Bromsgrove care home invites local community to honour D-Day

A Bromsgrove care home is opening its doors to the community for a commemorative ceremony.

On Thursday 6^th June, from 11am - 6pm, Care UK’s Chandler Court, on Recreation Road, is welcoming local people to honour the 80^th anniversary of D-Day with its very own lamp lighting ceremony. 

To commemorate the Normandy Landings on 6^th June 1944, Care UK is partnering with royal pageant master Bruno Peek, CVO OBE OPR, coordinator of ‘D-Day 80 Lamp Light of Peace’. Along with charities supporting the three forces and the Merchant Navy Association, over 100 Care UK homes will take part in this nationwide tribute.

At Chandler Court, the team have been hard at work organising a special event which will see residents and guests enjoy a 1940s-themed party, complete with bunting, flags, and popular wartime songs from David Coulson. Team members and residents will be dressed in wartime clothes and the culinary team will serve a delicious wartime menu featuring ‘Use Your Allotment’ garden vegetable soup, ‘Feed the Pigs’ pork fillet with black pudding, and ‘Save it for Later’ bread and butter terrine.

At 2:30pm, everyone in attendance will be able to participate in a D-Day Tea Dance. The Redditch cadets and St Peters Church will also be joining the special celebrations.

The lamp, which represents the peace that followed the end of World War Two, will be lit at 6pm by 92-year-old Tony Allenby, who was in the RAF, alongside his son and the cadets.

Ann Willis, 85, said: “D-Day is important to remember because of the lives that were lost on both sides. We should come together and celebrate D-Day to remember the lives that were lost, and all be friends with each other in the community.”

Tina Lilly, Home Manager at Chandler Court, said: “Here at Chandler Court, we’re passionate about playing an active role in our community, so we’re delighted to be joining a nationwide initiative by opening our doors to mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day.

“Reminiscence activities are a great way for older people, and those living with dementia, to connect with those around them and help maintain a sense of identity, and in the run up to the day, residents have been sharing their own stories and memories – it’s been fantastic to hear everyone’s experiences and learn from one another.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming new and old faces into Chandler Court for what we anticipate will be a heartfelt afternoon for everyone involved!” 

To find out more about how Care UK is supporting the initiative, please visit: careuk.com/dday-80th-anniversary 

Chandler Court is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, café and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.