Sale care home invites local community to honour D-Day

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

On Thursday 6^th June, from 2pm - 4pm, Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, 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 Oakfield Croft, the team have been hard at work organising a special commemorative 1940s street party, which will see residents and guests enjoy popular wartime swing music from Deborah McCormick. The party will be complete with team members dressed in wartime clothes and the culinary team serving up a delicious street food buffet featuring sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiche, scones, a Victoria sponge, and poppy themed cupcakes. 

Pupils from St Mary’s C of E Primary School have offered a helping hand and are specially designing wartime themed posters and poppies to honour the occasion and decorate the home’s walls. Four vintage war vehicles, alongside bunting and flags supplied by the Trafford Veterans, will top everything off, transporting the home back in time.  

Fred Bellamy, aged 97, and Gerry Langford, aged 92, both veterans and residents at Oakfield Croft, will be among the veterans attending on the day. 

Fred said: “I was an AC2 in the RAF and was stationed in Palestine.” Gerry added: “I was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Signals and was stationed in Austria.” 

The team at Oakfield Croft will also be welcoming Sir Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West, Lady Victoria and Oliver Carrol, candidates for Altrincham and Sale West, and Eamon O’Neal, High Sherriff of Greater Manchester on the day. 

Sue Wright, Lead of the Trafford Council Veteran Armed Forces, Mike Bono, from Spearhead Charity for Veterans of Trafford, Reverand Murray, and the Sale Fire Service will also be in attendance.

The lamp, which represents the peace that followed the end of World War Two, will be lit at 3:45pm by Fred and Gerry to honour them as veterans and the ‘Lone Piper’ from Fianna Phadraig will be played.

Fred commented: “It is a real honour lighting the lamp in memory of the old lads for their bravery and the ultimate sacrifices made by men and women, the stories we told and shared.”

Dan Cole, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “Here at Oakfield Croft, 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 Oakfield Croft 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

Oakfield Croft has been rated ‘Good’ in all five areas by the Care Quality Commission and was named a Top 20 care home for the second year in a row. The home is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities, as well as facilities like a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.