Celebrating life at Barchester

What a fantastic Musical Bingo session!  Songs sparked memories, voices filled the room, and everyone—from residents to visitors—joined in for a truly special sing-along.

We are all looking forward to the next one!

Our residents enjoyed another delicious Pudding Club, sampling a wonderful selection of cakes and sweet treats. From classic favourites to new creations, there was something for everyone to enjoy!
After much tasting and discussion, we’re delighted to announce that the winning pudding was… Chocolate Gateau! A rich and indulgent favourite that went down a treat with everyone.
Pudding Club is a regular monthly event here at Ashchurch View and is always a highlight in our calendar, bringing residents together to share laughs, memories, and of course, plenty of cake! We often invite guests from the community who play a role of a judge- if you wanted to become one, let us know! Everyone's welcome!

We were delighted to welcome JB Steelpan Music to Ashchurch View for a truly uplifting and memorable visit. The vibrant sounds of the steel pans filled our home with energy, creating a fantastic atmosphere that our residents absolutely loved. From the very first song, there were smiles all around, with residents clapping along, singing familiar tunes and even joining in with the rhythm by drumming and tapping their feet. The music encouraged interaction, movement and laughter, making it a wonderful shared experience for everyone involved. Moments like these are so important in enriching daily life at Ashchurch View, bringing people together and creating lasting memories. We are incredibly grateful for the happiness and positivity this visit brought to our community and look forward to welcoming them back again in the future.

Mount Vale Care Home was filled with joy, colour and community spirit as resident Nancy celebrated her remarkable 101st birthday, surrounded by love from staff, fellow residents, family and the wider local community.

In the lead-up to the celebration, staff at Mount Vale invited the local community to help mark Nancy’s milestone by sending birthday cards. The response was overwhelming, with forty-one cards arriving to help make the day extra special.

A particularly touching moment came when children from Rosedene Nursery visited Nancy, bringing with them a birthday cake, a handmade card, colourful pictures created especially for her and some beautiful tulips for which she gave a fabulous tip for making them last longer. The visit brought smiles, laughter and a wonderful intergenerational atmosphere to the home.

The celebrations were made even sweeter thanks to local cake baker Olivia Wilkinson, from Olivia’s Cakes, who created a selection of beautiful cupcakes, to go alongside her main cake a classic Victoria sponge cake. Nancy’s favourite colour, blue, was thoughtfully woven into the day through decorations and cake details, adding a personal touch.

We recently enjoyed a wonderful Burns Night celebration at Bryn Ivor Lodge, made extra special by a visit from The Welsh Wedding Bagpiper, Matthew Bartlett. Throughout the morning Matthew walked through every community, filling the home with the stirring sound of traditional Scottish bagpipes.

Residents and staff were smiling from ear to ear as the music created an uplifting and emotional atmosphere, bringing back fond memories for many and creating new ones for all. The melodies sparked conversations, laughter, and even a few happy tears.

It was truly one of those moments that reminds us how powerful music can be in bringing people together. A heartfelt thank you to Matthew for giving us such a memorable and joyful experience.

The residents at White Lodge Care Home marked National Chocolate Cake Day in the most delicious way possible with a selection of homemade treats prepared by our talented hospitality team.
The tempting spread included rich Belgian chocolate cake, indulgent chocolate fudge cake, decadent millionaire layer cake, gooey chocolate brownies and beautifully topped chocolate cupcakes. There truly was something for every chocolate lover! Of course, it was all perfectly accompanied by a comforting cup of tea.
One resident shared how absolutely delighted they were to see so many different kinds of chocolate cake all in one place. calling it a “chocolate lover’s dream!”

Our home hosted a special wellbeing event on Tuesday 4th February, the home welcomed Nicola Brett from Active Recovery Therapy as guest speaker as she spoke to the community about 'the effects of aging on the body and mind and how we can slow that down'.

The home was also joined by members from the local Women’s Institute, The Deepings Bowling Association, Specsavers and the Editor of ‘I’d Rather Be in Deeping’ town magazine.