Celebrating life at Barchester

White Lodge was delighted to host a special International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea to celebrate the incredible women of White Lodge and the wider community.
We were honoured to welcome some wonderful guests, including Mandy and Rae from Swindon 105.5 Radio, Monique from Wiltshire Police, Jane Sims from Senior Games, and Marion and Jenny from the Purton community. They joined us in celebrating the day and sharing their inspiring stories with residents and families.
Our talented chef prepared a delicious selection of treats including freshly made sandwiches, Scotch eggs, cherry Bakewell bonbons, chocolate brownies, and of course plenty of tea to go around.
It was a lovely afternoon filled with conversation, inspiration, and celebration of the amazing women who make our community so special.

White Lodge was delighted to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of our residents in the way she wished. The White Lodge team and her family came together to organise a truly spectacular celebration. She received a very special birthday card from His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, along with countless lovely cards from her family, friends, and staff.
Our lovely celebrant enjoyed a wonderful mini concert featuring all her favourite songs from the 1960s, bringing back many happy memories. Her family also created a beautiful photo collage capturing her incredible 100 years of life and memories.
Our chef prepared a stunning birthday cake in her favourite flavours, beautifully decorated for the occasion. Birthday girl was absolutely over the moon when she saw the amazing cake.
To make her birthday even more special, the team made one of her wishes come true by taking her to play snooker at Hollywood Bowl. Snooker is her absolute favourite sport, and she has always loved watching it on TV. This was her very first time playing, and the experience made her incredibly happy.
She shared her gratitude, saying:
“What you arranged was wonderful. I never thought you would do all this for me. Thank you so much.”

Residents and staff at celebrated International Women’s Day with an extraordinary event highlighting the diverse career paths and community impact of local female leaders.

The event featured guest speaker Maria Holden CEO Sunrise Multicultural Project and Susan Bradley, partner at Marks & Clerk. Who both spoke passionately about their careers, Maria shared how the project has been running for 30 Years in Banbury. Funded by the National Lottery, the project promotes independence, running dedicated ladies' sessions and a breakfast drop-in to increase confidence and self-esteem. Bridging women from all backgrounds together through shared activities and trips.
 

Susan Spoke about her career path that led her, at aged 40, becoming a patent attorney, from early work fixing and recycling old technology for schools “We need more girl inventors,” Susan stated, explaining that a science degree is a condition for becoming a patent attorney. She discussed the dynamics of her field, noting that while you can't patent "maths," she finds immense joy in working with wave and tidal energy patents.

General Manager Benazir Shakkir said "Susan is a true role model for the next flock of girls choosing careers in predominantly male-dominated fields. Her story, alongside Maria's extensive community work to enable women in Banbury to be feel confident and enhance their abilities, provided our residents with a profound look at how far women's empowerment has come."
 

Louise Ramage gave a special recognition to Anila, who produced a commemorative video of the event that has since been shared within the community.

At Florence Court, we celebrated International Women’s Day by making handmade cards, each with a special message inside to remind the wonderful women in our home, just how strong and powerful they truly are. Barbara, our Resident Ambassador, visited and spoke to our lovely ladies. They were so happy to receive their cards, and it sparked a lovely conversation about what being a woman means to each of them!

Some shared how much they loved caring for and supporting their families, while others spoke about how they were raised to believe that women can achieve anything they set their minds to. It was also a moment to remember and honour the suffragettes who fought so bravely for the rights and freedoms women have today.

A big thank you to all the amazing women out there! Our friends, mums, daughters, sisters, and all the women who are such a special part of our lives. Womanhood is a powerful part of who we are, and it’s so important that we continue to support, uplift, and celebrate one another!


 

Following requests from residents, we are delighted to announce the launch of two new clubs this February: a weekly Scrabble Club and a fortnightly Book Club. Both initiatives have already proved to be a tremendous success.

The Scrabble Club meets every Tuesday afternoon, providing residents with an enjoyable opportunity to engage in friendly competition while keeping their minds active. The atmosphere has been lively and welcoming, with participants embracing both the social and cognitive benefits of the game.

The new Book Club, held every fortnight, offers residents the chance to explore a variety of titles and share their thoughts in an inclusive and engaging setting. Early sessions have sparked thoughtful discussion and encouraged new connections among participants.

These additions reflect our ongoing commitment to listening to resident feedback and providing meaningful, enriching activities that promote wellbeing and community spirit.

At Marriott House and Lodge, providing truly person-centred care means understanding what matters most to the people who live with us. We take time to learn about each resident’s background, culture, preferences and daily routines so we can support them in ways that feel familiar, comforting and meaningful.

For one of our residents, Frank, who is originally from China, familiar food plays an important role in maintaining that connection to home. To support this, our team arranged a takeaway from China Royale Chinese, ensuring Frank could enjoy the authentic flavours and dishes he knows and loves.

For many residents, food is far more than just a meal. It can represent memories, culture, and a sense of identity. By making sure Frank could enjoy cuisine that reflects his heritage, we were able to provide comfort, spark conversation and create a moment that felt both familiar and reassuring.

Moments like this are part of our everyday approach to care. We are committed to recognising and celebrating the diverse cultures of our residents, while always respecting their personal wishes and choices.

By going the extra mile to support individual preferences and cultural connections, we help ensure every resident feels understood, respected and truly at home.