Well-Known Local Couple Perform The Official Opening Of New Care Home
A couple who ran a chain on chemists in South Wales before opening a popular local tourist attraction which still attracts thousands of visitors a year are the first to move into a new state-of-the-art luxury care home in the Vale of Glamorgan.
And as the first residents, Peter and Diana Andrews, were invited to perform the official opening of the Glenburnie Lodge Care Community in Wenvoe.
The event on 18th July marked the culmination of three years of planning, a multi-million-pound investment and a step-change in the approach to latter years living.
Glenburnie offers residential, dementia and 24-hour nursing care delivered by an experienced team, enhanced with high-end hotel-style services including fine dining and a meaningful programme of daily events and fun and stimulating activities.
Peter and Diana said they were delighted to be asked to perform the official opening. The couple ran their own chain of chemists before selling to Lloyds Pharmacies, and they then bought a run-down farmhouse and 22-acres at Hensol and transformed it into Llanerch Vineyard, the best-known vineyard in Wales. They sold the vineyard in 2006.
Now both in their eighties, the couple had been looking for a home that will allow them their independence and opportunity for enriching activities alongside the care and support needed in later life.
“The facilities are excellent,” said Peter. “But no matter how good the facilities are, it’s the people that matter and we have found that the people here, whatever their role, are amazing.”
Local Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Russell Godfrey believes Glenburnie will become a valued addition to the local community.
“We have had a care home in the village previously which closed abruptly and that left a void so it’s great to see Glenburnie now up and running,” he said.
“The facility is breathtaking, it’s wonderful to see how the design of the rooms, communal area and gardens all links so well and the residents have told me how much they appreciate the range of activities.
“What I particularly like is the way Glenburnie isn’t sealed off, the people behind it clearly appreciate the value of being part of the local community. Residents and visitors will make use of the local shop and pub and in a lovely gesture the home has recently paid for CCTV to cover the nearby children’s park as they appreciate residents can take their grandchildren there.”
Reflecting on the opening, Managing Director Jacqui Orrells said: “I see our role as helping people to live their best lives. In many ways it can be the exciting start of a new chapter, the chance to make new friendships and try new activities.”
