Celebrating life at Barchester

Residents at White Lodge enjoyed their weekly visit from our wonderful therapy dog Ciren. A huge thank you to Theresa from Pets As Therapy for bringing her along!

Ciren’s gentle nature and sensitivity to human emotion brought comfort, smiles, and meaningful moments to our residents today. These interactions help reduce anxiety, spark memories, and boost overall wellbeing. 

The Swindon Cooperative Ladies Choir brought the very first spark of Christmas to White Lodge Care Home this week! 

Dressed in cheerful Christmas jumpers and festive outfits, they filled the home with beautiful carols and seasonal songs. Residents joined in with smiles and tapping feet. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed cake, tea, and plenty of Christmas cheer.

A sincere thank you to the care staff at white lodge who came together to support this event. Your dedication helped create a meaningful and memorable day for all.

Marion and Jenny from the Purton community visited us to deliver a wonderfully engaging presentation on the history of Purton. Using a collection of old photographs projected onto the screen, they brought the village’s past to life, its people, buildings, traditions, and moments that shaped the community over the years.

The session had a particularly meaningful impact on several of our residents. Many recognised familiar places from their childhood: the school they once attended, the church where they worshipped, the chapel where weddings were celebrated, and streets they used to walk every day. These images and stories sparked warm memories and personal reflections, prompting conversations about their own experiences growing up in Purton.

It was a truly heart-warming afternoon filled with nostalgia, shared stories, and a deep sense of connection, not only to the village, but also to one another. A beautiful reminder of how powerful it can be to revisit the places and moments that shaped our lives.

What a wonderful day at White Lodge! The Good Day Farm brought their chicken, duck, goat, sheep, rabbit, and tortoise for a special visit.

Many of our residents once lived or worked on farms, so the animals brought back beautiful memories. We were also delighted to welcome members of the Purton community, along with residents’ families and grandchildren. It was a heart-warming opportunity to connect, share stories, and enjoy the day together.
 

The residents had a lovely afternoon at White Lodge! Debbie came in for her Singing for the Brain session and honestly, she lit up the whole room. 

Our residents came in a bit quiet, but by the end we were all smiling, tapping our feet and singing along to wartime favourites, a bit of country, some Elvis… and of course, we finished with “Bring Me Sunshine.”

And that’s exactly what Debbie did — she brought us sunshine!

A Heartfelt Remembrance Day with Our Local Heroes.

This weekend was a truly special as we welcomed members of the Swindon Veterans Group for a touching Remembrance Day cream tea. Our brave veterans arrived proudly in their blazers and medals, each one carrying stories of courage, sacrifice, and love for their country. 

Residents and families gathered around, listening with admiration as the veterans shared memories from their service — moments of bravery, friendship, and resilience that will never be forgotten.

As everyone enjoyed warm scones and tea, the wonderful Philip Dawdling filled the room with the sounds of wartime tunes on his organ, bringing back precious memories and smiles all around. 

It was an afternoon of reflection, gratitude, and togetherness reminding us all how deeply we owe our freedom to those who served. The veterans left with promises to return and celebrate Christmas with us, and we can’t wait to welcome them back.
 

As Remembrance Day approaches, the residents of White Lodge came together to honour and remember the brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom. The room was filled with warmth and reflection as they spent the afternoon creating beautiful wooden poppy table decorations, each one a small but meaningful tribute to those who served.

They carefully chose their colours, painting each poppy and stem with love and pride. While waiting for the paint to dry, there was the comforting aroma of tea, gentle chatter, and bursts of laughter, moments that reminded everyone of the community and connection that those who fought so hard had hoped to protect.

When the decorations were finally complete, the residents admired their work, simple yet powerful symbols of remembrance. Each person took their piece back to their room, carrying with them not only a handcrafted token of respect but also a quiet sense of gratitude for the courage and sacrifice of our war heroes.

National celebrations and family-friendly events are just some of the ways that we ensure the residents at Hethersett Hall remain connected with their loved ones and the wider community.

Our Residents enjoyed a New Year party to remember. With Nick Stevenson playing classics from the 50s and 60s. Everyone enjoyed got into the party spirit and there was even the odd glass of bubbly or two to get the party into full swing.

Ensuring that we host events that relatives and friends can join is very important to us here at Hethersett Hall.