Warrington Care Home Celebrates Bard’s Birth With Burns Night Party

Haggis, neeps and tatties were the order of the day at Holcroft Grange, the Croftwood Care-run residential care home in Warrington, as staff and residents at the home threw a Burns Night party to honour the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

To mark the bard’s birthday, the home was decorated with tartan bunting and residents wore handmade thistle brooches, which were crafted and donated by one of the home’s volunteers, Ann Mills. As well as sporting the floral emblem of Scotland, staff and residents dressed up in tartan and took turns to recite some of Robert Burns’ most famous poems.

In celebration of the special occasion, staff also invited local bagpiper Robert Simmons to the home, whose stirring performance had residents singing and dancing along.

After holding a whisky toast, partygoers enjoyed a quintessentially Scottish Burns Night supper, including cock-a-leekie-soup, a traditional haggis and some scrumptious shortbread. Residents and staff then joined hands to sing Auld Lang Syne and bring the evening to a close.

Shirley Paton, Home Manager at Holcroft Grange, commented: “The Burns Night celebrations were a huge success and just one example of how we endeavour to hold a variety of special events and activities for our residents. It was certainly an evening to remember; everyone is still talking about how much they enjoyed every part of the evening, from the bagpiping to the delicious Scottish supper.

“I would like to say a big thank our Activity Coordinator, Nicola Newens, for her efforts in organising the special day; Robert Simmons, for his fantastic bagpipes performance; and Ann Mills for so kindly making and donating our lovely thistle brooches.”