Bury St Edmunds care homes invites local community to honour D-Day

Two Bury St Edmunds care homes are opening their doors to the community for commemorative ceremony’s.

On Thursday 6^th June, from 11am - 3pm, Care UK’s Davers Court, on Shakers Lane, and Glastonbury Court, on Glastonbury Road, are 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 Glastonbury 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 Caprice Duo. Team members will be dressed in wartime clothes and the culinary team will serve a delicious afternoon tea, street party style, featuring sandwiches, homemade scones with cream and jam and themed cupcakes. Everyone in attendance will also be able to enter a fundraising raffle for Help for Heroes.

On the day, RAF veteran 85-year-old Peter Copping, husband of resident Phyllis Copping, will be presenting the D-Day Coin to Ernest Osbourne, 92, Tom Shipley, 97, Ken Dunn, 94 and Peter Dorrington, 89, all residents at Glastonbury Court who served in the RAF and Army for national service. 

While at Davers Court, the team will be hosting a garden party with vintage singers Barrie and Pete, who will be performing from 11am, and a garden party buffet, serving the likes of quiche, sandwiches, salads, and Suffolk cheese. For pudding there will be Victoria sponge, homemade scones, strawberries, and cream. Guests will also be able to enjoy Pimm’s, gin & tonic, beer and a selection of soft drinks.

The lamp, which represents the peace that followed the end of World War Two, will be lit at Glastonbury Court at 5pm by resident Peter Donnington who served in Singapore for the RAF. At Davers Court the lamp will be lit at 4:30pm, by resident Richard Hoad, aged 87, who served in the RAF and was a guard of honour.

Peter said: “I feel proud to have this honour of lighting the lantern for world peace.”

Richard said: “It will be a great honour to light the lamp and will remind me of all the times I performed my duties as a guard of honour.”

Ana Mihai, Home Manager at Glastonbury Court, said: “Here at Glastonbury Court, we’re always grateful for an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with our neighbours, so we’re looking forward to welcoming the community for a special event marking the 80^th anniversary of D-Day.

“This is an incredibly important milestone for many residents, and we’re keen to honour all those involved. Music is a fantastic way to bring back memories for older people and a wonderful way to bring communities together, so we’re thrilled to welcome Capric Duo to get everyone’s toes tapping".

“We’re looking forward to welcoming new and old faces into Glastonbury Court as we mark such a significant moment in history.” 

Sophie Evans, Home Manager at Davers Court, added: “Here at Davers 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 Davers 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

Glastonbury Court and Davers Court are modern care homes providing full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, with Davers Court having also recently opened its new day centre. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the homes have their very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation.