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Bournemouth care home residents enjoy ‘army service’
February 21, 2012
THEY are more used to dangerous frontline manoeuvres, but a detachment of British officers instead brought a taste of army service to a Colten Care nursing home.
Members of the Royal Corps of Signals Troop Commanders Course ‘took over’ the Avon Cliff home in Bournemouth, dispensing afternoon tea and cakes, joining residents on a seafront outing and sharing supper.
The exercise, planned with typical military precision, followed a request from the regiment to offer serving soldiers the experience of helping elderly people in the community.
In all, 20 uniformed servicemen and women spent time with nearly 50 residents, talking about army life and comparing wartime stories from past and present.
Residents’ collective military experience includes World War Two service with the Royal Fusiliers, RAF, Land Army and Royal Army Service Corps.
Jan Wilson, Colten Care’s Director of Operations, said: “We have many old soldiers in our homes and the chance to spend a few hours face-to-face with their modern day equivalents proved to be a really joyful occasion.”
2nd Lieutenant Tom MacDonald of the Royal Signals said: “As well as supporting many community charities, we wanted to do something a little different. It was fascinating to listen to the residents’ experiences, giving them the chance to reminisce and at the same time hear the perspective from a soldier’s life today.”
As a thank-you for the day, Colten Care chefs baked a special cake bearing the Royal Signals’ insignia and motto which translates as ‘swift and sure’.
The Royal Signals are the leaders in information technology and communications for the British army.
Since their formation in 1920, they have served wherever the British Armed Forces have been operating providing combat communications support primarily to the Army but also with The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Members of The Royal Signals can be found in all current theatres of operation.
Avon Cliff is one of 18 Colten Care homes across the South providing a range of services including quality residential, nursing and dementia care.
Avon Cliff
