Activities at Cherry Trees Care Home

Today our residents on Memory Lane and Young At Heart enjoyed taking part in our music and movement session to celebrate Senior Health and Fitness day; 27th May 2020. We feel it’s important for our residents to keep active and not forgetting the fun and laughs we have.

Today our residents enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in the sun, taking their coffee and biscuits out onto the café terrace and pottering around; watering plants, dead heading the flower beds and weeding.

Our residents enjoyed several different activities during National Vegetarian Week 2020 which ran between 11-17 May. Using our 'living kitchen' based on Memory Lane they enjoyed mixing, baking and decorating carrot cakes. Residents from both Memory Lane and our Young At Heart communities spent time sowing seeds of carrots, beetroot and radishes, all of which have been put in our greenhouse ready for replanting in our allotment on the premises which is already doing well with their previously planted potatoes and onions. Our chef will be so excited to prepare various vegetarian dishes once all produce are ready for picking.

Our residents took time out to paddle and picnic in the sun at Cherry Trees today. With record temperatures the ice-cream trolley was a welcome surprise to all cool and hydrate everyone. 

Mrs Hilda Tenten was joined by staff as we all raised a glass in of her landmark birthday around a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef Chris Aston. Hilda was so pleased and honoured to receive a message from HRH The Queen.

Hilda has been a much loved residents at Cherry Trees Care Home in Alcester for just over 10 years. Born in Hammersmith, London during 1920s and married in 1945, she is a well-travelled lady. Having supported her husband throughout his diplomatic career, hosting parties to entertain his connections across the globe, including those in London, India, South Africa and the Caribbean.

Hilda’s own career was somewhat impressive too; starting work at age 14 for the Post Office Savings Bank and, during the war years, she found the energy and determination to support the Fire Service in her afternoons and evenings. Then in 1966, Hilda become an Executive Officer for The Department of Environment in Surrey; only retiring from civil service in 1993. Hilda has two devoted daughters; Pauline and Brenda and a beautiful granddaughter; Nicola, all of which she loves and misses dearly. The birthday girl, said: I really don’t want any fuss, it’s only a birthday!

Debbie Osborne, general manager of the home, said: "We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable woman as she reaches this amazing milestone. Having a birthday during the restrictions can be hard, we will ensure Hilda can link ‘virtually’ with her family. As ‘queen’ for the day, we’ll do all we can to make this an extra special turn of her very own century"

Our activities coordinator Jo-Anne treated us all to a slide show of Hilda’s life courtesy of her family photo albums, and she received a pamper session; nails and hair in our beauty salon to complete her special day.

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our residents families during this difficult time. The gifts of kindness received include; laundry bags, hand-crocheted ear protectors for face masks, and delicious sweet treats from biscuits to fresh fruit.
We can't thank you enough for thinking of us - they're all greatly received.