Residents and staff welcomed Bognor Regis Squadron, Air Cadets for a wonderful visit to Westergate House. The cadets were absolutely amazing and full of enthusiasm as they spent time talking to residents across all three communities. The highlight of the day was watching the cadets chat with our residents, who are ex-RAF members and former pilots. There were so many incredible stories and shared memories being swapped!  

A huge thank you to the Bognor Regis Squadron Air Cadets for such a special visit. We hope to see you again soon. 

We were delighted to welcome our staff's children into the home for a lively afternoon of autumn fun.

Together with our residents, the children carved pumpkins, decorated spooky cookies, and crafted mini witches' hats. The room was filled with laughter and great energy, proving once again how much joy these family visits bring to everyone involved.       

We wrapped up the Halloween celebrations with a grand party featuring a fantastic live singer. Both residents and staff got fully into the spirit of the day by dressing up in fantastic Halloween costumes before getting up on their feet to dance the afternoon away. 

With great music, incredible fancy dress, and plenty of festive spirit, it was the perfect end to a brilliant month of events.

To celebrate National Baking Week, our baking enthusiasts gathered in the kitchen to whip up a batch of delicious lemon cookies. From mixing the ingredients to shaping the dough, residents took the lead at every step, filling the home with the refreshing scent of fresh citrus. 

The best part, of course, was sharing the warm, freshly baked treats over a afternoon cup of tea.   

We were thrilled to welcome the team from Fab Falconry and some of their beautiful feathered friends for a visit to Westergate House. An absolute delight to meet the highly trained handlers and interact with their owls and birds of prey. We were able to get close enough to see the beautiful markings on the feathers and take in the wise expressions – they observed us just as closely! Some of our residents felt happy to have the dignified creatures sitting in their outstretched arms – creating some very special moments!        

Appletree Grange celebrated a very special man, one of our much-loved Resident Ambassadors, on his 80th birthday! John is a joy to have around the home. He loves a good chat, enjoys his pets and his television, and having spent his working life as a car dealer, he knows his cars inside out. Just ask him anything! His big day was one to remember. 

Our Head Chef baked him a fantastic birthday cake, the room was filled with 80 balloons, and his fellow residents gathered to sing Happy Birthday. His daughters and friends came along to celebrate with him too, and the smiles said it all!             

Appletree Grange had the most wonderful visitor today and our residents were absolutely over the moon! Meet Neelix our gorgeous therapy dog who came to spend some quality time with our wonderful residents today and what a visit it was! The strokes, the cuddles, the pure and utter joy on our residents' faces from the moment Neelix walked through that door. It was simply the most heart-warming thing to witness! We absolutely cannot wait to see you again, Neelix.    

Residents at Westergate House were busy with a creative project suggested by NAPA, the National Activity Providers Association. Over several weeks, the activities team supported the creation of beautiful, personal Memory Life Plaques to celebrate the unique stories that belong to our residents, and make up our fabulous community.    

Everyone chose special objects that hold a place in their hearts, and pressed them into dry clay before casting them in plaster. For the perfect finishing touch, we framed each piece with an embroidery ring. The results are absolutely wonderful! Each plaque tells a deeply personal story, and together they form an art collection we are incredibly proud of - well done everyone!     

Residents spent a rewarding day getting their hands dirty for a special gardening project. After carefully planting fresh flowers, everyone got to decorate their own pots, complete with their name and photograph on the front. These personalized pots now add a lovely bright touch to our space, celebrating both nature and our wonderful community.   

We kicked off our spooky season preparations with a busy week of Halloween crafting. 

Residents showcased their creativity by crafting ghosts out of paper cups, painting colorful pumpkins on paper plates, and making hanging paper bats to decorate the home. It was a brilliant, fun-filled session that brought plenty of smiles and festive cheer.