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Colten Care homes stage egg-celent Easter fun

The Easter Bunny hopped in, children came along to make bonnets and entertain with songs, and gardens hosted egg hunts for all to enjoy.
Easter activities at all our homes brought residents, families and visitors together for a happy season of fun and laughter.

At Abbotts Barton in Winchester, children from Harestock Primary School – regular weekly visitors since January this year – joined residents for an Easter crafting session.
Companionship Team Leader Kirsty Sawyer said: “It was lovely to see the conversations going across the generations as together they set about creating the perfect Easter bonnet.”
The Worthy Road home also held its annual Easter egg hunt with eleven children from the local community taking part.

Kirsty said: “They had a great time running around the garden in search of eggs and carrots and afterwards were invited to stay for a drink and cake.

“The children were delighted with their prizes including Mia who won a book, Ryan who won an easter egg and Summer who won a chocolate bunny.”

Loraine Martin, a resident of Abbotts Barton, said: “Welcoming our young visitors was such a nice way to celebrate Easter.”

Here at Fernhill, there was an Easter parade complete with bonnets and bunnies along with songs performed by entertainer Paul Hammond.
“Everyone had a wonderful time,” said Ann Marie Knight, a Companion at the dedicated dementia care home. “This was a great party for Easter with residents, friends, family members and staff all up on the dance floor. It was an amazing atmosphere, everyone laughing, smiling and having fun.”
Here at Linden House we also got into the Easter spirit with a musical afternoon.

[caption id="attachment_6183" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Robins Choir from Lymington Infants School perform Easter songs for residents.[/caption]

They hosted a visit by the 28-strong Robins Choir from Lymington Infants School who showed off their Easter bonnets and sand several Easter songs and hymns.

“All the residents agreed they’d had an enjoyable afternoon and are looking forward to the Robins’ next visit,” said Companionship Team Leader Chris Dimmick.

Art classes inspire learners at Fernhill

Budding artists at Fernhill have begun producing work under the guidance of a professional.

Johanna Kennedy-Wall is a New Forest-based artist who specialises in murals, portraits, and sculpture.

When she gave a one-hour taster session at our home, our staff were impressed with how much joy and inspiration it gave participants, so they invited her back.

Johanna has now started monthly art classes involving a range of media including watercolours, pastels and acrylics.

[caption id="attachment_6255" align="alignnone" width="768"] Heads down for the monthly art class at Fernhill Colten Care’s Fernhill dementia care home in Longham, Dorset.[/caption]

“We’re stimulating lots of conversations and triggering memories,” said Johanna, who is renowned for her equine art. “Some people were a little nervous to begin with but I could see them warming up towards the art and letting themselves go. The atmosphere is calm and engaged and everyone gets something out of it.”

Johanna was recommended to approach care homes when she gave a session for volunteers at the not-for-profit group In Jolly Good Company.

This was set up to help alleviate the physical and mental issues caused by loneliness and isolation through friendship, joy and a sense of community.

Some of its clients live with dementia or memory loss and her students felt she could make a positive difference to those at care home experiencing the same issues.
“I find the care home classes really satisfying and enjoyable,” said Johanna. “Fernhill is such a welcoming home and it is lovely to see the residents get involved. As well as pictures on paper, we’re painting pebbles from the beach, doing decoupage on upcycled glass jars, creating collages and decorating vintage memory boards. It all underpins conversations about colours, visions and memories.”
Ann Marie Knight from our Companionship Team said: “Johanna’s sessions are very educational and therapeutic. She teaches the basics and then lets learners enjoy the experience for themselves. Our residents produced some amazing watercolours in their first session which they really enjoyed and we’re only too happy to enable them to do more. We’re going to frame some of the works and put them up in our arts and crafts room. Residents love the idea of that.”

Childrens’ visits bridge generation gap

A storytelling group is helping to turn Monday mornings into eagerly anticipated times of fun and interaction for our residents

We have begun welcoming a weekly visit from young mums and toddlers co-ordinated by the charity Truth Be Told.

Our carers at the home say it is an ideal opportunity to bridge the generation gap and improve residents’ quality of life while providing children aged four and under with meaningful play and experience of older people.

Visits, led by Truth Be Told representative Faye Davis, involve reading and telling stories, swapping and sharing props and singing songs with actions to perform.

Our Companionship Team member Ann Marie Knight said: “It is just lovely seeing this group interact so well together. Everyone is happy, smiling and laughing.
“Our residents get so much out of Truth Be Told coming into our home as do the mums and toddlers. The youngest to have come in with the group so far has been only three weeks old.”
The visits have a different theme each week to cultivate ongoing interest and residents wear a name badge to help them become familiar to the group.

Ann Marie said: “We try to keep to the same residents each week so that the children and families get to know them and form a good relationship.”

[caption id="attachment_6100" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Resident Joan Vohra is all smiles during an action song[/caption]

Resident Joan Vohra said: “The visits are great fun and we always look forward to them.”

Fernhill, has chosen Truth Be Told as its charity of the year for 2023.

[caption id="attachment_6101" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Resident Dorothy Banks reads aloud to a mum and her son[/caption]

Residents and staff will be raising funds to support the group through activities such as craft sales and other events at the home.

Truth Be Told is an innovative community-led social action project founded by professional storyteller Gemma Gillard.

Its stated aim is to ‘restore intergenerational community which will improve the mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of everyone involved’.
 

Oh yes it is! Residents declare panto a real ‘beauty’  

Panto season has continued in full swing here at Fernhill with residents and staff staging their own version of Beauty and the Beast
Panto season has continued in full swing here at Fernhill with residents and staff staging their own version of Beauty and the Beast.

Weeks of prop making, rehearsals and sourcing costumes culminated in our home laying on a much-enjoyed performance of the famous fairy tale.

The fun involved staff members from various departments, including housekeepers, carers and companions, all dressing up and taking on characters.

Braving the role of the beast was Jess Sears Dawson from our Housekeeping team while Healthcare Assistant Mirren Lloyd starred as Beauty.

After the show, performed in the home’s spacious lounge, performers and audience members declared it a success.

[caption id="attachment_5879" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Cast members of Beauty and the Beast, from left: Jess Sears Dawson as Beast; Lexie Gibson; Mirren Lloyd as Beauty; and Ann Marie Knight.[/caption]

Resident and performer Patrick Ryan, who played Clock, said: “Everybody had a great time on the day and really enjoyed the show.”

Fellow resident Doris Smith said: “I had so much fun seeing the beautiful colours of the costumes and the props made and listening to the musical and comedy side of it.”

Ann Marie Knight from our Companionship Team said: “It was great to see colleagues from different departments all contributing and taking part.

“For our residents and staff, the show prompted smiles and laughter all round. Everyone is still buzzing about it.”

Fernhill is one of six Colten Care homes to be officially rated Outstanding by care sector regulator the Care Quality Commission.

 

Residents strike up pen pal friendships

The ‘beauty and value’ of handwritten messages has begun bringing joy our residents 
It follows a pen pal exchange agreed between our home and our sister home, The Aldbury in Poole.

Team members at our homes shared respective lists of residents who said they would like to participate.

First to put pen to paper has been Fernhill.

Resident Doris Smith, known as Dori, said that she had not had a pen pal since she was a teenager.
“Dori said she had two pen pals at that time, one she wrote to in America and one in this country,” said Ann Marie Knight from our Companionship Team. “She told us she would love the idea of having a new pen pal and receiving letters back.”
Ann Marie said it was a similar case for resident Elizabeth Wilson, adding: “She remembered writing to a girl who lived in Canada when she was a teenager. The girl had been on a school exchange over here and that’s how they met and became pen pals.”

For Fernhill residents Gwen Jellis and Joan Vohra, this is their first ever pen pal relationship.

“They were both very excited to be writing and anticipating receiving replies,” said Ann Marie. “Our residents put together some thoughtful notes full of positive messages.
“Seeing the smiles all round clearly showed they appreciated the beauty and value of handwritten letters.
“We are planning to invite The Aldbury residents to Fernhill for lunch so they can get to meet and chat with their pen pals in person.

“Hopefully this can be the beginning of a blossoming friendship, moving it off the page and into time spent face to face.”

At The Aldbury, Companionship Team members Melissa Siat and Cara Duroe both spoke of the benefits of the initiative.

[caption id="attachment_5850" align="alignnone" width="768"] Fernhill resident Joan Vohra begins drafting a postcard.[/caption]

Cara said: “We chatted to quite a few residents and they all said how wonderful the idea is. Valerie and Bill Sharp told us they both had pen pals in America as children, which was organised through their school.”

Melissa said: “We’re loving this new project with Fernhill as writing skills improve memory, help with dexterity and emotional wellbeing and keep our residents sociable.”

The Aldbury resident Joan Perrin said: “I hope to have a pen pal who shares the same hobby of ballroom dancing so we can write about a common interest.”

Fellow resident Joyce Holden was especially pleased with a card sent by Doris Smith at Fernhill as the pattern matched her favourite blanket and she remembered meeting Doris at a garden choir performance at Fernhill last summer.  “I’m so pleased she chose me to be her penpal friend,” said Joyce.

 

Colten Care totaliser tops hundreds for Children in Need 

Residents and team members across our homes have done their bit for Children in Need by raising more than £400
The total was totted up from various events held during and since the BBC’s annual fundraising appeal.

At Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, residents had fun at a singalong with visiting pianist Mark Busell who played tunes from the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Resident Terry Darrell said: “Everyone had a great time. We had many people really engaged with it. There was a lot of foot tapping and dancing. It felt like New Year’s Eve.”
As well as the live music, we held a cake sale at reception while staff wore Pudsey-style T-shirts and onesies.

Court Lodge in Lymington celebrated Children in Need with an afternoon tea and raffle featuring prizes such as hairdos, freshly baked cakes and chocolates.

The fun at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth included a duvet and pamper morning while at Bourne View in Poole there was bingo and a cheese and wine party.

Our dedicated dementia care homes also took part in activities for the appeal.

Here at Fernhill in Longham, Dorset, staff and residents held a pyjama day and an afternoon of baking cupcakes to sell.

At St Catherines View in Winchester, residents decorated cupcakes for children at the nearby school and enjoyed a visit by balloon artist Chris Kimber who made some very clever balloon creations in front of their eyes.

The home’s Customer Advisor Vanessa Hall did her bit for Children in Need by walking ten miles to work specially in aid of the appeal.
“We greeted her with a banner we had made the day before,” said Companionship Team Leader Laura Sheldrake. “Welcoming Vanessa, getting involved with the cupcakes and watching the balloon artistry of Chris gave everyone a great opportunity to come together and have fun while supporting such a worthy cause.”

John boards boat full of happy memories

Our team arranged for one of our residents to relive his love of the sea with a trip on a special boat from his past
John Duffield, enjoyed a sail around Poole harbour aboard The Friends of Dolphin boat Dolphin III.

The specially-designed Dolphin III offers free and fully accessible trips around Poole Harbour to people with disabilities.

The boat is crewed entirely by volunteers, with an experienced skipper in charge of every trip.

Keen sailor John was a volunteer crew member with the Friends of Dolphin charity for 10 years and was accompanied on his return by some of his fellow residents and staff from our home, as well as his wife Jocelyn.
Jocelyn said: “John adored the water from his early years and during the school holidays he used to sail boats from Wick to Mudeford for £1 a day. But he said he would have done it for free.”
She continued: “John went on to sail throughout his life. Once, during our sailing years together we had a Search and Rescue helicopter actually hovering overhead us offering evacuation in stormy weather. But John refused and told me to: “Keep on bailing!” as we would: “Wash up on shore if needs be!”

[caption id="attachment_5813" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Resident John Duffield with John Buckby (right) from the Friends of Dolphins. [/caption]

John and his party were taken around the harbour entrance and spotted wildlife including seals and cormorants.

They also passed Brownsea Island where John once volunteered by helping at the quay.

Our Companion Anne-Marie Knight said: “The skipper John Buckby and crew of the Dolphin III couldn’t have been more attentive and kind to John.
“John talked to our John about their shared love of the water and explained how the Dolphin III will take around 200 trips this season between May and September. We are so grateful to them all for making this wonderful trip possible.”
Jocelyn agreed: “It was a brilliant day out with a scrumptious picnic in the beautiful English summer and seeing how much of a smile it put on John’s face was very touching for us all.”

Former opera singer hits all the right notes at our very own ‘Proms’

Former opera singer Dorrie provided a patriotic start to the ‘Proms’ with a rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory
Doris ‘Dorrie’ Smith, 92, became a resident of Fernhill, in May.
Dorrie’s singing ability was ‘discovered’ when she was just 13 by the well-known soprano Mavis Bennett, who regularly performed on BBC Radio where she was known as the ‘Nightingale of the Wireless’.
Dorrie’s daughter, Christina Smith, who lives in Southampton explained: “Mavis, like my mum, lived in Redditch in Worcestershire. She was a customer at my grandfather’s petrol garage and one day he asked her to listen to mum sing.
“She listened and announced she was a natural contralto who needed very little training. And from that point she took mum has a kind of protégé.”
Over the next few years, Dorrie’s voice was heard several times on the BBC, including on the Listen with Mother programme.
She was also a regular guest of the BBC Orchestra at the Redditch Theatre.

Christina said: “Mavis Bennett wanted to mum to become a ‘crooner’ and perhaps even go on to make records. But my grandfather didn’t think it was appropriate and refused.

“Who knows? Mum could have gone on to become quite famous. But it wasn’t to be.

[caption id="attachment_5824" align="alignleft" width="682"] Resident Doris ‘Dorrie’ Smith who opened the Proms event with a rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
“Mum carried on singing in amateur operatic productions and became well known in the theatre, particularly in the role of Queenie in Showboat. But I think she always wondered how far she could have gone.”
Dorrie and her husband Norman, a talented pianist, continued to perform locally and went on to open a children’s nursery, where they introduced some of the country’s earliest music and movement sessions.
The couple moved to Bournemouth in the late 1960s and Dorrie continued to sing accompanied on the piano by her friend, the BBC Radio producer Jimmy Grant, whom she met through a U3A Choir.
Dorrie joined with local entertainer and pianist Mike Sideway for Fernhill’s Proms, which was organised to mark World Music Day.
She said: “When I hear music of any kind it stirs something in me and I just have to sing.

“It was always a dream of mine to sing at the opening of The Proms and now I have – at 92 years of age!”

Fernhill residents enjoyed an afternoon of singing along to classical and popular songs from across the years before a delicious afternoon tea.
Dorrie added: “Fernhill has so much music and singing every day. I am also helping some of the carers who love to sing with their technique.
“It was lovely to sing in front of everyone and hopefully they enjoyed it too.”
Fiona Pritchard, Colten Care’s Music and Arts Partner said: “Music has and still does play an important role in the lives of many of our residents across our homes. Hearing Dorrie sing in her beautiful and still very strong voice, was very emotional for us all.
“She was beaming all over afterwards and went on to enjoy a great afternoon of singing and happy reminiscence with her fellow residents.”
 

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, our residents and  residents of Abbey View in Sherborne joined residents at Bourne View, Poole.

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.

Mike’s railway return is just the ticket  

A lifelong steam engine enthusiast enjoyed a welcome return to his family-run railway 
Mike Haylock, whose brother Jim founded the Moors Valley Steam Railway in the mid-1980s, was guest of honour on a trip from our home.

It was the first time in three and a half years that Mike, a former artist and illustrator, and a fan of steam trains from boyhood, had visited the popular attraction.

Jim and fellow railway volunteers enabled him to view a steam engine that he still owns and it was an ideal opportunity for his first proper family picnic since the pandemic.
Mike said: “It was absolutely fantastic, such a nice experience.”
Our Companionship Team Leader Kate Morris, who accompanied Mike, said: “He has always been interested in steam engines, the same as his brother.

“It was so lovely being able to bring him back to Moors Valley and see him at the ‘family business’ once again.
“Although Mike’s engine is off the track at the moment undergoing maintenance and waiting for a new boiler to be fitted, that didn’t spoil his fun.
“He hadn’t seen his family for a proper outdoors visit for more than two years and just having the chance to be among the steam trains and look around the station again was so rewarding for him.”

Since the railway opened at Moors Valley Country Park in July 1986, hundreds of thousands of visitors including families and children have taken happy trips around the looping one-and-a-half-mile track.

Jim had originally set up his own railway in 1980 at Tucktonia Leisure Park near Christchurch. After five years he decided he needed to move to a better location and with council permission relocated the track, rolling stock and equipment to the new Moors Valley park.

Until Moors Valley Railway (MVR) came into being, the site had been a dairy farm. The original buildings were converted into use as the station, carriage and engine sheds, and shop.

Further additions included a station buffet, ticket office, waiting room and two signal boxes. A second station, Lakeside, closer to the park’s main picnic area, was added in 1996.

The trip to Moors Valley was also a welcome treat for Dennis Edwards, a steam railway fan living at Colten Care’s Poole dementia care home The Aldbury, who was accompanied by its Companionship Team Leader Sue Miles.

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