Norwich care home invites local community to honour D-Day

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

On Thursday 6^th June, from 10am – 11am, Care UK’s Cavell Court, on Dragonfly Lane, 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 Cavell Court, the team have been hard at work organising a special event which will see residents and guests enjoy chatting to Veterans in the local community, individuals serving in the Army, and members of the Marham and Swanton Morley RAF who will all be in attendance. 

Guests will be able to enjoy listening to readings of wartime poems and popular wartime music including ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover’ by Vera Lynn, as well as ‘The Shores of Normandy’ by Jim Radford. 

The lamp, which represents the peace that followed the end of World War Two, will be lit at 10:30am by three residents to represent the land, sea and air that the soldiers fought in. 

Residents Ken Burghart, 98, who was a RAF pilot, John Browse, 88, former Army officer, and John Clark, 90, former Navy officer, and Betty Bowen, aged 98, whose husband was in the RAF, will all be helping to light the torch and will be accompanied by members of the community who are currently serving in the forces.

John Clarke, aged 90, said: "It is wonderful to be one of the lucky people to light the lamp light of peace. It is really important we remember those who fought for the lives we have today and pass this on to future generations who are serving today."

Karen Curle, Home Manager at Cavell Court, said: “We’re passionate about building and maintaining relationships within our community here at Cavell Court, so we’re pleased to be opening our doors to mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day for a morning of sharing memories.

“Reminiscence activities are a great way for older people, especially 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 – it’s been inspiring to hear everyone’s experiences and memories from wartime Britain.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming our friends and neighbours into Cavell Court as we mark this milestone by joining the nationwide lamp lighting initiative.”

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

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