Celebrating life at Barchester

We celebrated the joy and sweetness of childhood with a fun and delicious activity — making our very own rice crisp chocolate cakes! Our residents rolled up their sleeves, mixed, stirred, laughed and shared lovely memories of their own childhood treats. 

The room was filled with smiles, creative energy, and that irresistible chocolate aroma! A wonderful day of togetherness, storytelling, and simple pleasures — reminding us that the child in our hearts never truly grows old.      

What a joyful day at our home as we celebrated our resident Angela's birthday with her loving family! The room was filled with laughter, music, and dancing as we enjoyed an ABBA tribute performance – and our birthday star didn’t stop grooving! 

Residents and family members joined in the fun, dancing together and making memories that will last a lifetime. It was a truly special day, celebrating not just a birthday, but joy, music, and togetherness. Thank you to Angela's family and everyone who made it so memorable.            

Our residents had a delightful surprise visit as George, the adorable Shetland pony, trotted into our home ! With his gentle nature and fluffy charm, George quickly became everyone’s favourite visitor. 

Residents enjoyed feeding him carrots and grass pellets, sharing smiles, laughter, and lots of cuddles. It was a truly heart-warming moment that brightened the day for all!     

Today at Mulberry Court we have had some very special young visitors. George and Stanley, as well as their mum Sophie and grandma Carol all come as part of the boys' "acts of kindness" through December.

They were inspired to do kind acts after seeing a TV programme, and decided to combine it with raising funds for the hospice their mum works for. So far they have raised over £500!!! 

They gave residents handmade cards and brought in some treats too, for everyone to share. Resident Jean, a keen knitter, was so inspired by the boys she donated a shawl/blanket she'd made to be passed onto someone at the hospice, proof that a little kindness goes a long way, and long make it continue.

We wish the boys continued success and hope your radio interview in the morning goes well, along with your other kind acts.

Here are a few pictures from this morning, with kind permission from the boy's mum, Sophie.

What a magical day we had at our Christmas Fayre! From the moment the doors opened, the home was filled with festive cheer, music, laughter, and even a special visit from Father Christmas himself.

Our residents enjoyed everything from live singing to browsing the beautiful stalls, taking photos of our winter displays, and, of course, sampling a mince pie (or two — strictly for research purposes).

A huge thank-you to all our wonderful stallholders, families, friends, and community members who joined us and helped make the afternoon feel so full of warmth. Your support means a great deal to our residents and staff.

Wishing everyone a joyful and bright start to the season.       

Our residents spent the morning getting creative, crafting their very own Christmas wreaths and just looking at the results!

In the afternoon, we were invited to Maplesden Noakes Secondary School for their Christmas party. The students and staff gave us such a warm welcome, with plenty of music, laughter, party hats, and delicious festive treats. It was a wonderful chance for everyone to come together and share some Christmas joy across the generations.

A huge thank you to Maplesden Noakes for making our residents feel so special, we loved every minute.  

Christmas music fills the air every holiday season, setting the perfect mood for joy, laughter, and festive fun. At Tyspane Care Home we understand the importance of swapping ACDC for Mariah Carey, The Beatles for Wham, and Motown for Cliff Richard. There is a very specific set of songs that have become a staple of Christmas tradition, heard everywhere from shops to radios, and even on our very own Resident Ambassadors (David Prior) playlist.

Whether you prefer a modern vibe with Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me,” or the old-school crooning of Nat King Cole, music and singing brings joy at special times, and it certainly did this afternoon as Roger Colome performed for residents, friends, families and community for a special white Christmas. Fingers Crossed, let it snow, let it snow.

Merry Christmas.      

Our residents had the most magical morning at St John’s Church, taking in the sparkle of over 60 beautifully decorated Christmas trees! They enjoyed festive crafts, flower displays, and gift stalls — and, of course, treated themselves to delicious sausage rolls and homemade cakes. 

A huge highlight was listening to the wonderful children from Coopersale Hall School fill the church with Christmas cheer through their charming performances. 

The local community stopped by to chat, share stories, and spread warmth. Prayers were written, candles were lit, and hearts were full as we celebrated the true spirit of Christmas together. 

What a joyful start to the festive season!       

We had a highly successful afternoon at our home as we had the honour of Hilary from Heads Up Neuro Rehab delivering a session to raise awareness about strokes and other neurological conditions. 

A special thank you to Hilary as this was such an engaging and insightful session. We truly appreciate the valuable knowledge shared with our team and residents.