Activities at Mount Vale Care Home

Mount Vale had the honour of joined the community at a firefighter charity concert raising funds for injured firefighters.

We enjoyed a wonderful performance by the East Cleveland Brass Band, who played a fantastic variety of music from well-known marching tunes and “Rule Britannia” to a lovely mix of Christmas pieces, including Christmas Festival and Somewhere Only We Know.

The audience also had the chance to choose a selection of carols to sing along with the band. Favourites included Silent Night, The Holly and the Ivy and many more.

Residents enjoyed refreshments, ice cream, and individually chosen sweets throughout the evening.

One resident shared: “It was great to hear such beautiful live music thank you for taking me.”

A massive thank you to everyone who supported the event. It was great to be part of the community and to meet so many wonderful people.

We were delighted to have ex-veteran Tracy join us to glitter our poppies and share memories about their history and meaning. 

The finished poppies are now on sale in Reception. All funds raised will go to the Royal British Legion.  

Mount Vale was filled with joy, colour and community spirit as resident Nancy celebrated her remarkable 101st birthday, surrounded by love from staff, fellow residents, family and the wider local community.

In the lead-up to the celebration, staff at Mount Vale invited the local community to help mark Nancy’s milestone by sending birthday cards. The response was overwhelming, with forty-one cards arriving to help make the day extra special.

A particularly touching moment came when children from Rosedene Nursery visited Nancy, bringing with them a birthday cake, a handmade card, colourful pictures created especially for her and some beautiful tulips for which she gave a fabulous tip for making them last longer. The visit brought smiles, laughter and a wonderful intergenerational atmosphere to the home.

The celebrations were made even sweeter thanks to local cake baker Olivia Wilkinson, from Olivia’s Cakes, who created a selection of beautiful cupcakes, to go alongside her main cake a classic Victoria sponge cake. Nancy’s favourite colour, blue, was thoughtfully woven into the day through decorations and cake details, adding a personal touch.

Staff and residents celebrated bringing in the New Year in style when the clock struck midnight this New Year’s Eve.  The homes New Year’s Eve party was in full swing with festive foods, dancing, and games. Residents enjoyed a festive feast prepared by head chef, Danny.

General Manager, Trudi Gillespie said: “Our residents love a party and New Year’s Eve has to be the best reason to stay up late and see in the New Year.  We’re all really excited to see what 2026 has to offer us all.”

What a wonderful day out! Trixie the trishaw took our residents on a lovely autumn ride around the local area golden leaves, crisp air and plenty of smiles all around.

As we pedalled through familiar streets, there were so many moments of reminiscing sharing stories of how things used to be, noticing the changes over the years and celebrating the memories tied to our community.

Getting outdoors and feeling part of the world beyond our walls is so important it lifts spirits, sparks conversation and reminds us just how special our local area is.

Here’s to many more rides with Trixie and more stories to share along the way!       

We were truly spoilt with a wonderful afternoon of festive fun and celebration. The children from South Otterington School filled the room with Christmas cheer as they sang beautiful carols, including The Twelve Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells.

The festivities continued with a variety of Christmas-themed activities, from a lively game of hoopla to creative gingerbread houses. There was plenty of singing and laughter and, of course, no Christmas party would be complete without a spirited game of Pass the Parcel.

Adding to the excitement was a surprise visit from the Grinch, which brought smiles, laughter, and plenty of photo opportunities. Residents, staff and families all joined in the festive spirit, proudly wearing their Christmas outfits and spreading seasonal cheer.

To round off the day, everyone came together for an indoor street party, enjoying some truly amazing food prepared by our talented chefs. It was a heart-warming celebration that brought everyone together and made the season feel extra special.

A massive thank you to Danny and Dana, our chefs, for the wonderful food and to all who came and helped on the day to make it a wonderful success.            

The Mount Vale Knit & Natter Community are picking up their knitting needles this November to support Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nursing charity. 

The group is taking part in the November Knitting Challenge, pledging to knit every day throughout the month to raise vital funds and awareness for families affected by dementia. 

Throughout the challenge, residents, families and staff at Mount Vale will be knitting poppies, scarves and squares that will be joined together to create a beautiful Mount Vale blanket; a symbol of warmth, care and community spirit.

Residents at Mount Vale Care Home in Northallerton were recently treated to a nostalgic journey through time when volunteers from the Wensleydale Railway visited from Leeming Bar Station to share stories from the golden age of rail travel.

Volunteers Christine and Bob delighted residents and staff alike with their captivating portrayals of Mr. and Mrs. Newton, the station master and his wife, who were part of the rich history of the Wensleydale line.

Christine stepped into character as Mrs. Elizabeth Newton, taking everyone back to the 1920s as she described life as a station master’s wife. She spoke about learning to sew from her father, a tailor, and how she made and sold handmade garments to local families.

Bob brought to life Mr. Matthew Newton, the dedicated station master who worked on the railway for an incredible 53 years before retiring. The visit also featured a display of vintage artefacts, including early washing equipment and old music devices, which sparked conversation and fond memories among residents.

Home Manager Trudi Gillespie said: “It was a wonderful afternoon full of stories, laughter, and memories. Our residents loved learning about the Wensleydale Railway and sharing their own recollections of train travel and life in years gone by. We’re so grateful to Christine and Bob for bringing history to life in such an engaging way.” The team at Mount Vale Care Home would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Christine and Bob, and to the Wensleydale Railway, for providing such an enjoyable and educational experience for everyone involved.