Sale care home veterans honour D-Day anniversary

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

Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, welcomed the community for its street party and 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 Oakfield Croft, residents and team members adorned the home in posters and buntings, including flags donated by Trafford Veterans Association, and wore wartime clothes, while singer Deborah McCormick got everyone in the party spirit with some 1940s tunes. Sue Wright, Lead of the Trafford Council Veteran Armed Forces, Mike Bono, from Spearhead Charity for Veterans of Trafford, Reverand Murray, the Sale Fire Service and GM Police also joined in the celebrations.

In the afternoon, a special lamp, representing the peace following the end of World War Two, was lit by residents Fred Bellamy, aged 97, and Gerry Langford, aged 93. Fred was an AC2 in the RAF, while Gerry was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Signals. Eamon O’Neal, the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, also read a poem, while Raymond from Fianna Phadraig Pipers played as a lone piper.

Gerry said: “It was a wonderful day and the attendance was wonderful as well.   The attention to detail on the day was marvellous. Oakfield Croft worked so hard to make the day special.  It was an honour to light the Lantern, even though I struggled at first.  It’s very important for us all to remember the sacrifices made by so many and honour them, we live our lives now because of their bravery.”

Dan Cole, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “It was an honour to join this nationwide initiative and mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day. 

“Many residents, including Fred and Gerry, have vivid memories of the years they spent in the Armed Forces, so major anniversaries like these are extremely meaningful to them. Commemorating the anniversary gave everyone a valuable opportunity to reminisce with many people in the community, including other veterans.

“It really was a heartfelt day for everyone involved. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who joined us on the day!”

To find out more about how Care UK has supported 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, there is also a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.