Quorn care home honours D-Day anniversary

A Quorn care home hosted a special garden party to mark 80 years since D-Day.

Care UK’s  Lonsdale Mews, on Farley Way, welcomed Barrow-upon-Soar Army Cadets for its lamp lighting ceremony on Thursday 6^th June. 

To commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the Normandy Landings 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 UK homes took part in this nationwide tribute.

At Lonsdale Mews, residents and team members adorned the garden with knitted poppies and cornflowers, while singer Eleanor Matley got everyone in the party spirit with some 1940s tunes.

After a reading by the cadets, the special lamp, representing the peace following the end of World War Two, was lit by Peter Dalton, 92.

Aged 15, Peter left Leeds to attend the Army College in Chepstow, Wales, and in 1949 he joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Peter later transferred into administration, served in the army in Germany, Egypt and Cyprus, and became Sergeant Major. In 1971 he was promoted to Captain and worked in the MOD war office, before retiring. Quickly bored of retirement, Peter became company paymaster for the Royal Army Pay Corps to the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was then promoted to Major and formed a new unit based in Melton Mowbray.

Peter said: “I felt very honoured to be asked to light the lamp. I was an Army Cadet myself when I was at Coburn Grammar School in Leeds, so it was nice to see the young cadets starting out in the service, just like I did. It’s so important to remember those who sacrificed their lives to give us the freedom we have today.”

Following this, George Walker, who served in Northern Ireland in the Second Light Infantry as a medic between 1970 and 1979 and played the French horn and cornet in the army band, performed ‘The Last Post’.

Toby Sturgess, Home Manager at Lonsdale Mews, said: “It was an honour to join this nationwide initiative and mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day. 

“Many residents, including Peter, have vivid memories of the war, so major anniversaries like these are extremely meaningful to them. Commemorating the anniversary gave everyone a valuable opportunity to reminisce, while sharing their stories with the younger generation – which was beneficial for both sides. 

“It really was a heartfelt day for everyone involved. We’d like to say a big thank you to the Barrow-upon-Soar Army Cadets for joining us!” 

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

Lonsdale Mews offers full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite. The home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café. 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.