Knutsford care home honours D-Day

A care home in Knutsford opened its doors to the community to commemorate the Normandy landings. 

Care UK’s Cranford Grange, on Hall Lane, held its very own lamp-lighting ceremony to remember the hundreds of thousands of brave people who took part in the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

To honour the 80^th anniversary of D-Day on 6^th June 1944, Care UK partnered with royal pageant master Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, coordinator of D-Day 80 Lamp Light of Peace. Along with the three forces’ charities and the Merchant Navy Association, more than 100 care homes took part in this nationwide tribute.

To commemorate such an important day in our history and the peace and freedom given to us through the bravery and sacrifice of so many. Guests enjoyed a special 1940s-themed party, with live entertainment from Natalie Ciufo, who got everyone's toes tapping when she performed wartime classics. The Knutsford cadets also joined the celebration and chatted with residents about their memories from D-Day. 

The lamp, which represents the peace that followed the end of the Second World War, was lit by Alan Johnson, who was 13 years old at the time of the D-day landings and remembers it vividly to this day. He had moved to London to be near his father who was in the Spitfire Squadron RAF 11 Group Fighter Station. Alan was a Home Guard Runner and later joined cadets. He remembers the hours they spent learning how to disassemble a Sten gun, a British submachine gun, used extensively by British forces throughout World War Two, cleaning it and reassembling it blindfolded. 

Alan, born in 1931, and now age 93, said: “I was honoured and grateful to represent Cranford Grange and stand side by side with the Knutsford Normandy Cadets to light the D-Day 80 Lamp Light of Peace.   It was a truly humbling experience to mark the D-Day Landings and commemorate such an important day in our history.”

Lisa Burrows, General Manager at Cranford Grange, said: “It was fantastic to mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day with the help of the community. 

“Reminiscence activities are a great way for older people, especially those living with memory loss, to connect with those around them and maintain a sense of identity. We heard many stories from residents about their own experiences and memories from wartime Britain, which was so inspiring.

“On behalf of the whole team, I’d like to thank all the guests who joined and the Knutsford Cadets for making D-Day extra special.”

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

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Cranford Grange, which remains open to potential residents, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.