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More than a millennium as ten centenarians celebrate at Court Lodge

Ten amazing people aged 100 or more met in the same room at the same time for a remarkable centenarian celebration over afternoon tea.
The seven women and three men all live at our care homes in the south and gathered for the unique get-together in a lounge at the provider’s Court Lodge home in Lymington, Hampshire.

Their combined ages meant that a full 1,005 years of life – five more than a millennium – were represented.

Joining six Court Lodge centenarian hosts were fellow residents born in 1924 or before and now living at care homes in Salisbury, Bournemouth, Lymington and Brockenhurst.

After introducing themselves, the attendees shared stories from their long lives and spoke about their families, careers, interests, the care they receive today and how they feel about being centenarians.

Among those sharing early memories was 101-year-old Ula Rigg, who travelled to Lymington from Braemar Lodge in Salisbury where she has lived for the past two years.

Ula recounted how, as a five-year-old, she was chosen by her school to present a purse of money to the then Duchess of York, later the Queen Mother, who was making an official visit.

Ula, who was born in the Midlands and brought up in Bristol, passed round a photo of herself learning to curtsy before she met the famous royal and said: “As well as the curtsy I had to walk up four steps to the little platform where the Duchess was standing.

“I presented the purse and then to my utmost horror I nearly fell down the steps because I was so excited. I wanted to get back to my mum.”

With most of the group being great grandparents, there was considerable discussion of family life.

Ula was one of those who highlighted Skype and Facetime as means of staying in touch with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren here and across the world.

All of the group had their younger years impacted in one way or other by the Second World War.

Among her duties in a job at the Foreign Office in London, Court Lodge resident Iris ‘Margaret’ Honeyman worked on activities in support of the French Resistance. “It was a very challenging job, but I enjoyed it,” she said.

Former Royal Navy officer Boyd Salmon was just 18 when he was badly injured clearing enemy mines from a beach in The Netherlands in 1945.

After the war, Lymington-born Boyd became a Chartered Engineer, his profession until retirement.

Now living at Court Lodge, he says he “feels comfortable” and his care is “very good”.

Some of the group shared their ‘secrets of longevity’.

Ethel Wise, a former cook from Kent who lives at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, said: “Hard work and a sense of humour.”

The advice from ex-nurse Diana Creasey, who lives at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst and was a volunteer at Oakhaven Hospice for several years, is: “Keep active, follow a good diet and make sure to have lots and lots of fresh air.”

Court Lodge resident Eric ‘Richard’ Robinson, 100, said his secret was “never having smoked much and drinking very little alcohol”, adding: “When I was in the army, I gave my cigarettes and whisky away.”

Suggestions from others for a long life included chocolate, red wine, bananas, ‘staying calm and not getting heated about things’ and ‘staying away from men’, but the importance of family love and support was cherished most.

Asked how it feels to be a centenarian, Iris summed up the thoughts of several party guests, saying: “It feels no different but I do feel very proud to have made it to this age!”

Yorkshire-born Enid Docker, another Court Lodge resident, used to be a ballerina and ran her own ballet school for young children. She said: “Dancing was my passion, I love it.”

And on her life at Court Lodge now, Enid said: “I feel safe here, being 100 and still being alive feels nice.”

A specially made banner was displayed at the party highlighting that 100 years is the equivalent of: 1,200 months; 5,200 weeks; 36,500 days; 876,000 hours; 52,560,000 minutes; 3,153,600,000 seconds; 3,784,320,000 heartbeats; 894,000,000 blinks of the eyes; and 736,000,000 breaths.

Court Lodge Home Manager Rebecca Hannam said: “After they introduced themselves around the table, they really enjoyed chatting, getting to know each other and hearing about everyone’s lives and careers. It just goes to show that a great age is no barrier to making new friends.”

At the close of the party, each guest was presented with a 1924 penny farthing coin as a keepsake of the celebration.

 

Strictly fun as Colten Care back charity’s community dance ‘extravaganza’

Ballroom dance fans living at our care homes in Bournemouth and Poole are stepping up to follow the progress of a prestigious Strictly-style competition run by Forest Holme Hospice.
The Dorset-based palliative care charity, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, has welcomed aboard Colten Care as headline sponsor of its ‘Strictly Extravaganza’.

The contest involves ten participants, drawn from a public call for entries, teaming up with professional dancers for months of lessons and rehearsals.

It culminates with a glittering finals night before an audience of around 350 people at Poole Lighthouse in January 2025.

A winner will be chosen by a panel of judges from the dance world including Jason Edwards, the champion of a similar competition held by Forest Holme last year.

Under the sponsorship agreement, Colten Care residents who enjoy dance can watch rehearsals, demonstrations and performances brought to their homes and access tickets for the finals evening.

Among the guests at a launch party in the Canopy Café at Bourne View in Poole were Bournemouth-based ballroom dance pro Oliver Beardmore and his brother Kieran, a music producer.

The pair will provide support with choreography and music respectively as the rehearsals and countdown to the finals gather pace over the months ahead.

The launch, featuring a champagne and canapés reception and a presentation for contestants and corporate partners, brought together team members from both Forest Holme and Colten Care.

The new friendship prompted hopes that staff members from Colten Care will join nurses from the hospice to rehearse and perform a group dance routine on finals night.
Kirsty Perks, the charity’s Corporate and Community Fundraiser, said: “We are so grateful to Colten Care for partnering on our Strictly Extravaganza.

“We are completely aligned with their aim of ensuring their residents feel part of this community initiative and we’re only too pleased to bring dance demonstrations to their homes where we can.

“With Colten Care’s help, we’re all set for months of great fun as we build up to finals night itself with all the excitement of dressing up and taking to the dancefloor under the expert gaze of the judges.”
The call for entries prompted applications from people of all ages and dance abilities from novices through to those with more experience.

The chosen ten each have a personal reason for wanting to support the work of Forest Holme.

Since its founding in 1994, the hospice has cared for more than 30,000 patients and their families, with voluntary donations a vital part of its funding.

Kirsty said she hopes the Extravaganza will help to raise around £30,000 in new funds and added that messages of support have already been received from Strictly Come Dancing judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse and professional dancer Kai Widdrington.
Mark Aitchison, Colten Care’s Chief Executive, said: “Forest Holme’s Strictly Extravaganza is an amazing, inclusive community competition which is set to generate huge interest.

“Many of our residents are big fans of dance, for some it has been a lifelong passion whether they have been active dancers themselves or simply keen audience members.

“In partnering with Forest Holme, we are ensuring those many dance enthusiasts at our homes can maintain their love of ballroom and share in our community’s support for what is a thoroughly deserving local cause.”
For more information on Forest Holme Hospice, visit www.forestholmehospice.org.uk.

Great grandmother Ethel makes a splash on her 100th birthday

A 100-year-old resident had the ‘most wonderful’ birthday by rekindling her lifelong love of swimming.
Great grandmother Ethel Wise told carers at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth of her wish to take the plunge in a ‘calm and quiet’ pool, something she used to do every day.

They contacted managers at the nearby Ibis Styles Hotel who were only too happy to arrange exclusive use of their pool for a blissful hour of swimming, floating and relaxing.

Ethel, who learned to swim as a girl growing up in Kent in the 1920s and 30s, said afterwards: “It was the most wonderful day. I just can’t believe it. I was unsure I would be able to do it but as soon as I got in the pool it all came back to me. It was relaxing and I felt weightless.”

It was the first swim the former cook has had since she moved out of a retirement living complex in Bournemouth town centre where she enjoyed a daily swim in the pool.

She was accompanied on her birthday trip by Avon Cliff Companionship Team members Elise Woolnough and Paulina Trzcinska.

Elise said: “With Ethel due to turn 100, we asked if she’d like to do something special and she told us she would love the opportunity to go swimming in a pool again as this is something she did daily for years before moving into Avon Cliff.

“She also has fond memories of swimming at the Sussex resort of Hastings every year as a girl.

“We contacted the Ibis Styles Hotel which is just a short drive from our home and they kindly offered us use of their pool to allow Ethel to swim in a calm and quiet environment.

“As soon as we arrived at the pool Ethel was raring to get in and as soon as her body met the water she was off!

“She enjoyed an hour of swimming, floating and relaxing in the beautiful, warm water and basking in the glorious sun coming through the roof windows.

“Her smile beamed from ear to ear and she just kept laughing as Companion Paulina helped her float around the pool.”

Asked how she feels to have reached 100, Ethel replied: “I don’t notice any difference”.

And as for her secret of longevity, she said: “Hard work and a sense of humour.”

Ethel is also clear about her earliest memory, from the 1920s: “The first thing I can always remember is seeing my mother sitting in her chair in the centre of the room at my aunt’s house. I must have been younger than five.”

Thanking all at the hotel for their help with Ethel’s visit, Companion Elise said: “Ibis Styles made our visit so easy and carefree, ensuring that Ethel had everything she needed and making her 100th birthday even more special.”

Colten Care celebrates nursing strength on International Nurses Day   

Some of the UK’s oldest retired nurses have celebrated an official day honouring their profession.
Dozens of former nurses who live at our 21 homes in the south joined fellow residents and care team members to mark International Nurses Day.

Cards, gifts, cakes and good wishes were all exchanged to thank current nursing practitioners for all they do and to remember nursing from years gone by.

Nurses Day is celebrated each year on 12 May, the birthday of Florence Nightingale who earned her famous title of ‘the Lady with the Lamp’ nursing wounded soldiers in the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856.

At Avon Cliff care home in Bournemouth, 103-year-old Barbara Binding recalled her years as a children’s nurse looking at photos of herself in uniform just after qualification.

And fellow resident Betty Nelms, 96, a former TB nurse who qualified around the same time as Barbara in the 1940s, said: “I used to go door-to-door to treat people and I loved the job. My work has long finished and I’m just happy to be part of this commemoration.”

Betty’s sentiments were shared by ex-nurses Wendy Golding and Sue McPhee who live at Kingfishers in New Milton.

Wendy said: “Nurses Day is a fantastic way to celebrate the dedication and compassion that nurses bring to their work, reminding us all of the vital role they play in our community.”

Sue said: “Thank you to everyone who made the day extra special.”

All our homes in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex are registered to provide professional nursing care and all take part in the annual celebration of Nurses Day by presenting gifts, cards and chocolates to the in-house nursing team.

Several homes, including Abbotts Barton in Winchester, Avon Reach in Mudeford and Belmore Lodge in Lymington, organised trips out so that residents could present gifts and cards to nurses working at local GP surgeries and hospitals.

In a further example of community outreach, a party from Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, led by Home Manager Priya Joseph and Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker, travelled to Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington with a cake specially baked for the nurses there.

Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer and a registered nurse herself, said: “Nurses are at the very heart of our homes, giving residents and their families the reassurance of comprehensive, person-centred care from the moment they start their care journeys with us.
“Our strength in nursing is a key reason we have such consistently high ratings from independent bodies such as the public review site Carehome.co.uk and the sector regulator the Care Quality Commission. Indeed, seven of our homes are rated Outstanding by the CQC with the rest all rated Good.

“It’s a great privilege to care for so many residents who were themselves nurses in their  professional lives and who now entrust us with responsibilities for their wellbeing in later life.”

Artful moves as care home residents go hands-on with paint, clay, oil and willow   

Creative residents across our Hampshire and Dorset care home’s have gone hands-on to celebrate a day devoted to visual art.
Our care homes in Poole, West Moors, Mudeford, Sherborne and the New Forest co-ordinated a host of activities inspired by the annual Unesco World Art Day.

There were talks and demonstrations by professional artists, pottery and painting sessions, in-home exhibitions and trips out to see art on display in the community.

At Brook View in West Moors, residents welcomed New Forest-based equine illustrator and author Alan Langford who arrived with easels, paints and brushes ready to give a tutorial.

At Brook View in West Moors, from left: resident Trevor Clark, visiting artist Alan Langford and residents Iona Midlane and Barbara Phillips

Resident Barbara Phillips said she couldn’t wait to show her daughters the picture that Alan helped her with, adding: “I was in awe at how much I’ve learned about art through the course of the afternoon.”
Companion Jo Vardy said: “One of our new residents, Janet White, was so taken with Alan’s style of painting that after a short demonstration on how to paint a landscape, complete with pony of course, she immediately got brush in hand.
“As our residents’ pictures began to take shape, Alan was keen to see the different interpretations and styles used to achieve the final results.

“Everyone had a fabulous and informative afternoon, enthralled with Alan’s stories of the characters he has met throughout his painting career.

“It was lovely to see all who attended laughing in such a relaxed manner. It just goes to show that, no matter your ability, anybody can enjoy and appreciate art.”

Meanwhile, artists from the Christchurch-based pop-up pottery studio The Touring Potter helped residents of Belmore Lodge in Lymington to make and colour clay coasters.

Hands-on at a pottery session at Belmore Lodge in Lymington

At fellow Lymington home Court Lodge, the dining room was transformed into a gallery of work by visiting artist Marion Royle to complement a talk by her.

Resident Barbara Runham, who used to work at Southampton City Art Gallery, said: “Marion is a fantastic artist and bringing all this work here and turning the room around is incredible.”

At Avon Reach in Mudeford, Christchurch, residents were treated to a visit by artist Paul Dolman, known for his fine oil paintings of the local area. Paul gave a demonstration of how to use oil paints during a community ‘tea and togetherness’ afternoon.

At Canford Chase in Poole, the fun centred on the garden with residents making willow hearts and frames which they put on display.

And at Bourne View in Poole, team members organised a minibus trip for residents to the St Barbe Museum in Lymington, complete with lunch and a visit to the gift shop.

With completed paintings at Brook View, from left: residents Pam Roberts, Janet White, Trevor Clark, Pam Clark, Iona Midlane and Barbara Phillips

Resident Wendy Barnes, a former teacher, said: “We enjoyed quietly browsing among the paintings and sculptures, noticing unusual techniques. It was a trip full of ideas and a day to remember.”

World Art Day has been celebrated internationally every year since 2012 on the April birthday of renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci.

Care home’s rainbow celebration rounds off year of help for children’s charity

A rainbow-themed party was the perfect way to celebrate a year of fundraising by Avon Cliff residents and staff in aid of a Dorset children’s charity.
The highlight of the multi-coloured get-together at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth was the handover of a cheque for £2,251.85 to Amelia’s Rainbow.

Avon Cliff residents and team members raised the sum by hosting fetes, raffles, a Christmas market and other events at the home.

Two Companionship Team members, team leader Elise Woolnough and colleague Paulina Trzcinska, also took part in the Bournemouth Fun Run, boosted by sponsorship from residents, colleagues, families and friends.

Under the charity policy across all 21 Colten Care homes, it is always the residents’ choice as to which causes to support each year.

Avon Cliff residents opted for Amelia’s Rainbow in both of the past two years after they heard it had provided comfort to Paulina’s son Adam when he was diagnosed with cancer as a toddler.

Altogether, the home has raised around £3,500 to help the charity’s work with local children who, like Adam, have experience of serious and complex chronic conditions.

A key aim is to help them and their families have fun through the tough times on trips, days out, leisure activities and items that enhance learning and enjoyment.

Discussing the work of the charity at the handover party, manager Farah Batchelor told residents that some of the money they have raised will go towards the renovation of the charity’s chalet on the Rockley Park holiday park in Poole for children and families to use.
Avon Cliff resident Edie Crowley said: “We’ve really enjoyed being involved in raising money for Amelia’s Rainbow and we thank Farah for coming in to see us and explaining how the money is used.”
As well as donning rainbow-style wrist and headbands, party goers tucked into a ‘rainbow cake’ specially prepared for the occasion by the Avon Cliff residents’ cooking club.

Elise said: “Our celebration party was the ideal way to round off our support for Amelia’s Rainbow, especially the tremendous sum our residents and staff have raised over the past twelve months.”

Avon Cliff’s main nominated charity to support for 2024-25 is Downright Perfect, a support group in Dorset for children and young people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Golden shot for Colten Care residents raising a cuppa for Macmillan

Colten Care homes have hosted a series of Macmillan Coffee Mornings with an added Willy Wonka-style twist.
Residents, staff and visitors raising a mug at the annual charity get togethers were served freshly prepared homemade cakes and pastries in the traditional way.

But at each of Colten Care’s 21 homes, chefs baked one of the tasty treats as a ‘Golden Cup Cake’, containing a hidden layer of edible gold leaf through the middle only to be revealed when the cake was bitten into.

The lucky recipient won a bottle of bubbly, chocolates and a donation to Macmillan on their behalf.
“I couldn’t quite believe it was the golden one,” said a smiling Pamela Kately, the winner at Canford Chase in Poole.
More than 100 cup cakes were baked by Chef Izzy Turczyn-Kuzma at The Aldbury in Poole, with housekeeping colleague Michael Sheppard receiving the golden prize.

And at Brook View in West Moors, the cup cake winner was visitor Hannah Kirby who had only just arrived to visit her grandfather Harry.

Moments after making her coffee morning donation along with partner Leigh, Hannah bit into the cake and saw the gold, prompting cheers all round.

Hannah, who was then presented with her bottle of bubbly, said: “I didn’t realise what it was at first and wondered what I had found in the middle. It was a lovely surprise.”

As well as the Golden Cup Cake search, this year’s coffee mornings at Colten Care featured plenty of conversation and other fun. There were mufti days for staff, guess-the-weight-of-the-cake games, cake sales, singalongs and dances.

At The Aldbury, two musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, violinist Jennifer Curiel and pianist and French horn player Kevin Pritchard, performed popular classical pieces and childhood songs such as Run Rabbit Run. Among the residents singing and dancing along were Mary Cooper, Elizabeth Kay and Win Clowerly.

Fellow resident at The Aldbury, Abdu ‘Hobi’ Sabih, did his bit to collect donations. He helped Companion Melissa Siat Caparros to push the fundraising cake trolley around the home, chatting with residents, staff and visitors.
Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We always support the Macmillan Coffee Morning with all 21 of our homes taking part. It’s a fantastic community initiative. We invite families, friends and local contacts to come and join us for a coffee social and enjoy the fun. The prospect of winning a golden cupcake adds even more interest.”
The first Macmillan Coffee Morning took place in 1990 with the simple idea of encouraging people to donate the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan Cancer Support to help the charity’s work for people with cancer. Since then, more than £300 million has been raised.

According to Macmillan, one in two of us will face cancer. The charity’s aim is to help everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can.

For more information and to donate, visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

Adam, six, inspires care home residents to support children’s charity

Kindhearted residents at a Dorset care home have helped one of their carers to raise hundreds of pounds for a charity that supported her critically ill son.
Paulina Trzcinska, a Companionship Team member at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, wanted to give something back to Amelia’s Rainbow, which provided comfort to her son Adam when he was diagnosed with cancer as a toddler.

When residents heard about Adam, who is now six and in remission, they chose the charity as their main cause to support this year.

In their most recent initiative, they sponsored Paulina, Adam, his big sister Alicja and Elise Woolnough, Companionship Team Leader, to complete two charity runs in Bournemouth on the same day.

The upshot of their support, and that of families and other contacts, is more than £850 in funds raised for Amelia’s Rainbow.
Paulina said: “When our residents heard about Adam, they said they wanted to do what they could to support the charity.

“They and their families have been so generous, enabling us to give something back for the help Adam received so that other children can be supported too.

“The amount raised is amazing, especially at this time when so many people are struggling with the cost of living.”
Using a pushchair for part of the route, Adam completed a junior one-kilometre run in the afternoon, taking second place in his category.

Then, in the evening, Paulina, Elise and Alicja ran a five-kilometre circuit taking in the piers at Boscombe and Bournemouth and finishing up in the famous Lower Gardens.
Paulina said: “None of us are experienced runners but we did it in a little over half an hour. We wore rainbow face paint and felt like the best team ever. Elise is such a great colleague and it was fantastic that she lent her support.”
Avon Cliff resident Judy Price said: “We were all very happy to support them in their running and the charity is such a great cause.”

Amelia’s Rainbow is a Dorset-based charity that supports local children who have serious and complex chronic conditions.

A key aim is to help them and their families to have fun through the tough times, so funding can go towards trips, days out, leisure activities or items that enhance learning and enjoyment.

In Adam’s case, he received a video game console to play on and enjoy in the period after chemotherapy.

For more information about Amelia’s Rainbow, visit www.ameliasrainbow.com.

Colten Care residents honour ‘superstar’ carers with Champions awards

Hundreds of residents from our 21 care homes have honoured the staff who enable them to live the best lives they can every day.
Colten Care’s Champions awards prompted nominations across nine categories reflecting a range of clinical and non-clinical care.

Individuals, teams, homes and departments were all recognised as the annual scheme culminated in a glittering evening at Bournemouth’s Highcliff Marriott Hotel.

Around 140 guests dressed up in style for the awards ceremony and celebration, hosted by TV presenter Dr Hilary Jones.

Nominees and audience members mingled at a welcome reception before stepping into a specially decorated ballroom for dinner, the ceremony itself and the opportunity to dance the night away.

[caption id="attachment_13325" align="alignnone" width="1314"] AWARD. Lucy O’Brien, Senior Administrator at Bourne View in Poole, won the Warm Welcome award. With her is Dr Hilary Jones, who hosted the Colten Champions evening, and Elaine Sheppard, Head of Customer Support.[/caption]

Colten Care residents were represented by special guest Jean Smith, who lives in Poole home Bourne View.

She had previously met Dr Hilary at the home’s official opening in spring 2019 when her late husband, former Poole Mayor Ray Smith MBE, became the first resident to move in.

Catching up with the broadcaster and author once again as they stood on stage, Jean said: “I can’t believe I’m here.”

She then presented Rosa Santos, Senior Care Lead at Newstone House in Sturminster Newton, with the inaugural award for Resident and Relative Choice.

This category, which attracted more than 500 nominations from residents and families, was designed to recognise an individual or team ‘who have truly made a difference to your life or your loved one’s life since coming to Colten Care’.

The common theme for Rosa’s multiple nominations was her ‘kind and welcoming approach to both residents and relatives. Rosa has patience to understand residents needs so well which has such a positive outcome for their care’.
One relative wrote: “It is always a please to see Rosa on duty, she cared for my mother and father with such cheerfulness, she would make sure my father was helped upstairs to spend time with my mother when they were on different floors. She works hard to ensure our family are kept informed, added to this her professionalism and positive attitude.”
Among other category winners, Lucy O’Brien, Senior Administrator at Bourne View, who won the Warm Welcome award, described the moment her name was read out.

She said: “It was amazing, a total surprise. I was in a complete daze and then got quite emotional. It was lovely to go up and receive the award in front of everyone and meet Hilary Jones.”

[caption id="attachment_13326" align="alignnone" width="1262"] Colten Care resident Jean Smith, right, was Honorary Guest at the Colten Champions awards. She presented the inaugural Resident and Relative Choice award to Rosa Santos, Senior Care Lead at Newstone House in Sturminster Newton. With them is awards host and TV presenter Dr Hilary Jones.[/caption]
Colten Care Chief Executive Mark Aitchison said: “Colten Champions celebrates the pride and passion our amazing team shows every single day, caring for our residents and their families.

“It is an immense privilege to lead a team full of superstars, always prepared to go above and beyond.

“We thank everyone who put in a Colten Champions nomination and congratulate all the winners, finalists and nominees.”
Mark’s comments were echoed by Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer, who added: “There are so many shining examples of our team supporting and caring for residents, embodying our values and consistently putting the resident at the very heart of all they do.”

After the ceremony, Dr Hilary said: “Colten Champions truly reflects the importance of quality care delivered by a team working together for the benefit of residents. It’s a great initiative and the awards evening is always such a happy occasion.”

As well as the Champions awards themselves, special congratulations were given on stage to Elena Barna, Home Manager at Abbey View in Sherborne, for the home’s recent Outstanding rating from sector regulator the Care Quality Commission.

It means that seven of Colten Care’s 21 homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex are officially rated Outstanding, with all the rest rated Good.

Pride for Patrick, 89, on ‘amazing’ Bourne Free parade

One of our residents at Avon Cliff has spoken of his joy and amazement at being part of a community pride parade waved on by thousands of smiling well-wishers.
Patrick Haddingham, was in a party from the home who joined the Bourne Free event through the town centre. It was Patrick’s wish to be involved, having been a spectator of the parade in the past.

Team members from the home responded to his request by speaking to the Bourne Free organisers to secure a spot for him and three fellow residents just in front of one of our minibuses.

They dressed in rainbow accessories and face paint, with Patrick adding more style to the fun by donning a shiny black and gold blazer and blue mirror sunglasses.
Patrick said: “What an amazing experience I had. I never thought I would be able to be on the parade at my age and I never thought I would see so many people in one place ever again. Seeing people smile and wave made my day. It was better than I could have imagined.”
The party were given spot number nine on the parade route which led from East Cliff at Boscombe through the town centre to Meyrick Park.

Companionship Team member Elise Woolnough said: “We danced in the street to classic anthems, waved at the public and had huge smiles on our faces the entire way. The streets were filled with love and it was an electric atmosphere.

Avon Cliff residents and team members on their way to the Bourne Free parade aboard the Colten Care minibus

“We had comments from the crowd about how fantastic it was to see Colten Care being part of the parade, representing the LGBT community and reminding us that older people are part of the community.
“Patrick, in his snazziest blazer, drew plenty of compliments from people as we went past.

“He has been a resident with us at Avon Cliff for many years and has attended Bourne Free as a spectator a few times.

“He told us he loved it so much he would not only want to go again, but actually have the chance to be a part of it.”
We contacted Bourne Free and were thrilled to get a spot on the parade. We took Patrick and three other residents who are all allies of the LGBT community and were keen to support Partick on the day.”

Patrick’s fellow residents also spoke of their delight in taking part.

Edie Crowley said: “I enjoyed every minute. I really felt so alive and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Dawn Street said: “I don’t think I could feel any happier than I did on the day. It was emotional to be a part of. It was a day I will remember.”

Dottie Dixon: said: “For me, it was the best thing that has happened in a long time and to be in a group of people that all got into the spirit was amazing.”

Patrick Haddingham, 89, leads the Colten Care party on the Bourne Free parade

This year’s Bourne Free was led by actor Su Pollard, star of the TV sitcom Hi-de-Hi! and a well-known pantomime performer, who travelled the route in a Bentley Continental.

The annual parade was established by members of the LGBT community in 2004 to celebrate and promote equality and diversity in Bournemouth.

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