the partnership.

Sharlene Van Tonder, home manager at Glastonbury Court, said: “We had a wonderful day celebrating the success of the partnership with Suffolk County Council.

“It was great for all of the 10 new care homes in Suffolk to come together for this special occasion and it was an honour to host the event at Glastonbury Court. I know the sculpture will be enjoyed by residents, colleagues and visitors for many years to come.”

Councillor Beccy Hopfensperger, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for adult care, said: “This partnership has been a huge success and has been widely recognised as a leading example of how the independent and public sector can work together to drive standards in adult social care. It was lovely to celebrate the success of the alliance with Care UK and the new Suffolk care homes.”

Glastonbury Court in Bury St. Edmunds provides residential, nursing and dementia care. The additional Suffolk Care UK homes involved in the project are:

1. Asterbury Place in Ipswich
2. Britten Court in Lowestoft
3. Cedrus House in Stowmarket
4. Cleves Place in Haverhill
5. Davers Court in Bury St. Edmunds
6. Hartismere Place in Eye
7. Mildenhall Lodge in Mildenhall
8. Mills Meadow in Framlingham
9. Prince George House in Ipswich