Care Home Residents Celebrate Her Majesty’s 70-Year Reign

Residents at Colten Care’s 21 homes in the south went all out to enjoy themselves for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Braemar Lodge in Salisbury, Kingfishers in New Milton and Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst were among those staging festive ‘street parties’ in honour of the historic occasion.

Kingfishers residents Terry Brown and Polly Walker spoke of the fun they had.

Terry said: “Thank you all for a memorable afternoon. Everyone enjoyed the special occasion, great weather too!”, while Polly commented: “I had an amazing time, lots of singing and dancing. I enjoyed the cake too, so yummy!”.

Thanks to an application by Braemar Lodge Home Manager Jackie Cash to Salisbury City Council, residents were invited to attend the lighting of the city’s Beacon.

One, Margaret Drage, said: “It was a joy to be there on such a magnificent evening. It was a marvellous experience.”

Jackie said: “Many of our residents are of a similar age to the Queen, or a bit younger, and it was lovely to enable them to be part of such a historic occasion, one that perhaps none of us will see again in our lifetimes.”

The Jubilee buzz began weeks before the extended Bank Holiday weekend with residents making themed artworks and decorations.

One initiative at Braemar Lodge involved assembling a handmade Jubilee mosaic which took pride of place at the garden party.

And resident Jennifer Whitaker even sent the Queen a poem. “I’ve always written poetry, ever since childhood,” she said. “I call it ‘doggerel’, comic verse that doesn’t necessarily have a rhythm. My tribute to the Queen simply flowed, and it seemed absolutely fitting to send it to Her Majesty in this Jubilee Year.”

Woodpeckers residents welcomed a visit by a shire horse called Guinness sporting a patriotic red, white and blue mane braiding and ear bonnet.

At all Colten Care homes, commemorative Jubilee trees were planted as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty.