Celebrating life at Barchester

Our residents and staff joined in with the Children in Need initiative and spent a wonderful day in the company of Pudsey.

They enjoyed an engaging and informative talk from Pudsey himself, learning more about the incredible work the charity does to support children across the UK. Throughout the day, our residents created their own colourful masterpieces and tucked into delicious homemade refreshments, all while singing along to some of the greatest Children in Need tunes.

We also organised a bake sale to help raise funds in support of children in need within our local community. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we raised £41.20, which will go towards festive gifts that our team will be delivering soon to children in our area. 

Our residents marked Remembrance Sunday with a meaningful trip to the wreath-laying service at the Blackpool Cenotaph. The weather wasn’t on our side, but spirits were high as we paid our respects to those who served.

It was an especially important day for James, one of our residents, who completed his National Service with the Black Watch in the 1950s. In Kenya, he was once chased by a rhinoceros and escaped up a tree- though he got into trouble for leaving his rifle behind.

James later served in Berlin, took part in the guard of honour at Balmoral, and even danced with Princess Margaret at a Ceilidh. He loved the camaraderie and the chance to see the world. He signed on beyond National Service and became a corporal, and might have made a career of it, but his mum wasn’t keen- something his family is grateful for, as James’s return led to a long and happy marriage to his wife.

After the ceremony, we headed back to warm up and enjoy a delicious lunch together in our cosy Conservatory while watching the national service on television. Our residents shared memories of Remembrance Sundays past, reflecting on the meaning behind their experiences and those they will never forget.

The residents travelled through Platform 9¾ straight into Hogwarts to celebrate Halloween in true Harry Potter style.

We began the morning by visiting our residents in their rooms, proudly showcasing our costumes and delivering sweets to start the day with a smile. The excitement carried through to lunchtime, where Harry and Ron hosted a themed feast and everyone indulged in our hospitality team’s specials.

As the afternoon unfolded, several members of our team even popped in on their day off to join the fun. We captured plenty of happy moments in our photobooth and spent time reminiscing about Halloweens gone by and the treasured memories they hold.

Later on, the talented Marianne provided live music entertainment that had us all putting on our dancing shoes. With tasty refreshments flowing- and a glass of wine or two- there were jive moves and laughter all around. Harry and Ron kept the energy high, and our staff were right there on the dance floor with our residents.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and donned such fantastic outfits for the occasion. Our residents loved every second of the Hogwarts celebration.

Happy Halloween form everyone at Glenroyd!

We enjoyed celebrating with Beryl and Alan already this year for their January birthday's. 

Both residents enjoyed rousing singing from the staff and sharing their cakes with their fellow residents 

We had a lovely party with entertainment from the lovely duo, Serenade. 

We sang, danced and toasted the New Year in altogether. 

What a fantastic day we had celebrating a Day in the Philippines as part of our Around the World project. The team spirit was incredible, and our wonderful Philippines’ community came together to give our residents a truly memorable experience.

We began with a themed lunch prepared by the brilliant brothers, John and Jerome, and overseen by our chef to ensure all dietary requirements and food policies were met in line with Barchester standards. Our residents enjoyed a delicious menu featuring a starter of Tinola soup and Lumpia (spring rolls), followed by mains of Chicken Adobo and Beef Caldereta, served with either boiled or fried rice. To finish, we indulged in Champorado, a comforting chocolate rice pudding. The food was a big hit, with many compliments from residents, including one of our Singaporean ladies who told us Asian cuisine is her absolute favourite.

We then explored Philippines’ culture through an engaging and informative talk by our much-loved nurse, Angie- well known for her fabulous sense of style- who went above and beyond by bringing in traditional outfits for staff to wear and present to residents. In the spirit of inclusivity, our team also visited residents in their rooms, bringing the colour and beauty of Philippines’ fashion right to their doors. Angie later led a captivating session that took us on a personal journey through the culture and sharing stories through music that truly brought the Philippines to life.

In the afternoon, our residents enjoyed armchair travel videos, discovering the breath-taking landscapes and most famous places across the Philippines, from stunning beaches to vibrant cityscapes.

It was a day filled with joy, smiles, and a wonderful sense of Philippines’ warmth that our residents felt throughout. 

We’re absolutely over the moon to share that our very own Aga has been crowned National Activities Coordinator of the Year at the Barchester Care Awards 2025.

Aga has poured her heart into life at Glenroyd, creating meaningful experiences for our residents every single day, and we couldn’t be prouder to see her talent and dedication recognised on the biggest stage.

With more than 5,250 nominations received from across Barchester’s 268 care homes and private hospitals, the standard this year was exceptional. Aga’s national win, announced at the awards ceremony, is a testament to her creativity, compassion and commitment to making every moment count for our residents and their families.

Aga said: “I am absolutely thrilled. This recognition means a great deal to me personally and professionally, and to everyone at Glenroyd. It would not have been possible without true teamwork. I’m fortunate to work alongside Karen, our Activities Assistant, whose support completes our department, as well as the wider team and the strong relationships we share with our residents and their families. This award belongs to all of them, and I only wish I could share it with each person who has contributed.”

Our General Manager, Yvonne Hand, summed it up perfectly: “This is a remarkable achievement, and everyone at the home is incredibly proud of Aga. She consistently goes above and beyond for our residents, putting her heart and soul into everything she does. This recognition is thoroughly well deserved.”

We also want to give a special mention to Mark, our divisional winner for Chef of the Year, whose passion and skill shine through every day. Congratulations, Aga- you make Glenroyd proud, and we’re so lucky to have you.

We had a truly special day as we celebrated Oktoberfest with a German‑themed day at Glenroyd.

Originating in Munich in 1810 to mark a royal wedding, Oktoberfest is now enjoyed each year from late September to early October, with lively brass bands, Bavarian folk costumes, bustling beer tents and classic treats like pretzels. We brought a taste of that festive spirit to Glenroyd, and the smiles said it all.

Our residents explored German culture through armchair travel videos, taking in some of the most popular sites across Germany, and delved into the country’s rich history and heritage with Oomph! activity books.

There were plenty of hearty “Prost!” as we raised a glass during a German beer tasting and tucked into freshly baked pretzels. Peter, one of our residents, summed it up perfectly: “It was wonderful to ‘visit’ places that are so close to my heart, even if only virtually. It’s been a truly lovely day.”

It’s been wonderful discovering another country on our ‘Around the World’ map, and we’re already looking forward to many more cultural adventures together.

What a wonderful time we’ve had at Glenroyd, soaking up the magic of the World Fireworks Championship in Blackpool!

Our gentlemen headed out for the India display, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect along the Promenade. Our gentlemen enjoyed their favourite beers and tasty refreshments prepared by our amazing hospitality team. There was laughter, smiles, and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as each firework lit up the night sky.

The following night it was the ladies’ turn with a “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” theme. We had the tunes on, sang our hearts out to the best female anthems, and waited in our Illuminations-ready minibus- headbands on, a glass of wine in hand, and spirits high. With the door open and voices loud, our ladies soon had people around us singing along and cheering. When Ukraine’s much-anticipated display began, it absolutely delivered. What a show! The vibes were pure joy and our ladies had the best night out.

Here’s to more adventures together and making happy memories for everyone at Glenroyd.