Activities at Alice Grange Care Home

Halloween at Alice Grange and the smell of pumpkin spice was in the air!

Residents and staff got into the spirit with traditional pumpkin carving and decorating the home. Plenty of Halloween inspired sweets and activities were enjoyed by all.

A resident at Alice Grange was recognised this week for his 70 years of loyal service to the Methodist Churches of Essex. Richard has been a Local Preacher since undertaking training in 1950.

He has stepped in to deliver sermons and take church services all over the county when the ordained clergy have been unavailable and he is still leading the faithful from his care home in St Isidores, Kesgrave. At one stage he was covering 40 different churches, offering support wherever it was needed.

His years of service and dedication were rewarded this week by the Rev Joan Pell who presented Richard with a certificate of thanks. When presenting the certificate Rev Pell said: “It is amazing to think that Richard has still been using the training he received 70 years ago.”

Richard has been willing to keep the home fires burning through Covid, while visiting has been so restricted,– he is currently preparing his Harvest Festival and Remembrance Day deliveries.

Richard, who was visibly moved and touched by the recognition for his work, said: “I did not expect them to come here to thank me after all this time.”

We are proud to have Richard as a resident here and he is a much loved member of the community. Indeed many of his friends in the home insisted on watching as he received his certificate.

As Cruise Week comes to an end the residents take part in a quiz to see how much of the culture they have soaked up over the last week.

Having tried new languages, new cuisine and learnt many a new fact about the countries we have visited, it is back to Blighty for an icecream and a reflection on a fun-filled week.

Some residents have a new love for French cooking, others have a newfound interest in Portuguese history, whilst some members of staff are looking to continue the Spanish language lessons.

As Cruise Week continues we have already stopped off in France, Spain and Portugal.

The week so far has included language lessons, trying local cuisines, enjoying history lectures and reminiscing with stories of holidays and learning about landmarks and sporting highlights.

97 year old Audrey here getting into the spirit of the day having sat at the Captain's Table for dinner and tried some traditional Portuguese dishes.

All aboard the good ship Alice Grange for Cruise Week!

This week is Cruise Week at Alice Grange and the first port of call is France so the smell of fresh baked pastries is in the air. Residents have been enjoying top-notch French cuisine, French language classes and a lecture on the origins of the famed Eiffel Tower.

The table tennis tournament at Alice Grange has been heating up with the purchase of a new table.

Until recently our residents had been enjoying table tennis played on top of a dining table with a removable net, but with the competitive nature of the residents coming out a new table was deemed necessary. Since the new table was purchased the residents have been in full swing, playing daily and sharpening their skills.

A new competition with staff and residents all involved is coming soon!