Celebrating life at Barchester

What a fantastic afternoon we had when we welcomed 20 bikers visiting us from The Cambridge Vintage Motorcycle club. This was a great success for our residents who got up close to the bikes. Some even climbing aboard bringing back fond memories. We loved hearing the residents' stories about times gone by when they owned one. 

One of our ladies spoke fondly of her experience in a side-car while her husband drove the bike to their holiday destination. Another gentleman were actually part of the current club. The bikers spoke to all of the residents, answering questions and spending quality time with them. It really was a great afternoon. Tea and cake was had before they roared off & promised to return soon.   

Residents enjoyed a lovely visit from Bonnie, our wonderful therapy dog. Bonnie brought plenty of smiles, cuddles and happiness to everyone throughout the visit. Residents enjoyed spending time with her, giving her lots of attention and affection. 

It was a heart-warming afternoon filled with joy, laughter and special moments for everyone.      

Residents at Worplesdon View enjoyed a lovely trip to the garden centre, where they had a wonderful time exploring the beautiful surroundings. Everyone enjoyed relaxing with delicious teas, coffees and cakes, while taking in the peaceful atmosphere. 

It was a delightful outing filled with conversation, laughter and enjoyable moments together.       

At Worplesdon View Care Home, Mary was delighted to celebrate her dear friend Pamela’s 100th birthday. Having known each other for over ten years, the team arranged a special visit so they could reunite. 

They enjoyed tea, coffee and cake, shared memories and laughter, and celebrated a truly special friendship together.     

The residents of Kingswood Court were delighted to get a special invitation from Downend Short Mat Bowls Club for a friendly game of bowls.

At Kingswood Court, Trish runs her very own bowls club every other Friday. The club members were keen to meet experienced players and refresh their memories of the game, so Activities Coordinator Shayla contacted the local bowls club in Downend and arranged a wonderful afternoon of friendly competition, tips and guidance.

And what made the day even more special? It was Trish’s birthday! She celebrated by taking her bowls club along to enjoy a proper game on the mat with the passionate players from Downend Short Mat Bowls club.

Our residents had a fantastic time getting hands-on with the game, trying out the proper mat and learning new techniques from the experienced players. There were plenty of smiles, laughter and friendly moments throughout the afternoon.

Trish said: “It was a great birthday present for me. I had a pleasant afternoon. Thank you everyone for arranging it.” A huge thank you to Downend Short Mat Bowls for welcoming us and making Trish’s birthday such a memorable one!        

What a spectacular day we had at Kingswood Court as our residents enjoyed a Circus-Themed Summer Carnival!

The celebrations kicked off with a fantastic live performance by Frankie Jones, getting everyone into the carnival spirit with music and entertainment. Then it was time to run away to the circus! Tom from Eclipse Arts joined us for an exciting circus workshop, where our residents had the opportunity to try their hands at different circus skills, including juggling, plate spinning, ribbon twirling, balancing and scarf throwing. There were plenty of smiles, laughter and some very impressive attempts! Our Head of Maintenance, Adam, was also brave enough to volunteer for a special circus trick — and thankfully, he survived to tell the tale! The excitement continued outdoors, where the day ended with an incredible fire-juggling performance in the garden.

We were also joined by some wonderful local stalls: Kelly’s Face Painting, Sarah’s Books & Toys, Charlotte’s Natural Skincare Products and most importantly, the carnival was held in aid of Guide Dogs. Every penny raised will be donated to this wonderful cause. 

A huge thank you to our residents, families, friends, staff and members of our local community who came along, supported us and helped make our carnival such a wonderful success. From circus skills to fire juggling, music, popcorn, candy floss, shopping and plenty of laughter — Kingswood Court certainly knows how to put on a carnival!     

Kingswood Court was delighted to welcome a male barber to our home, bringing a touch of the traditional Italian barbershop experience right to our residents.

The gentlemen enjoyed a proper refresh, with fresh haircuts, electric foil shaves, beard trims and even a relaxing hot towel shave. But it wasn’t just about the haircut, it was about recreating the atmosphere and memories of visiting the barbers when they were younger. With classical music playing from the jukebox, the familiar sound and smell of a traditional barbershop brought back plenty of memories and conversation.

James particularly enjoyed the experience, saying it “felt just like going to the barber when I was a young man.” He reminisced about his younger days, when a trip to the barber was part of his regular routine, sitting in the chair, having a trim and catching up with the barber.

The gentlemen certainly embraced the experience, enjoying the chance to sit back, relax, have a chat and leave feeling fresh and smart.

Kingswood Court came alive with music, creativity, courage and plenty of talent as we hosted our very own Kingswood Got Talent!

The show was hosted by our Senior Regional Chef, Lee, with the event organised by our Activities Coordinator, Shayla. But the real stars of the show were our residents, colleagues and families, who all stepped into the spotlight and shared something special with us. From singing and dancing to poetry, drawing, knitting, sewing and so much more, there was something for everyone. Some performances made us smile, some surprised us with incredible talent, and others gave us a glimpse into the personal stories and passions of the people who call Kingswood Court home.

Kingswood Got Talent wasn't simply about winning a trophy. It was about having the courage to step forward, trying something new, sharing a passion and celebrating one another. Whether it was picking up a microphone, performing a dance, reading a poem, creating artwork, knitting, sewing or simply cheering someone else on – everyone played a part in making the day special.

A huge thank you to Lee for being our fantastic host, to our judges for taking on the very difficult task of choosing the winners, and to all our residents, families and colleagues who performed, supported and encouraged each other. Kingswood Court definitely has talent – and we can't wait to see what comes next!         

We're very lucky at Chater Lodge to have a beautiful, secluded garden, complete with a couple of apple trees and a pear tree.

This week, some of our apples had fallen from the tree, so Michael headed out into the garden to gather them up. Rather than letting them go to waste, he collected them for our kitchen team to make a delicious treat.

There's something lovely about being able to pick fruit grown right here in our own garden and make good use of it in the home. We looked forward to seeing what our chefs decided to make with Michaels harvest, and we were delighted to taste a special home-grown apple crumble.