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Return visit to Poole RNLI is wish come true for Yvonne, 106

One of the UK’s oldest people, born halfway through the First World War, enjoyed a wish come true when she revisited the RNLI College in Poole, a favourite place for trips with her family and friends
106-year-old Yvonne Glover is a former hydrographer who spent much of her career measuring water depths and checking for hazards in Poole Harbour.

She even has a harbour buoy named after her near Brownsea Island and the Wych Channel, Glover’s Buoy.

Born in Boscombe in 1916, Yvonne used to swim between the ferry and quay when she was a girl.

She was a member of Bournemouth Swimming Club and went on to compete at county and national level, becoming a backstroke champion in 1932 and narrowly missing out on a place at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

Now living here at Bourne View care home in Poole, Yvonne expressed a wish to carers that she would love to see the harbour and college once again, so they made it happen for her.

Our team member Julie Wathen said: “Yvonne was talking to us about her life experiences and said she would really love to go to the lifeboat college’s first-floor restaurant for coffee and look out over the harbour.

“I thought we could do better than that and asked the RNLI if she could have a personal tour as well.

“They were only too happy to agree and their longest serving volunteer, Tony Scutt, very kindly provided a wonderfully informative two-hour tour.
“Yvonne was delighted. She was able to see the training pool and learn how it can be set to replicate rescues in different conditions such as rough seas and night times.
“She heard how crews are trained to cope with capsized lifeboats and descend into seas from height.
“She said she had never learned so much about it and found it all fascinating.”
After watching footage of a lifeboat launch filmed in rough seas off East Anglia, Yvonne spent time in a training simulator.

Julie said: “She experienced what it must be like to battle through rough seas to a burning ship, following the path of a helicopter, avoiding collisions with smaller vessels and keeping watch for survivors in the water.”

Yvonne then fulfilled her original wish for a coffee upstairs in the college restaurant, looking out over the harbour.
“Tony continued to talk with us and answer our questions,” said Julie. “Yvonne asked where the lifeboat crews came from and recalled a time before the RNLI when local fishermen – and she named some of the fishing families – used to man the lifeboats.
“We compared the training pool to the swimming baths she used to compete in and Yvonne recalled that she also used to swim in the harbour when she was younger, from the ferry to the quay.

“We also watched training exercises being conducted on the jetty below us.”

During her career as a hydrographer, Yvonne worked for three consecutive harbourmasters at Poole. In retirement she continued to visit the RNLI College with family and friends for special occasions such as birthdays.

Julie added: “Yvonne had a beautiful morning courtesy of the RNLI. It was a real pleasure and privilege to help make her wish come true. She is a lovely lady with an amazing sense of adventure who still enjoys being out in the fresh air and loves water.”

Yvonne, who has always lived locally, said: “For me, the most exciting part of the morning was the simulator. It was thrilling. We had a wonderful trip. I’m amazed how the RNLI has grown over the years.”

Children’s bells ring out to wow our care home residents

Handbell ringers as young as ten staged an ‘a-pealing’ afternoon of songs at Bourne View, encouraging residents to join in
We welcomed a party of six enthusiastic players from St Michael’s Middle School in Colehill, Wimborne.

Among the ten melodies they performed were Ode to Joy, Edelweiss, Bobby Shaftoe and Cockles and Mussels.

Each ringer read from their own musical score and wore gloves to avoid their fingers tarnishing the metal.

Our Companionship Team member Corrine Wareham said: “Around 20 residents and a few family members gathered to watch the performance in the lovely large venue of our Sandbanks lounge here at Bourne View.
“Before we knew it, the residents were all singing along and we were delighted to hear some harmonies coming from the back row.”
The visit came about after Ruth Atkins, a retired teacher from the school, asked Corrine if the residents would like to hear the children play.

[caption id="attachment_4283" align="alignnone" width="1024"] WELL CHIMED. Handbell ringers from St Michael’s Middle School in Wimborne, Dorset, entertained our residents with a performance of traditional and popular songs.[/caption]

Corrine added: “Most of the ten and 11-year-olds have only been playing for a year or two but they have  become quite confident and like to play to an audience.

“Since many of our residents really appreciate live performances and music, I knew this would go down really well.

“This was a lovely interactive experience. The sound of the bells was truly enchanting and the feedback we had from our residents was wonderful.
“There was a really happy, uplifting feel around the home after the school had departed. If only we could bottle that feeling!”
Speaking to the children at the end of the visit, Pam Pamphilon asked: “Will you come back again?” while fellow resident John Whitwell said: “Weren’t the bells a beautiful tone.”

Chef Lorna triumphs at national awards

Bourne View chef Lorna Parsons is enjoying the taste of triumph after being crowned Chef of the Year at the prestigious National Care Awards 2022
Lorna, 39, first began working for Colten Care in 1998, aged just 14 as a part-time waitress and in 2002 became the company’s first apprentice chef.
She said: “My heart was beating so hard in my chest as the awards presenter read out the nominees. Then when they announced I had won it was just an absolutely fantastic feeling!
“I was with Colten Care’s Hotel Services Manager Fergus Davitt, who first gave me my job here 25 years ago and I was just absolutely thrilled to do it for him and everyone else at Colten who have been such a huge support to me and my career.”

Colten Care’s Hotel Services Manager Fergus Davitt said the award was: “richly-deserved.”

“Lorna shows immense dedication in all she does each and every day, and I am so proud of her,” he added.

“I know she’ll be anxious to show the trophy off to all the residents and is already planning to put it on display in our reception at Bourne View so everyone can enjoy it. That’s the kind of person she is.”

The National Care Awards, now in their 24th year are organised by the social care publication Caring Times Magazine and were devised to celebrate the very best people in the long-term care sector, highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care.
Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The whole company is immensely proud of Lorna, and I felt privileged to be there, to see her win and share her joy.

“I know her residents, who adore her as a person, as well as their chef, will also be thrilled with her success.”

Care home chef has a taste for victory in national awards

A dedicated care home chef who first started work as a schoolgirl is in the running for a top industry award
Lorna Parsons, our Chef is a finalist in the Chef of the Year category of the prestigious National Care Awards 2022.

Lorna, 39, began working for Colten Care in 1998, aged 14 as a part-time waitress.

In 2002 she became the company’s first apprentice chef, embarking on five years at catering college.
She said: “I have been absolutely buzzing since learning I’m a finalist for this award.

“I was nominated 10 years ago but lost out – and I don’t mind admitting I was absolutely crushed!
“This time around, I am up against five, really great chefs. But I am determined this will be my year and that I’ll come home with the award.

“I really want to be able to present it to all our residents and my manager and mentor Fergus Davitt.
“Our Hotel Services Manager, Fergus Davitt, first took me on 25 years ago and has been there for me ever since. I want to win this for him and Colten and to make everyone proud.”

The National Care Awards, now in their 24th year are organised by the social care publication Caring Times Magazine and were devised to celebrate the very best people in the long-term care sector, highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care.

Fergus said: “Lorna’s dedication to her job and our residents knows no bounds.
“She prides herself on her attention to detail and strives to provide the tastiest, most beautifully presented food she possibly can, each and every day.
“Whether a resident has a passion for a food they once tried abroad, or perhaps has a condition which affects their dietary requirements, she is committed to fulfilling and exceeding their needs. I am extremely proud of her. She truly deserves this award.”

We have a total of seven nominations in this year’s National Care Awards: Chef, Care Home Group Over 20 settings, Dignity & Respect Care Home of the Year – St Catherines View in Winchester, Care Operations/Area Manager – Peter Doyle, Care Team – Abbotts Barton in Winchester, Care Housekeeper – James Locke, Braemar Lodge in Salisbury and Dementia Care Manager – Lorraine Bell, Linden House in Lymington.
Chief Executive Mark Aitchison said: “We are very proud to have seven finalists at this year’s awards, reflecting the immense amount of hard work and dedication shown by staff in caring for our wonderful residents across all Colten Care homes.
“We will all be sending positive and winning thoughts to Lorna and all our nominees on the day and look forward to welcoming them back to celebrations.”

The National Care Awards will take place at the Park Plaza Hotel in London on November 26.

Residents across Colten Care gift shoeboxes for Children in Ukraine and Romania

Residents have filled over 100 shoeboxes with gifts for disadvantaged babies and children in Ukraine and Romania this Christmas.
The boxes, which have been packed with soft toys, stationery, warm gloves and mittens, books and toiletries, were handed over to the Rotary Club of Boscombe & Southbourne, which is collecting shoeboxes across the district for distribution to Eastern Europe next month (November).
Colten Care’s Senior Companionship Team Leader Donia O’Connor said: “We are very proud at Colten Care to have a long-standing relationship with the Rotary and this wonderful scheme.

“For me personally it’s always deeply inspiring to stand amongst all the festive shoeboxes that our residents have lovingly packed, knowing they will soon be opened by children who have so little.”

Homes which provided shoeboxes this year were Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, Fernhill in Longham, Brook View and Amberwood House in Ferndown, Kingfishers in New Milton, Linden House, Belmore Lodge and Court Lodge in Lymington, Whitecliffe House in Blandford Forum, Abbey View in Sherborne, Newstone House in Sturminster Newton, St Catherines View and Abbotts View in Winchester and Canford Chase, The Aldbury and Bourne View in Poole.

Boscombe & Southbourne Rotarians David Shires, Leon Warner and Neal Curtis collected all the boxes from Bourne View in Poole.

David Shires, who is President of the branch said: “We are deeply grateful for Colten Care’s continuing commitment and generosity to the Rotary Shoebox Scheme.
“These, along with thousands of other shoeboxes collected across the district will be going out to Eastern Europe in mid-November, for distribution to babies and children whose difficult lives will be noticeably brightened by the gift.”
Peter Prior and Pam Pamphilon, residents at Bourne View said they were proud to be part of the effort.
Peter said: “I’ve always loved Christmas, especially as a child and it’s lovely to know we will be spreading a little joy to children who really need it.”

Pam agreed: “I have two daughters, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren and Christmas is a magical time for us all. It’s very important we do all we can to help children who are living elsewhere in the world under desperate conditions.”

Zoe Rose, Companionship Team Leader at Bourne View added: “We love being the central point to which all the Colten Care shoeboxes come. Seeing them all here, prepared with such love and care is wonderful and we feel privileged to be part of it all.”

School garden launch sows seeds of friendship for our residents

Residents have cultivated community links with the opening of a garden at a nearby school.
Children and staff at Talbot Primary School in Poole welcomed neighbours from our care home which is just around the corner in Langside Avenue.

Residents Kathleen Betty, Pat Tharme and Albert Langworthy, enjoyed a tour of the new space and complimented all involved in its planning and opening.

It features raised beds enabling all children to take part in gardening activities and the care of plants and flowers.

[caption id="attachment_1484" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Enjoying the new garden at Talbot Primary School are Bourne View residents, from left, Pat Tharme, Kathleen Betty and Albert Langworthy. Behind them is Brian Ramsey, Companionship Team member at the Colten Care home.[/caption]
After admiring the layout of the garden and its array of vegetables, wild self-seeded flowers and mixed sunflowers, Pat said: “The displays were beautiful and it was a joy to visit such a lovely garden and see children so full of happiness.”
Albert agreed, adding: “This is such a well-tended and peaceful green space.”

Pupils have been involved in planting and nurturing the plants and flowers during the past academic year.

Some of the seeds they have planted recently were specially gifted to them from the Tower of London Superblooms display, part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Talbot School Head Teacher Kate Curtis said: “This has been a long-term project and it is great to see it come to fruition. We are so grateful to the Talbot Village Trust for providing the funding and delighted to share this beautiful space with our children, families, and the wider community.”
Accompanying our residents were staff from our home including Companionship Team member Brian Ramsey and Julie Steele, Customer Advisor.

Brian said: “It’s clear that a great deal of work has gone into making this garden so attractive and inspiring.

“We congratulate all at Talbot Primary School and thank them for being such great hosts.
“They even served us afternoon tea and homemade cakes which was a delightful surprise.”

BSO musicians share their love of music

Residents joined two sister homes to enjoy their own intimate performance by musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO).
French horn and piano player Kevin Pritchard and violinist Jenni Curiel visited the residents as part of the care group’s celebrations for World Music Day 2022.

The performance had been due to take place alongside a picnic at Poole Park. But after rain was forecast, residents of dedicated dementia home Fernhill in Ferndown and Abbey View in Sherborne joined with our residents at our home.

The musicians led the audience through a stunning one-hour set which included popular pieces by Schubert and Tchaikovsky, as well as hit songs from the 1960s and a medley of Cole Porter classics.

Kevin said: “We’ve played at many Colten Care homes and always receive a wonderful welcome.

“Bourne View is an exceptionally beautiful home and performing a summer concert for so many residents together, on the picturesque roof garden level was perfect.”

[caption id="attachment_1503" align="alignnone" width="1024"] BSO musicians perform for Colten Care homes[/caption]

Jenni agreed: “Everyone was swaying, tapping their toes or clapping and afterwards Kevin and I were lucky to be introduced to some very talented Colten residents, including Doris, a former opera singer and Frank and Myrtle, who are both talented pianists.
“We chatted about their past performances and their love of playing, as well as their favourite composers. It was fascinating to hear them speak and to hear Doris’s beautiful voice.”
Former opera singer and now Fernhill resident Doris ‘Dorrie’ Smith, said: “I really enjoyed joining in. I am 92 now but when I hear the music, I still can’t help but sing. It was fabulous.”

Myrtle Smith, a resident of Bourne View and talented pianist, was an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in her younger years and is currently rehearsing for a Colten Care concert this summer.
She said: “I cannot tell you how happy listening to the musicians made me feel. Music is still a huge part of my life even though I am 94. I loved their choice of pieces and would only ask for more Beethoven please! He is my favourite composer.”
Frank Campbell has been playing piano since he was 10 years old and has a piano in his room at Fernhill, which he still plays regularly.

He said: “I very much enjoyed the concert and identifying the music they played.”

[caption id="attachment_1494" align="alignnone" width="768"] Kevin Pritchard and Jenni Curiel performed for residents of Colten’s Abbey View in Sherborne, Bourne View in Poole and Fernhill in Longham for World Music Day[/caption]

John Taylor of Abbey View added: “What a wonderful afternoon. Perfect!”

World Music Day is celebrated annually and encourages people to share the free gift of music. The event originated in France as Fete de la Musique in 1982 and is now marked across the globe.

Fiona Pritchard, Colten Care’s Music and Arts Partner said: “Music is a huge part of life at all our homes and it is always wonderful to welcome BSO musicians and to see the joy and reminiscence their playing  evokes in our residents.
“Today, as always, people were keen to talk about their favourite pieces, their own musical memories and of course to ask the musicians when they will be performing for us again!”
The BSO performs its summer concerts with the generous support of Tapper Funeral Service.

Thanks for the carers!

Carers across our 21 homes have been showered with appreciation – and sweet treats – during Carers Week.
Carers Week, which runs from June 6-12 this year, is an annual awareness campaign to celebrate and recognise the vital contribution made by the UK’s 6.5 million carers.

The week featured daily treats for colleagues and residents such as homemade cakes, ice lollies and doughnuts.

Here at Bourne View, carers were also visited by an ice cream van.

Care assistants Faith Frances, Becca Grant and Rebecca Oliver said it was “lovely” to feel so appreciated.
Faith added: “Carers want to make people feel happy and secure and that’s why we do what we do. But it’s also nice when you are told you are special and are appreciated too. I think we have all felt really spoilt this week.”
Resident Molly Tarrant said: “I came to Bourne View after having a stroke and the carers here look after me so well and ensure I’m able to continue going out and living my life.

“They help get me get into my wheelchair, they take me out to the garden and with any other help I require – I know they are there for me anytime I need them.

“It’s been lovely to turn the tables and spoil them a little and tell them how important they are.”

At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, carers and residents enjoyed a tea party together.

And at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, in the New Forest, residents presented carers with their own homemade muffins and cupcakes and also crafted gift boxes which they filled with homemade fudge gifts.

Our Chief Operating Officer, Elaine Farrer, said: “We all know carers are a very special kind of human being, but never has their devotion been more evident than under Covid. Seeing our carers calm fears, lift spirits and keep families in touch, all whilst providing the very best care we have all come to expect, fills my heart with gratitude.
“Carers Week is a special time to step back and really show our thanks and appreciation for this and to tell all our carers – “We simply couldn’t do without you.”
 

Hospice charity praises ‘overwhelming generosity’

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has praised the ‘overwhelming generosity’ of Bourne View for raising nearly £2,500 to help its work.
We chose Lewis-Manning Hospice Care as our main charity to support two years ago and we have since held a series of fundraising initiatives in spite of the pandemic.

These included a virtual bike ride by resident Molly Tarrant that raised more than £700 on its own plus raffles, cake and plant sales, quizzes and neighbourhood hamper deliveries.

Our home invited charity representatives in for a special presentation, featuring the handing over of a giant cheque for £2,364.47.

Molly, fellow residents and members of staff, all of whom were involved in the fundraising, attended.
Vicki Gray, Area Fundraiser for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: “I am overwhelmed with the incredible amount raised by the staff and residents at Bourne View. We are so very grateful for their generosity, especially during the past two years, when fundraising has proven to be very challenging. Alone we can do so little, but together our community can do so much.”
[caption id="attachment_1745" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS. Brian Ramsey from the Bourne View Companionship team with Vicki Gray, Area Fundraiser for Lewis-Manning.[/caption]

“The Bourne View team are great to work with, really friendly and supportive.
“I would like to thank everyone at Bourne View for putting so much time and effort into these fundraising events.  They really have helped more local lives than they’ll ever know.”
Despite being unable to walk after a stroke, Molly rode 100 miles on a static physiotherapy bike, the equivalent distance from our home to London, to support Lewis-Manning.

Describing it as a ‘brilliant charity’, she said: “I had heard about the brilliant work they do for patients with life-limiting illnesses and I wanted to do something myself and give something back.”

Brian Ramsey from our Companionship team said: “Lewis-Manning Hospice Care provides extraordinary care to people across the community and we have been proud and privileged to do our bit to support them.”

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care provides care to patients and their loved ones facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset. The community have enabled the charity to support and care for more than 8,000 people during the past 30 years.

Our home gives ex-professional pianist the confidence to play again

Resident and former professional pianist celebrated her 95th birthday by performing live more than ten years after she last played a note
Myrtle Smith, an outstanding classically trained chamber musician, gave up the instrument in her early 80s saying she felt ‘too old’.

Now living with us at Bourne View she was invited to spend her birthday playing on the home’s grand piano with Colten Care’s Music and Arts Partner Fiona Pritchard.

The pair rehearsed and performed several pieces, with Fiona accompanying Myrtle on treble recorder and French horn.

It surprised and delighted fellow residents and staff who gathered to listen.

Myrtle, who described the experience as ‘wonderful’, was recognised for her musical skills as she grew up in 1930s London.

At just 11 years old, she achieved Grade 8 on the piano, the highest grade possible.

After winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music on her 18th birthday, Myrtle went on to establish a successful career as a chamber musician.

She played hundreds of concerts accompanying fellow musicians and singers and, in later life, became a piano teacher.

Fiona, who studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has performed in orchestras with English National Ballet, Scottish Opera and others, said: “Knowing of Myrtle’s love of playing, I wanted to see if there was an opportunity to rekindle her interest.

“I knew she hadn’t played for over ten years, with her saying at the time that she felt she may be too old.
“We approached the idea of playing together very gently and she agreed to give it a go and see how it went.
“We first tried the piece Tambourin by Charles Gerhardt with me on recorder. She was delighted to play it and we agreed it sounded great.

“Then, since she had already mentioned a lifelong love of Beethoven, I accompanied her on French horn to a piece I had written inspired by the composer’s style. Again, she was thrilled with how it turned out.

“Staff and residents were astonished, so pleased that Myrtle had been enticed to play.
“Myrtle explained afterwards that she felt a bit rusty after her break of more than a decade but is now keen to play again as she feels it is so good for her.

“It really was so enjoyable for us both and we already have another rehearsal date in the diary.”
Fiona added: “At Colten we are very keen to make sure our residents continue to have access to music and the arts especially when they have been professionals themselves.”

Myrtle said: “It was a wonderful experience and I thank Fiona for bringing in her instruments and inviting me to play. I am so looking forward to our next date.”

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