Activities at Broadway Halls Care Home

A Wonderful Morning at Sutton School. Residents from Broadway Halls enjoyed a heart-warming visit to Sutton School in Dudley, where they were warmly welcomed into the students’ reading club. The students proudly read their favourite books to our residents, filling the room with stories, smiles, and shared imagination.

After the reading session, everyone joined in for some fun activities, including a lively game of bingo and creating colourful bookmarks together. 

It was a lovely opportunity for connection across generations, and we’re so grateful to the students and staff at Sutton School for having us.      

We lit up the festive season in true Punjabi style with the Ultimate Bhangra Celebration! 

Residents had an amazing time learning vibrant Bhangra dance moves and playing the dhol drum, filling the room with rhythm, laughter, and joy.

It was a day full of energy, culture, and togetherness, a perfect way to celebrate the spirit of Diwali!      

Our residents had a fantastic time taking part in a Velcro dart competition today. Residents from all floors took part. There was full of laughter, cheering, and a little bit of friendly rivalry as everyone aimed for the bullseye. 

Activities like this aren’t just about fun, they bring so many benefits, including: encouraging gentle movement and coordination, keeping minds active with focus and concentration, boosting mood and confidence, strengthening friendships through shared experiences for example, when they were at the pub either playing or watching darts. It was wonderful to see so many smiles and a real sense of achievement from everyone who took part.   

Two long-lost school friends have been reunited after 60 years, thanks to a chance glance at a newspaper and a little help from Broadway Halls.

Ray Stokes, originally from Dudley and now living in Kinver, was enjoying his usual morning read of the Express & Star when he spotted a familiar face in a story about Broadway Halls Care Home in Dudley. “That’s got to be Fred,” Ray said to himself, recognising the gentleman in the photo as someone he hadn’t seen in decades. Ray Stokes and Fred Tennant had been great friends at Dudley Grammar School between 1948 and 1953. They played football together for the school team and spent their teenage years chasing girls and going to the Savoy cinema in Netherton with their friend Les – who sadly passed away some years ago.

Curious and hopeful, Ray decided to email the care home to ask if the man in the article was indeed Fred Tennant.

Scott, our Activities Lead, received the message and went straight to Fred with the question. Fred’s face immediately lit up. “Of course I remember Ray!” he said with a big smile. “We were great mates – I never forgot him.” Scott quickly got to work organising a reunion. Within a couple of days, Ray arrived at Broadway Halls, book in hand filled with old photographs, newspaper clippings – including a treasured piece on Wolves winning the FA Cup – and plenty of memories.

The meeting was full of laughter and storytelling. They reminisced about their schooldays, football matches, first loves, and old adventures – including the time Ray joked that Fred had “run off with his girlfriend” back in the day. Life had taken them in different directions after they left school: Fred became an accountant, Les joined the police, and Ray went into sales.

They had briefly crossed paths in 1965 at Carters in Birmingham, where Fred was working in accounts and Ray was delivering air conditioning parts. That fleeting moment turned out to be the last time they saw each other until now.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” said Ray. “We picked up right where we left off. It’s brought back so many good memories.” Fred agreed, adding, “Seeing Ray again has made my year. It’s like no time has passed.”

The two old friends are already planning their next meet-up and they hope others from their school days might still be out there, willing to join them for a catch-up.  If you went to Dudley Grammar School between 1948 and 1953 and remember Fred, Ray, or Les, especially if John Darby and Ken Williams are still with us, the team at Broadway Halls would love to hear from you. Who knows – another happy reunion might be just around the corner!

Residents of Broadway Halls proudly joined the town’s Remembrance Sunday parade and service today. Together, we honoured the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, past and present.

A wreath was laid on behalf of all our residents as we remembered those who gave so much for our freedom.    

Our lovely residents teamed up with the Activities Team to bake a delicious Victoria sponge cake from scratch! What made it extra special was the way everyone shared their own tips and mixing methods, and family secrets were all part of the recipe! Together, they created the perfect Victoria sponge with a real personal touch with whipped cream on top. The residents tasted the leftover cake mix. It brought back childhood memories.

This week our wonderful baking club rolled up their sleeves and made a classic favourite for many residents. The bread and butter pudding in the memory lane dining room smelled amazing, and everyone had a great time mixing, layering, and reminiscing about this timeless dessert.   

Nothing brings people together quite like baking and good company at Broadway Halls. Stay tuned to see what we whip up next!

Our residents were thrilled to be entertained by the wonderful Tony Wall. Tony sang a wide variety of songs which got the residents up dancing and singing along. It was a great afternoon with team members popping in for a dance with the residents.

Thanks, Tony!  The residents are already waiting for your next visit!   

Broadway Halls celebrated an incredible milestone for our beloved resident, Babs, who turned 100 years young! She marked the big day surrounded by her loving family, dear friends, and our wonderful staff with music, laughter, smiles, and a few happy tears. 

A special letter from His Majesty the King himself, honouring Babs for this remarkable achievement!   

Thank you, Babs, for sharing your joy, wisdom, and kindness with us all. Here's to a century of memories — and many more to come.   

Our residents had a fantastic evening watching a small, quiet firework display from the dining room windows, the perfect way to enjoy a great view while staying warm and comfortable in their home.

Everyone also enjoyed delicious hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. Residents from the Nursing unit even picked their favourite songs to go along with the display creating a truly special atmosphere! 

The night was filled with smiles, laughter, and memories that came flooding back.       

Today, our residents at Broadway Halls, celebrated National Poetry Day in the most wonderful way! We gathered together to read aloud a selection of well-loved and famous poems, sparking memories, smiles, and thoughtful conversations. From classic verses to heartfelt favourites, each reading brought its own charm and meaning.

It was fantastic to see residents getting involved, sharing poems they remembered from years ago, listening attentively to others, and reflecting on the beauty of words.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part. Poetry truly has the power to bring people together.  

Today we went along to west Midlands ambulance hub in Dudley where we took along lots of bags of goodies which included some delicious homemade cookies and biscuits baked by our lovely kitchen team.

As its emergency services day we wanted to say a big thank you for all the brilliant hard work they do every day for our local community!   

Keep up the great work guys and from Broadway Halls thank you!!

Inspired by watching Wimbledon, our wonderful residents at Broadway Halls have been enjoying their own tennis fun and this week, our amazing staff joined in too!

Staff from all departments took five minutes of their break to have a friendly tennis tournament in the sunshine. Our residents loved every minute cheering on the players, acting as umpires, and, of course, enjoying plenty of cake and refreshments courtside!

The weather certainly played its part, it was so hot that the matches were short and sweet, with lots of drinks to keep everyone cool. One lucky staff member even had the best seat in the house, watching all the action unfold from our “Royal Broadway Balcony!”   

Everyone was a winner today, but one resident summed it up perfectly: “Well, I’ve seen it all today on Broadway Halls Court “it’s a lot better than the professionals on TV!”

Well done to everyone who joined in and made this such a fun day!