Celebrating life at Barchester

Today we held our very own Dog Show, and we’re delighted to say it was a huge success! 

We had lots of wonderful dogs come along to take part in a variety of fun categories, including Best Trick, Speed Snack, Waggiest Tail, Dog & Owner Lookalike, statues, Cutest Dog (under 1, over 1 and over 8.) and Best in Show!

Our residents had the important job of being our judges, and Norma particularly enjoyed the experience. Having shown German Shepherds when she was younger, she certainly knew what to look for! 

It was a brilliant afternoon filled with lots of wagging tails, happy faces and plenty of fun. A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made our dog show so special — it was thoroughly enjoyed by all!               

Harry has always shared wonderful stories about the horses he grew up with and the special memories of his grandad’s horses. His love for horses has never faded—it really is something special. Although he adores all animals, horses have always held a special place in his heart, and he often asks if he can see them.

Thanks to our amazing nurse, Tracey, that wish became a reality. She very kindly brought her beautiful horse, Willow, to visit Harry, just for him, and the smile on his face said it all. He was absolutely over the moon and so grateful for such a thoughtful surprise.

The joy didn't stop there either! Tracey made sure other residents could enjoy the visit too, taking her horse to the windows of those who were unable to leave their rooms, bringing smiles and happiness all around.

What a truly wonderful afternoon, filled with kindness, special memories, and dreams coming true. 

Staff and residents at Lydfords care home  are celebrating because their home has been named a winner in the Lottie Awards 2026.  Lydfords was picked both in the Care Expert’s Top 10 of all care homes in the country and in the Top 100 care homes overall.

Wow, what can we say?! What a fantastic afternoon we all had! Our amazing staff pulled together for a fun-filled Team Building Sports Day, getting into teams and giving it their all! The residents gathered around to cheer on each team, creating such a wonderful atmosphere and making it a truly memorable afternoon.

We had an egg-and-spoon race, hula hoop competition, sack race, three-legged race, and, of course, a very competitive tug of war to finish! 

The residents also enjoyed some delicious treats, including candy floss, ice cream and plenty of cold drinks. A huge thank you to all of our fantastic staff who took part, got involved and helped make the afternoon such a success. Your enthusiasm and team spirit made the day extra special! 

What a brilliant afternoon of fun, laughter and togetherness!                

One of our residents has been watercolour painting and gained lots of confidence over the past year so we had a little Art exhibition for her to show off her achievements. Families and friends came along to view all of the images, and enjoyed a cheese and wine afternoon. Everyone was really impressed with all of the paintings, and our residents continue to enjoy there painting classes every week.                

Our residents at Waterside Court were back on board with Rivertime Boat Trust for another magical trip to Henley-on-Thames. 
After hearing how much everyone enjoyed our first journey, we couldn’t resist doing it all over again!

With Captain Lucy at the helm, we were treated to a beautifully relaxed journey along the Thames, taking in the charm of Henley from the water and enjoying a chilled glass of bubbly along the way. 

A big thank you to Captain Lucy and the River time crew for another memorable trip and for making everyone feel so welcome on board.

It seems Henley has officially become one of our favourite destinations!     

Our residents at Iddenshall Hall & Beeston View enjoyed celebrating Cowboy Day with music, dancing, singing, games, dressing up, having funny photos taken, and a cowboy-themed lunch. Even the staff joined in. 

Everyone had an amazing day and lots of fun. Yeehaw!