Activities at Rivermead Care Home

We had a lovely time joining Holly and Marie-Therese from the Wallace Collection, for a virtual introduction to the Collection, followed by a sensory exploratory walk through one of the museum’s most famous landscape paintings.   The Collection ranges from Old Master paintings to 18th century French furniture, arms and armour.  We all had a wonderful time and cannot wait to put our creative skills to a test and paint some landscapes in the upcoming days.

We had a lovely time joining Angela Cobbin for a theatre-inspired virtual talk about her book ‘My Name is Not Wigs’.              ‘My Name Is Not Wigs’ is the ultimate read for fans of witty behind-the-curtains memoirs, especially those with a penchant for the bright lights of stage and screen: tears and accolades aplenty!

Angela shared interesting facts with our residents about her book, her life and her experiences as a wig creator in London’s West End in celebration of World Theatre Day.

Here at Rivermead today we are celebrating not 1 but 2 long term service awards. Hailey has been part of the Rivermead team for 15 years. She started with us as a housekeeper and then found her vocation was within our care team.

Graeme has been part of the Rivermead team since 2012 and has recieved his 10years service award as our 2nd chef.

General Manager Sarah Jackson thanked them for their hard work and dedication to our residents and the home and awarded them both with certificates, their long term service award pin badges, gift voucher and a personal treat.

Monday morning was so beautifully sunny that we were inspired to dust off the Rivermead Charabanc and take an excursion – where else – to the seaside! The happy trippers Andy, Brenda and Joan were soon singing along with Tom Jones and Elvis, amongst others, as the bus headed East.

Having parked in Scarborough’s harbour, seagulls squawking overhead, we made our way along the promenade to the Bay View Coffee House which offered a splendid view of the sparkling sea, lighthouse and distant cliffs. Over coffee and sandwiches, Brenda reminisced about many happy trips to the seaside, and her very vivid memories of the past. Andy chatted about his Army days and how much he had enjoyed the Cyprus sunshine. Joan told us of a 1930s family holiday in Scarborough when her parents, eight sisters and two brothers, would picnic on the beach. On one occasion, when she was only six, she wandered off and got lost … Fortunately she was found by two enormously tall – to her – policemen who managed to reunite her with her much relieved family! Joan also recalled enjoying annual Sunday School Scarborough holidays.

Celebrations have been in full swing at Rivermead Care Home, as one of its residents reached her 104th birthday in style.

Peggy was joined by staff, friends and other residents to celebrate her special landmark birthday. A wonderful afternoon tea party was held at the home and guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef Sarah Lightfoot.

Sarah Jackson, General Manager of Barchester Rivermead Care Home added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable woman as she reaches this amazing milestone. Peggy is such a popular resident who always has an interesting tale to tell, and we look forward to hearing many more as she continues into her next century.”

We were treated to an amazing live virtual talk and a tour of Cliveden, hosted by the house and chapel guides from the National Trust Talks Service.

The volunteers kindly gave us a tour around the famous house taking an in-depth look at Cliveden’s many stories from its 350 year history, from devilish dukes to scandalous headlines and boundary-breaking garden designs to political notoriety.

Starting with the Duke of Buckingham who built the first house in 1666, our residents met the key owners who helped shape the house and its gardens including the Orkney, Sutherland and Astor families.

The talk was accompanied by an illustrated presentation which brought to life these individuals and showed how their influence at Cliveden still continues today.