Celebrating life at Barchester

We are still buzzing from the incredible visit we had from The Cube Disability Performance Group last week! 

The talent, energy, and pure joy they brought into our home was absolutely infectious. Our residents and staff were completely captivated by the musical performance! It was wonderful to see everyone singing along and getting to know the performers after the performance.

Our General Manager, Elina House, would like to send a massive thank you to the whole group "A huge thank you to The Cube Disability Performance Group for joining us. You were a massive hit and brought so much happiness to our residents and team. We can't wait to welcome you back to Brampton View!" 

Events like these remind us how powerful music and community connection can be. Thank you for making it a day to remember!

We enjoyed a fantastic, fun afternoon when Kelly’s Donkeys and Animal Shelter visited our home with a marvellous menagerie, including a donkey, a Shetland pony, a goat, guinea pigs and rabbits.

The animals brought gentle fun and cuddles, and sparked plenty of laughter, conversation, and happy memories, especially for residents with farming backgrounds or who recalled cherished pets. A particularly curious goat took a shine to Neville, much to everyone’s amusement, with Neville commenting, “It made my day.”

Animal visits like this are a great way to support wellbeing, encourage connection, and create lovely moments together. 

Yesterday, our residents and team came together to celebrate a truly special occasion—the 101st birthday of our lovely resident, Jane.

Jane was thrilled to mark this incredible milestone, surrounded by friends, smiles, and plenty of celebration. Our Resident Ambassador, Elizabeth, along with members of our dedicated team, presented Jane with beautiful flowers, a glass of Prosecco, and a delicious birthday cake, which she generously shared with fellow residents.

It was a joyful day filled with laughter, togetherness, friends and good wishes. We are honoured to celebrate such a remarkable moment and to be part of Jane’s very special day.

Happy 101st Birthday, Jane! 

 Cadbury Hall came alive with the sights, sounds, and flavours of Romania. Carmen, Team Leader, and Isabela, Regional Director, invited residents and staff on a journey through their heritage, dressed in stunning traditional outfits and sharing stories that brought the culture vividly to life.

The celebration began with Carmen introducing Romanian winter traditions, explaining the customs and their significance. This was followed by Isabela sharing personal insights into Romanian wedding traditions, accompanied by beautiful photographs from her own wedding — a glimpse into family, celebration, and connection.

The day truly came alive through food prepared with love. Carmen cooked a traditional Romanian lunch entirely from scratch, offering:

• Zacuscă and Romanian pâté on toasted bread
• Stuffed peppers with meat and vegetables, served with polenta, beetroot, horseradish, and sour cream — with spicy peppers for those feeling adventurous
• Cozonac, a sweet Romanian bread, served with cream
• Home-baked Romanian sweet cookies, served alongside the tea trolley

Romania Day was more than a celebration of food and customs — it was a reminder of the power of diversity and inclusion. At Cadbury Hall, we cherish the stories, cultures, and traditions that residents and colleagues bring, knowing that sharing heritage enriches lives and creates lasting memories.

And this is just the beginning of our cultural adventures for 2026. Next stop: South Africa in February, where we’ll explore new flavours, traditions, and celebrations, continuing our journey of learning, connection, and celebration of global cultures.

Residents recently had a calm, lovely afternoon of flower arranging with fresh blooms, gentle hands and the simple joy of slowing down and being present.

Flowers make everything look brighter and happier, so the residents really enjoy spending time making flower arrangements that are then displayed all around the home. 

Ahead of Big Garden Birdwatch which starts on Jan 23rd, staff and residents were treated to a talk by nature conservationist, Rob Magee. Specialising in ornithology, Rob has over 20 years’ experience leading conservation projects across Wales.   He previously worked for the RSPB on the ‘Red Kites of Ceredigion’ project in Mid Wales as well as BBC Springwatch at RSPB Ynys-hir Nature Reserve in 2013. He then worked at RSPB Newport Wetlands from 2013 to 2017.

Cadbury Hall proudly hosted its inaugural Veterans Lunch on Monday 10th November, bringing together residents, family members, and honoured guests to celebrate and remember those who have served in the Armed Forces.

Distinguished guests included Rob Lewis and his wife from the Yatton branch of the British Legion, who joined residents in sharing stories, memories, and reflections from service life.

The event was co-hosted by Matthew Harley, Head of Maintenance at Cadbury Hall and an ex-Naval serviceman . Residents from all branches of the armed forces were represented, proudly displaying their medals and photographs, and recounting their personal experiences.

A delicious lunch, prepared by Chef Ross, was enjoyed by all, with family members also joining to mark the occasion. The gathering concluded with a traditional port toast in remembrance of those who have served and continue to serve — and to The King.

Angela Grace, Home Service Advisor who organised and co-hosted the event, said:

“It was an honour to bring everyone together for such a meaningful occasion. The sense of pride, camaraderie, and remembrance was truly special.”

Our Garden Club is proving very popular with James Co ordinating the group and activties they also enjoy trips  to Cadbury Garden Centre to pick up seeds and bulbs, with plenty of time to explore all it has to offer.

There is also time for some shopping at the concession stands, where residents recently  found a variety of lovely items. Suzanne was amazed at how much the centre has expanded and commented on how tastefully decorated it now looks, with so much to feast the eyes on.

She purchased an Aloe Vera plant for her bedroom along with the beautiful book The Secret Garden – a perfect choice.

We cant wait for Spring to see the fruits of James Labour, planning andhard work

Life enrichment activities are a great way to build a sense of community between residents. Today our residents got competitive with some fun filled games with lots of laughs, teamwork and a little friendly rivalry! It’s always wonderful to see everyone so engaged and smiling.