Hatherleigh Nursing Home Marks 81st Anniversary of VE Day

Hatherleigh Nursing Home near Okehampton marked the 81st Anniversary of VE Day with their own street party, celebrated in the home’s large Belvedere Household dining area for friends, relatives and family members (residents).

Administrator Tamsin and Sandra, a relative of the home, decorated the space with Union Jack bunting and flags, while tables were set and laid in a red, white and blue colour scheme, topped with themed plates and fanned napkins. The bright colours, decorations and flags to hold and wave gave plenty to look at, touch and interact with as everyone immersed themselves in the celebration.

Kitchen team members Faye, Gurjeet and Sophie prepared a buffet-style spread with an array of party food and “nibbly bits” in true English fashion, which wouldn’t be complete without a selection of cream cakes and scones.

Family members and loved ones also enjoyed a live performance from the home’s regular musical entertainer, Ben Mackenzie, with many singing along to old favourite songs and joining in throughout the afternoon.

Hatherleigh Nursing Home’s VE Day celebration was also the final event held in the Belvedere Lounge before the space undergoes a refurbishment. Speaking about the decorations, the team joked: “We’re having a refurb now, so it meant we could cello tape as much to the walls and ceilings as possible before our new dining room!”

The event was held in recognition of both past and present veterans connected to Hatherleigh Nursing Home, while bringing people together to reflect, reminisce and enjoy British traditions associated with VE Day together.

If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit: https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/lifes-journey-continued-2/

South West collectors bring their unusual collectables for unique display in Devon

The Burton at Bideford celebrates the act of collecting this summer in an exhibition which reveals the hidden objects and stories found in front rooms, home museums and storage spaces across the South West of England.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of The Burton and its long history of caring for collections of art, heritage and curiosities. The act of collecting is almost universal – evident throughout human history from the Stone Age to the modern day – and collections can be found everywhere from the back rooms of private abodes to national museums.

 

Through an open call, The Burton invited members of the public to share their own personal stories of collecting - asking them what they collect and if they would be willing to show it off to the world. Almost 70 submissions were received from collectors of all ages based across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, covering a vast range of objects including skateboards, pottery, bottle openers, fine art, handbags, glass bottles, matchboxes, tools, musical instruments, trading cards, comics, shells and vintage toys.

 

Taking over The Burton’s galleries this summer, ‘What We Keep’ presents a selection of these collections in a joyful exhibition which tells the tales of how they were formed and the collectors who care for them. The accompanying events programme will include tours and talks which bring the exhibition to life and celebrate the hidden collector inside all of us.

 

Abi Obene, Curatorial Coordinator at The Burton and curator of ‘What We Keep’ says:

 

“What We Keep’ is a celebration of our shared impulse to collect and the personal worlds we make with the objects around us. What we choose to surround ourselves with is part of who we are – it’s our life experiences, beliefs, loves, fascinations and hobbies. It’s putting bits of ourselves on shelves, leaving fingerprints on what might only be precious to us, and squirreling ourselves away in attic spaces and cellars to cheer ourselves up on a rainy day. That’s what life and living is and what it’s all about: things, stuff and us.”

 

The Burton itself was originally established to house the personal collection of artist Hubert Coop RBA, and its holdings now contain many other collections put together by passionate individuals. This includes The Christine Halstead Collection of Studio Pottery, Arthur McTaggart Short’s collection of calling card cases and The RJ Lloyd Collection of North Devon Slipware.

The Collectors featured above are:

*Alan Edward Roberts and his collection of 80s hip hop memorabilia, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

*Fiona Balfour and her collection of rocking horses, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

*Kim Jones and her collection of tins containing mini collections, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

*Rachel Ward and her collection of handbags, photo by Carole Evans 2026.

What We Keep, images from the collection at The Burton at Bideford

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‘What We Keep: The Art of Collecting’ runs from 9the May – 19th July 2026 at The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ. Free entry. For more details see www.theburton.org or get in touch at info@theburton.org.  

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Opening Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am–5pm

Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry

Frome Nursing Home Visits Local College

Frome Nursing Home Manager Sherin Anup visited Frome Community College recently alongside Care Practitioner Kat Wilcox, to open up a conversation to the young audience about a career in care, a path that isn’t always the first one people think of when leaving school.

They talked through fair pay across all ages, explaining that rates are the same whether someone is 16 or 21 and above. The conversation also covered the different roles within the home, not just care, but activities, domestic, administration, maintenance and catering roles, giving a clearer picture of how many different paths there are in care. Kat shared during the presentation, “There is a role for everyone, many people think that working in a care home is just one role, but there are so many different career pathways at Frome Nursing Home.”

At the end of the 2 hour talk, students were given pens with the home’s name on, and one teacher shared that a former student had volunteered in a care home and came away feeling appreciated for simply being himself. He is since considering a career in care!

This visit to the local community college was a way of showing that these kinds of roles exist locally, and that a career in care is something they can explore within their own community.

To learn more about life at Frome Nursing Home or to arrange a visit, please visit

 https://fromecarevillage.com/contact-us/

Ilfracombe Ukulele Pluckers bring Musical Afternoon to North Devon Care Home

Recently at Edenmore Nursing Home in North Devon, the afternoon was filled with the sound of music as the home was visited by the Ilfracombe Ukulele Pluckers.

Family members (residents) who wanted to listen to the performance gathered in one of the home’s lounges. There was a great turnout, with a number of family members who often prefer to keep to themselves, or stay in the comfort of their own spaces, choosing to join in.

The Ukulele Pluckers played songs from different eras and even repeated some favourites. There was lots of singing along from the team and family members. Harry, Diana and Susan got up to dance in front of the performers, with Susan up and dancing for an hour and encouraging rounds of applause at the end of songs!

Susan also stood by another family member, who preferred to sit, during a number of songs, and helped her to join in by taking her hand and swaying with the music. She also got the chance to try out playing one of the ukuleles at the end of the performance. Peter, another family member, also stood up to be closer to the Ukulele Pluckers, singing alongside them for a while as though he was part of the band himself.

It was a really special afternoon that brought everyone together to enjoy tunes from decades past and get a few feet tapping and dancing.

Music can be very powerful for people who are living with a Dementia or are on a cognitive journey. Rhythm and melody activate parts of the brain linked to emotion, movement and long-term memory, so although someone might struggle to recall a recent conversation, they can sometimes still remember the words or beat to a song from years ago.

The Ilfracombe Ukulele Pluckers shared about their visit, ‘Our afternoon at Edenmore was heart-warmingly memorable. We carefully chose songs that we hoped the residents would enjoy. Luckily, we picked some favourites, as we had residents tapping their feet, dancing and singing along. We just hope we brought as much joy to you all, as you gave to us. Thanks for the warm welcome, yummy cakes and laughter, we hope to see you again soon!’

Edenmore is also currently undergoing a number of refurbishments, with a newly completed lounge and dining room with kitchenette recently opening on the home’s first street (floor). It is the first of several projects taking place throughout the home, helping to give the environment a fresh new feel for the people who live, visit and work there. Refurbishments on a second lounge have also now begun, with the home looking forward to holding future events and performances within these new spaces.

Edenmore Nursing Home offers 24-hour nursing and residential care by the North Devon coast. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

Tipton St John Care Home Hosts Easter Event for Families and Community

A care home near Sidmouth recently celebrated Easter with its own Easter Extravaganza event.

The residential care home in Tipton St John invited relatives, friends and members of the local community to attend, with team members also bringing their families to join. The event had been planned for the home’s three-acre gardens, but due to unpredictable Devon weather, it moved indoors, with visitors gathering in the lounge and dining room. “It was very cosy!” a team member said.

Blue Sky Busking, a two-man band who raise donations for charities including Save the Children, performed during the afternoon, with family members (residents) and visitors singing along and getting up to dance. The pair kindly gifted the home their CD, to which family member Pat was thrilled, and insisted an announcement was made to say thank you for their brilliant performance.

Activities took place throughout the home, including Easter crafts, a sunflower sewing station and an Easter egg hunt, which the home had over 90 crème eggs for the day! Easter Bunny (team member Rebecca) handed out eggs to all in the lounge, as well as to family members who were in their bedrooms, ensuring everyone in the home was included.

Councillor of Ottery St Mary, Janice Aherne who visited with her family shared:

“Three generations of my family, all living in the village joined Sundial Care Home’s Easter Extravaganza. With varied Easter related activities (including chocolate), the grandchildren enjoyed colouring and making pictures with an assortment of Easter craft materials. There was a very friendly and homely atmosphere under the guidance of Home Manager Liz Thompson and her team. A lovely afternoon had by all.”

Sundial Care Home’s Easter event brought together relatives, team members and the wider village, strengthening connections between the home, families and the local community.

 

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/