Paparazzi please! Banbury care home residents transform into famous figures for World Photography Day

A care home in Banbury has been taking a trip down the Hollywood walk of fame in honour of World Photography Day.

Residents at Care UK’s Highmarket House, on North Bar Place, decided to spend the day in the shoes of well-known famous figures, with a photoshoot in honour of their favourite celebrities.

Residents opted to dress as the person they felt best suited their own personalities, with idols chosen including Audrey Hepburn, modelled by 67-year-old Christine Wyatt, and The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy, which saw Enid Widdup, aged 89, don the famous red shoes. 78-year-old Richard Crosthwaite, sunk his teeth into the world of the supernatural, portraying Count Dracula while Mavis Ede, aged 89, got into the groove as music legend Shirley Bassey.

Keen to get in on the action, team members at Highmarket House also joined in, with carer Elle Reeves acting out famous duo, Laurel and Hardy, alongside 72-year-old resident, Bertha Ali.

Commenting on the experience, Christine said: “I loved this activity – having my hair and makeup done was wonderful and I can’t even explain how amazing I felt in the dress. Audrey Hepburn was such a beautiful lady, always glamorous and well-dressed!”

The team and residents are planning to use the images to make their own calendar to raise money for charity.

Francesca Cowley, Home Manager at Highmarket House, said: “We’re always planning fun and exciting activities here at Highmarket House and, when residents said they were keen to get involved with World Photography Day, the team were delighted to get creative.

“Everyone had a wonderful time walking in the shoes of the well-known celebrities – singing their favourite songs, dancing along the corridors and acting out scenes from films. It prompted residents to reminisce and share memories with each other of trips to the cinema, celebrity encounters and everyone had such a laugh!

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team for organising such a fun experience, to Wacky Wardrobe in Banbury for providing the costumes, and to Kayleigh Pope, who is a friend of the home, for taking such wonderful images for us all to enjoy!” 

Highmarket House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia and short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.