Celebrating life at Barchester

On Saturday staff, residents; past and present joined together with the local community at Cepen Lodge to enjoy an open day full of music and memories.

We hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including entertainment courtesy of a traditional Pearly Queen!  With a repertoire of East-End songs we all knew and love, everyone had a good old singalong before enjoying strawberries dipped in a chocolate fountain and fizz!

At Cepen Lodge we’re dedicated to making sure that our home is a hub of the local community and open days allow us to showcase the friendly family values we hold close at heart, it’s wonderful to spend time quality with friends old and new.”

This week the wonderful Sophie joined our residents for a gentle Sound Healing Session. 

Using Tibetan singing bowls she creates powerful sounds, vibrations and musical notes that resonate long after having been played, they are used for meditation and relaxation, as well as for personal spirituality.

Our residents enjoy every aspect of her sessions and leave feeling totally relaxed.

Today at Waterside Court, we were honoured to take part in the Barchester Care Awards, a celebration of the exceptional people who make a difference across our communities. 

We are immensely proud to share that our Resident Ambassador, Heather Woollard, was recognised as the Divisional Winner for Resident Ambassador of the Year, representing Waterside Court with dignity, passion, and pride.

We might not have made it to the next round, but wow – what a journey! We could not be prouder of Heather’s outstanding achievement and the unwavering support shown by our residents, staff, families, and friends throughout this journey.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all the national winners and express our heartfelt appreciation to Heather for being such an inspiring ambassador for Waterside Court and the wider Barchester family.

Our resident ambassador, Heather, along with our dedicated staff, looked wonderful in their beautiful saris as they represented our vibrant community. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, reminds us that light triumphs over darkness and goodness always prevails — a celebration of hope, joy, and unity.

At Waterside Court, we take great pride in honouring diversity and embracing the many cultures that make our community so special.

We were delighted to host another uplifting Sunday Service here at Waterside Court, led by Pastor Simon and beautifully accompanied by Graham on guitar. Residents and their families thoroughly enjoyed the heartfelt hymns, sincere prayers, and inspiring message shared throughout the service.

It was a truly special time of reflection, worship, and community — with families joining together in song, fellowship, and shared moments of meaning. Occasions like these highlight the joy, unity, and sense of belonging that flourish when faith and music bring people together.

Yesterday, we hosted a truly special “Guess Who” Reminiscence Session here at Waterside Court — and what a beautiful afternoon it turned out to be!

With the help of our wonderful residents, staff, families, and friends, we gathered treasured childhood photos. The room was filled with laughter, curiosity, and a few happy tears as we all tried to “guess who” from those adorable pictures. 

Each photo sparked heart-warming memories and wonderful stories — from school days and family holidays to the little adventures that shaped the amazing people we know today. The atmosphere was full of warmth, nostalgia, and joy, reminding us how powerful shared memories can be.

It was a touching celebration of life, connection — and a beautiful reminder that every picture really does tell a story. 

Autumn has arrived here at Waterside Court, bringing with it a wonderful display of rich colours and seasonal charm. To mark the occasion, we created a fantastic Harvest Festival display, filled with vibrant pumpkins, apples, golden wheat, and other autumnal delights. The display captured the beauty of the season perfectly and brought smiles to everyone who stopped by. It was a lovely way to celebrate the harvest and welcome the warmth and togetherness that this time of year brings.
 

We had a beautiful morning with Rector Alicia, who joined us for our Harvest Festival Service. Everyone enjoyed the hymns, stories, and prayers together ,it was such a peaceful and heartwarming time. Our residents and staff really loved coming together to give thanks and share in the spirit of this season.

We had a wonderful Open Day today filled with laughter, warmth, and creativity. Residents, staff, and visitors joined in our autumn flower arranging session, making gorgeous pumpkin displays while enjoying hot drinks and friendly chats. It was a lovely day showing off our beautiful home and sharing special moments together.