Celebrating life at Barchester

Brothers Tony and Mike, of singing duo “Dim*Sum” entertained residents, visitors and staff with a fabulous live musical performance.

We sang along to a variety of our favourite songs, and it was a very uplifting and enjoyable afternoon.

They dedicated the lovely song “The Fields of Athenry” to our lovely Irish resident Patricia, which was a very moving experience for her.

Dim*Sum means “Touch the Heart” and they certainly did! We look forward to their next visit in 2026.   

Residents at Barchester Lotus Manor have been getting into the Christmas spirit this week, enjoying a series of heart-warming seasonal activities that have filled the home with laughter, conversation, and a wonderful sense of community.

The celebrations began with the decorating of the home’s Christmas tree. Pat and Kristiina were all smiles as they helped add the final decorations, complete with a festive Christmas hat or two to mark the occasion. The tree now stands proudly in the lounge, bringing sparkle and cheer to everyone who passes by.

Alongside the decorating, residents took part in a classic Christmas family favourite: the “Who Am I?” guessing game. This simple and familiar activity brought plenty of joy, inspiring lively conversation, shared memories, and bursts of laughter throughout the afternoon..

The game was a lovely reminder that it is often the simplest activities that create the most special memories. As the festive season continues, Lotus Manor looks forward to sharing many more moments of togetherness, connection, and Christmas cheer with residents and loved ones alike.

We kicked things off with some frightfully fun Halloween-themed cupcake making from spooky sprinkles to ghostly icing, our residents got creative and had a fantastic time. Kitchen workshops are a favourite on our weekly life enrichment programme.   

We were absolutely delighted to celebrate a truly special milestone — our much-loved Admin Assistant, Anne’s 80th birthday! 
Anne is such an important and cherished part of our Balclutha family. She has been a constant source of warmth, laughter, and kindness throughout her time here, and we were all so thrilled to make her day as special as she is.

We marked the occasion with fizz, cake, and plenty of nibbles, surrounded by friends, residents, and colleagues who were eager to celebrate with her. The atmosphere was full of joy and appreciation, with smiles all around as we shared stories, laughter, and heartfelt moments together.

Anne truly is the heart of Balclutha Court. She’s the friendly face that greets everyone, the calm voice on the phone, and the helping hand behind so much of what we do. She knows every resident by name — and more importantly, she knows what makes them smile. Her caring nature and cheerful personality brighten every day for residents, families, and staff alike.
Anne, we want to say a huge thank you for everything you do — for your dedication, kindness, and the warmth you bring to Balclutha Court. You inspire us all, and we couldn’t imagine the home without you.

Here’s to you, Anne — to your 80 wonderful years, and to many more filled with happiness, laughter, and love.   

Our residents had a fantastic time in the kitchen this week, rolling up their sleeves to make traditional cloutie dumpling during a hands-on workshop with our new Head Chef, Mark!

There was plenty of laughter, stories shared, and delicious smells filling the home as everyone got involved. Mark has already made such a lovely impression, and we’re excited for many more foodie activities to come.

A huge well done to all our resident bakers — we can’t wait to taste the final result! 

Residents at Barchester Lotus Manor were delighted to welcome children from Send CofE Primary School for a heart-warming visit filled with creativity, conversation, and plenty of shared excitement for the future.

The pupils joined residents for a fun and engaging brainstorming session to explore new intergenerational projects for the year ahead. Together, they discussed a variety of thoughtful and imaginative ideas, including the creation of an Intergenerational Gardening Club, planning music concerts, and launching a brand-new Book Buddy scheme. The room was full of enthusiasm as both generations exchanged stories, suggestions, and lots of smiles.

A particularly charming highlight of the visit was the introduction of Lotus Manor’s beloved mascots, who were officially named by the children as Mr Whiskers the cat and Cooper the dog. The mascots proved to be a wonderful icebreaker and added an extra touch of fun to the morning’s activities.

The visit was filled with warmth, laughter, and genuine connection, leaving everyone feeling inspired. As Lotus Manor and Send CofE Primary School continue to grow this lovely partnership, residents and pupils alike are looking forward to all the joy, friendship, and meaningful shared experiences that 2026 will bring.

Staff swapped their uniforms for costumes on National Elf Day (Wednesday, December 3rd) in an effort to raise Christmas cheer as well as raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. Launched by the Alzheimer’s Society and delivered direct from the North Pole, Elf Day was created to sprinkle some festive cheer on fundraising towards finding a cure for dementia. From stripy socks to head-to-toe elf outfits, anything goes – there’s snow better way to raise money to help beat dementia.

On the day, residents and staff at North Park were able to enjoy elf-themed games, including best-dressed elf competition, Christmas quiz, and elf-bingo paired with a festive-themed spread as the team at the home donned their elfish apparel.  The Elves could be seen Elf'ing about the Wards at Darlington Memorial Hospital, spreading festive Joy to all, whilst delivering sweet bags and festive cheers to the Children’s wards and the frail elderly wards.

We were delighted to receive a surprise visit from the granddaughter of a past resident of our home.  Kelly and her daughters presented a gift to the home filled with a selection of sweet treats for everyone to enjoy as a special thank you for caring for her grandmother.

Kelly said, “thank you for the companionship, care and love which was given to my grandmother, Jean during her time in the home. It meant a lot to us as a family – thank you”.