Celebrating life at Barchester

There was silence in the dining room, no music, no talking, just pure anticipation as each of the residents waited for more players to arrive.

What started off with four players has slowly progressed to no less than ten players on a weekly basis.
This is a fun session, yet there is also a mystery in the air, a gentle tension surrounding the dining room. 
The eye contact is stern, a gentle knock on the table to let fellow players know they are missing a turn.
As much as we love domino club, we all pause to play for morning tea & cake. The game will continue following refreshments. Dominoes club is a popular part of the weekly activities planner.            

To celebrate International Firefighters’ Day, Reigate Beaumont was delighted to welcome our local firefighters for a special fire safety talk and live demonstration.

Residents thoroughly enjoyed the visit and loved meeting these real-life heroes while learning more about the important work they do to keep our community safe. The firefighters’ dedication, professionalism, and kindness made the day both educational and memorable.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our local fire service for their continued commitment and service to the community.

As the weather improves so do outings. Many residents enjoy going for a gentle stroll down the Greenway, surrounded by greenery, wildlife, horse riders, bike riders, children returning from school and dog walkers. A walk along the Greenway is always a social walk.

Dot stated that she would like to go shopping. We didn’t need asking twice. Off we went, a lovely walk into the town centre, shopping for nail care products so Dot could receive a manicure.

Outings boost mental health, ease feelings of isolation, and support mobility. No matter of the outing, the benefits are brought to every residents, and they bring so much joy.         

We were delighted to welcome John Hedley and his beautiful Guide Dog, Oliver, to Reigate Beaumont.
John shared his inspiring personal journey of losing his sight and spoke about the incredible impact Oliver has had on helping him maintain his independence and confidence. Residents were deeply moved by his story and thoroughly enjoyed meeting both John and Oliver.

It was a privilege to hear such an uplifting talk, and we are incredibly grateful to them for spending time with us.        

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, residents at Reigate Beaumont enjoyed an insightful and supportive Clinical Talk led by Deputy Manager Reeja. The session focused on mental health and wellbeing, offering residents the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and receive valuable advice in a warm and welcoming environment.

The talk encouraged open conversations around mental wellbeing and created a meaningful space where residents felt heard, supported, and informed. It was a truly engaging and beneficial experience for everyone involved.      

Our residents enjoyed a lovely ‘Paint & Sip’ evening at Cedars, filled with creativity, laughter, and, of course, a little refreshment too. 

Everyone had the opportunity to relax, enjoy a drink, and let their artistic side shine as they created some beautiful colourful masterpieces. 

It was wonderful to see residents expressing themselves, sharing ideas, and enjoying a calm and sociable evening together. Activities like these are such a lovely way to encourage creativity and bring everyone together. 

We think the finished artwork looks absolutely fantastic – a true work of art.       

We had a fantastic day celebrating VE day. Firstly, our residents made this amazing Union Jack cake for our afternoon of entertainment and street party-style celebrations.

Everybody enjoyed a buffet-style lunch before moving to the lounge for an afternoon of sing-along songs with the amazing Tony Cook and a selection of drinks to wash down that amazing cake.

The afternoon was an amazing success and everybody said they’d had the most amazing time.        

At Werrington Lodge three residents who were once school friends reunited after many years apart.  After having lots of discussions in the home they realised they had all been at the same school together within the same time period. 

They enjoyed a chat reminiscing about their school days and the teachers they remembered over a drink. They even sang some old school songs for their other friends in the home.     

A huge well done to one of our wonderful residents and her husband, who have spent the last few days completing this incredible 6,000-piece puzzle together.         

With patience, teamwork, and lots of determination, the pair carefully worked through every piece side by side – creating not only an amazing picture, but also some very special memories along the way. 

Activities like this are a lovely way to keep the mind active, encourage concentration, and, most importantly, enjoy meaningful time together. The sense of achievement when the final piece was placed was truly priceless. 

Everyone at Cedars has loved watching the puzzle slowly come to life, and we think the finished result looks fantastic. Well done to you both on such an impressive accomplishment.