Activities at Florence Court Care Home

Eric ‘Eddie’ Fisher has been crowned Resident Ambassador of the Year for the South Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2025 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,500 residents living in Barchester’s 267 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Resident Ambassador of the Year’.

Over 5,000 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were a very high standard and Eddie is over the moon to have been named the winner for the South beating hundreds of other nominees.

Eddie said: “I feel very lucky and honoured.”

As the winner for South, Eddie is through to the national finals in which the overall winner is decided.  They will join winners from across the UK at a special awards event in October to celebrate their outstanding achievements and discover if they have won a national award. 

We had an absolutely wonderful time at our Dementia Disco Dance this month - 50/60's themed

The music, the laughter, and the smiles filled the room with joy. Residents, families, guests and staff all joined in for an afternoon of dancing, singing, and celebrating the power of music to bring us together!

Our residents were delighted to meet Mavis the 38-year-old tortoise! They enjoyed holding her, giving her a gentle stroke, and learning all about her life and habits. Mavis certainly enjoyed the attention and having a (slow) wander around our home!

It was such a lovely afternoon filled with smiles, curiosity, and conversation. A huge thank you to our wonderful Senior Carer, Myra, for bringing Mavis in to meet everyone – she brought so much joy to our home!


 

Wimbledon at Florence Court! .... What a fantastic week we've had celebrating Wimbledon! Residents enjoyed a full schedule of tennis-themed fun, including indoor and outdoor games of catch and swing ball, and plenty of laughter in the sunshine. 

To top it all off, we gathered this weekend for a Wimbledon Final Viewing Party, complete with Pimm’s and the traditional treat of strawberries and cream. It was a wonderful weekend shared with great company, delicious refreshments, and lots of cheering! 

 

This week our lovely residents enjoyed a fabulous minibus trip out for a picnic to celebrate National Picnic Week! We visited Royal Victoria Country Park and enjoyed a walk in the beautiful grounds.

With sunshine, smiles, and tea and cake all around, we had a wonderful time in the great outdoors ... sharing stories, laughter, and of course, some delicious treats! 


 

In celebration of National Day of Arts in Care Homes, we enjoyed a wonderful V&A Virtual Make-along experience with Holly from the V&A Learning team and designer-artist Rafin Jannat. 

Taking inspiration from the South Asia Gallery at the museum, everyone had the chance to experiment with paints and pigments made from everyday ingredients, creating their own unique artworks!


 

Our residents enjoyed a full-body workout incorporating drumsticks and balls — and the room was filled with energy, laughter, and smiles!

Exercise isn’t just about moving — it helps keep joints supple, improves balance, lifts mood, sharpens the mind, and even boosts confidence. Plus, moving together creates a wonderful sense of community and connection.

What a joyful way to end the week! 
 

This week, we made the most of the glorious sunshine with a special Cocktail & Jazz Afternoon for our residents, families and friends.

Everyone enjoyed a choice of colourful cocktails and refreshing mocktails, from fruity punch to classic Pimm’s, all whilst relaxing to the delightful live jazz music from saxophone player Andy 🎷

It was the perfect mix of great music, good company, and warm summer vibes – an afternoon to remember! 

 

Our residents had a whimsical time celebrating Alice in Wonderland Day with a delightful Mad Hatter's Tea Party! From quirky hats to colourful cupcakes, the afternoon was filled with laughter, fancy dress, and plenty of tea and treats. 

Thank you to our staff for creating such a magical experience and to our residents for joining in the fun with such spirit and style! 

 

What a fantastic week we've had at Florence Court during our Get Moving Week!

Our residents, staff, and even a few visitors joined in on the fun with chair yoga, dance-alongs, walks in the local community, exercise classes, gardening and interactive games! The energy, smiles, and community spirit have been truly heart warming!

A big thank you to our amazing team and residents who made this week so special with laughter, movement and memories in the making. Let's keep the momentum going and stay active together!
 

This week we are celebrating our exceptional Housekeepers by shining a spotlight on Bella our Head Housekeeper and her team which include Sandy, Coral and Steph.

Each day, they work tirelessly behind the scenes, making our home a haven of comfort and cleanliness for our residents, visitors and staff. 

Thank you for all that you do to ensure our home remains beautiful. 

 

Our residents had a wonderful surprise today when Cooper, one of our staff members’ lovable pups, came by for a visit! 

He brought so much joy, cuddles, and smiles to everyone he met. It’s amazing how a wagging tail and a few wet kisses can brighten the day. 

 

Our residents had a truly joyful day on our annual trip to Sam's Sunflowers! With the sun shining down and golden blooms all around, they strolled through the sunflower fields, hand-picked their own beautiful bunches, and enjoyed every moment of fresh air and fun. 
 

These special outings mean so much — bringing nature, friendship, and memories together in full bloom!

 

Our residents had a wonderful time getting their hands dirty recently! First, we enjoyed replanting our lovely herb garden – the scents of rosemary, mint, and thyme filled the air and sparked lots of happy memories. 

Then, we had some very special little helpers join us! Year R students from West Hill Park School visited and together we planted cheerful sunflower seeds. It was a heart warming afternoon of laughter, learning, and intergenerational fun.

We can’t wait to see our sunflowers bloom and enjoy the herbs all summer long. A big thank you to our young friends for their helping hands and bright smiles! 

 

Celebrations have been in full swing at Florence Court Care Home, as one of its residents reaches his centenary in style.

Len was joined by staff, relatives, friends and other residents as he received a telegram from the King in recognition of his landmark birthday. An afternoon high tea reception was held at the home and guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef.

Len is a lifelong Portsmouth FC supporter, he went to his first home game at Fratton Park at age 5 with his father. He was also signed to the club but unfortunately didn’t get to play for them due to the war and being conscripted for National Service. Len later played for Airspeed Football Club, and went to watch Portsmouth play and win the FA Cup in 1939 with his colleagues and again in 2008 with his son. Len has been a devout Pompey supporter his whole life, passing this passion on to his family. So to make this birthday extra special, we had a surprise visit from none other than ex-professional player Guy Whittingham at the weekend! 

Seeing Len's face light up as he chatted football with his sons and a Pompey legend was truly unforgettable. Len couldn’t believe Guy was visiting him, saying; “I can’t believe it, I think it’s marvellous you’ve got this man to come and see me”. It was an emotional moment for Len—sharing coffee with his sons, all lifelong Pompey supporters, and Guy Whittingham, a club legend he never imagined would visit.

To make Len’s actual birthday even more special, Alan Knight MBE - a true icon of English football and record-breaking goalkeeper for Portsmouth FC, paid us a visit to personally wish Len a very happy birthday. Len was so grateful to have been honoured by two visits from Portsmouth FC legends this week for his birthday. We’re incredibly grateful to both Alan and Guy for their kindness and taking the time to come and visit Len.