Celebrating life at Barchester

Hot Cross Buns!

Today we sampled several flavours of hot cross buns, trying to guess the flavour as we did so. Our residents enjoyed the selection on offer and a lot decided that the Strawberry and Clotted Cream was the nicest, whilst others preferred the original hot cross bun and were totally unsure about a cheese hot cross bun which Activities Coordinator Karen assured them was rather nice toasted with a slice of bacon and a fried egg.

At Claremont on Thursday we had a visit from Dave with his amazing birds of prey which brought a sense of excitement and curiosity to the home, offering our residents a unique opportunity to connect with nature up close.

During the session, residents were introduced to a variety of magnificent birds, learning about their habitats, diets and natural behaviours Dave shared interesting facts in a clear and engaging way, allowing everyone to gain a better understanding of these amazing creatures.

We enjoyed looking at Crackerjack a white faced owl, plop the Barn owl, Esme a Merlin, Maverick the Peregrine, Boudicea a Gabar Goshawk, Zeus the Golden Eagle and just to confuse us we had the delight of meeting Norma the hedgehog!
 

The residents and staff celebrated Easter Sunday in true Glenroyd style. The home looked beautiful, decorated for this special time of year, and the sweet aroma of chocolate treats filled the air.

Our morning began with a special visit from the Easter Bunny, who delivered Easter eggs to residents throughout the home and shared plenty of Easter cheer along the way.

Later, everyone sat down to enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our wonderful catering team, featuring roast chicken followed by Easter pudding. It was enjoyed by all and set the perfect tone for the rest of the day.

In the afternoon, residents came together in the conservatory for our Easter party, where a sweet buffet and a lovely Easter cake took centre stage. We were entertained by the fantastic Steve, who’s carefully chosen music repertoire had everyone dancing, clapping and singing along. With a glass or two of wine or prosecco, there was plenty of laughter and joy as we celebrated the Easter weekend together.

Happy Easter from everyone at Glenroyd! 

Resident, Betsy had always spoken about the time she used to go to the gym and and reminisced about those days when she felt good after her visits. She said she would love to see what it’s like now so staff at the home made her wish a reality proving the old adage, it’s never too late.

Betsy has lived at  Fairview House since February 2026 and is beloved by staff and residents alike. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making her dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to her, and they all wanted to be there to see the smile on Betsy’s face when her dream was realised.

Our residents thoroughly enjoyed taking part in a live virtual make-along hosted by Holly and Rafin from the V&A as part of London Fashion Week. It was a lovely opportunity to get involved in something creative and inspiring from the comfort of home, while feeling connected to a wider cultural event.

During the session, we explored the imaginative world of dessert-inspired fashion and discovered more about Marie Antoinette’s favourite sweet treats. Residents then had the chance to put their own artistic skills to the test by creating beautiful sweet still-life paintings, with everyone embracing the activity with great enthusiasm and creativity.

The afternoon also gave residents time to chat about their favourite artwork, share ideas and memories, and enjoy one another’s company over refreshments and plenty of hot cups of tea. It was a relaxed, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable experience for all involved.

We had a wonderful time. A big thank you to everyone from the V&A!

The residents enjoyed a wonderful St Patrick’s Day celebration with a special day in Ireland. It was a lovely opportunity for everyone to come together and enjoy the spirit of the occasion in true Irish style.

Our residents tucked into a delicious lunch prepared by our fantastic catering team, featuring traditional Irish stew served with colcannon. Some of our Guinness fans also enjoyed a glass of their favourite beer, while Irish music played throughout the day and helped create a warm atmosphere.

One of our care assistants, Margaret, also gave an informative and engaging talk about Ireland and its patron, St Patrick. Using fact sheets and activity books, she shared interesting information and added a personal touch by talking about her own Irish roots. Residents enjoyed reminiscing about their past trips to Ireland and sharing memories of St Patrick’s Day celebrations they had taken part in over the years.

It was a fantastic day filled with good food, fond memories, learning, and of course, a little dancing to traditional Irish folk music. We all had a wonderful time celebrating St Patrick’s Day and exploring Irish culture together.

Our home was filled with love, warmth and a wonderful sense of family as we celebrated Mother’s Day in true style.

Throughout the morning, we were reminded of the power of motherhood across the generations, and many lovely, meaningful family moments were captured during a special photoshoot. Our team worked incredibly hard to pamper our residents and give them the celebration they truly deserve. Dressed in glamorous outfits and jewellery to match, our wonderful mothers looked and felt like queens.

Each of the ladies was presented with daffodils kindly donated by Co-op Funeral Directors, who support our residents throughout the year. A massive thank you to Michelle and the wonderful team at Co-op Funeral Directors in Blackpool for helping to make the day even more special.

In the afternoon, we gathered in our beautiful conservatory, which was filled with floral touches and elegant decorations, to continue celebrating the wonderful mothers in our home. Our residents were delighted to welcome back singer Marianne, who serenaded us with a perfect repertoire especially prepared for the occasion. We also enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea, with delicious refreshments prepared by our amazing catering team. The room was full of smiles as we sang, danced and tapped along, celebrating the love, strength and warmth that mothers bring to every family.

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone in our community. Here’s to your wisdom, kindness and love.