Western-Style Party Helps Rebecca Get Back In The Saddle
Activity organiser Carlie Nicholas and Colten companion Jill Rennie with resident Jack Tolson.
A Hampshire care home held a surprise country and western-style party to welcome its long-standing manager back from maternity leave.
Rebecca Hannam was greeted with a side-slapping ‘yee haw’ chorus from residents, colleagues and friends at Colten Care’s New Milton home, Kingfishers.
The happy hoedown featured a barn dance and barbecue with live music from country singer Danny Stone.
Party goers dressed up in cowboy hats, jeans, checked shirts and bandanas and enjoyed refreshments in a temporary saloon.
Chefs at the home baked Rebecca a special celebratory cake and among the guests was the New Milton Mayor, Councillor David Hawkins.
Rebecca, proud mum of healthy baby girl Chloe, said she was bowled over by the welcome.
Rebecca said: “It was a complete surprise and I thank everyone involved. It was a great opportunity to catch up with all the residents and our wider community friends.”
Activity Organiser Carlie Nicholas said: “Rebecca has been the home manager ever since the opening of Kingfishers in 2009 and we wanted to give her a big welcome back. Everyone was so happy to see her again.”
Fellow Activity Organiser Ellie Peters added: “Our residents really love country music and the whole event went down really well.”
Rebecca expressed thanks to Acting Managers Barbara Harris and Lucy Yao, who together managed the home while she was on leave. “They did a fantastic job,” said Rebecca.
Earlier this year, Kingfishers celebrated a double helping of professional recognition for its standards of care. The home achieved an ‘outstanding’ caring grade from the Care Quality Commission and a separate accreditation award under the national Gold Standard Framework.
Family-owned Colten Care runs 19 care homes in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire with services spanning residential, short-stay, nursing and dementia care.
