Activities at Ottley House Care Home

Ottley recently had a very special visitor – Santa and his little helpers! He came and said hello to everyone and gave out gifts to all the children who saw him in his grotto.

General Manager, Davina McLoughlin, said: "I want to thank all of our dedicated staff who braved the treacherous conditions and made it into work. It is at times like this that show what a wonderful team we have here who never let me or those we support down."

Joan is 97 years old and has lived at Ottley House since 2013, currently residing in our Memory Lane community. To quote Joan’s family: “she is beautifully cared for at Ottley and all the team give Joan every aspect of love, respect and care she deserves."

In July 2017, Joan’s daughter, Jane, was invited to be a guest at The Royal British Legion's Woman at War 100 Ceremony at the National Arboretum. This was because Jane had a full career serving with the army.

Preceding the ceremony remembering a century of women at war, the Royal British Legion asked attendees for their stories, or the stories of loved ones.

When war broke out, Joan's fiancée was shot down over the Atlantic. She joined the ATS in June 1943, when she would have been 23 years old. Around that time, she had a very bad car accident and broke her pelvis. She always said that she was given penicillin in the very early days of its development, only because she was in the army and believed that she may not have survived her injuries if it had not been for that fact.

After recovering from her accident, Joan was posted to the Military School of Intelligence at Smedley’s Hydro, Matlock in Derbyshire. Jane’s father, Denis, had also been in an accident whilst serving in India and, because of this, he returned to the UK to become the Chief Instructor at the Military School of Intelligence – and that is where they met, in 1944.

Joan’s main story from that time was from VE Day: the senior lady in charge of the girls wouldn’t let them party to celebrate the end of the war, so they partied on camp and Denis scaled the spire on the top of Smedley’s Hydro and placed a potty on top! Joan and Denis also used to recall the time Denis had to go into a room all alone and watch a highly sensitive film, which turned out to be about the Russians making vodka.

They married in 1946, had a long and happy marriage, which resulted in 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. 

Jane was in the army and also served in the Intelligence Corps. She feel that it is very important that, whilst her Mum now has no recollections, her generation and their experiences should be celebrated for their service, youth and beauty. And, of course, if she had not served and met Denis, none of the family would be around today.

Well done to Beverley Titley, who has been named as a 'Nurse of th Year' finalist at the Nursing Times Awards 2017. 

Ottley House recently celebrated 25 years of Barchester with a Hollywood Glitz and Glamour Afternoon.

Many staff and visitors really got into the theme of the day and dusted down their ball gowns and tuxedos.

The day was opened by Shrewsbury Town football mascot, Lennie the Lion, and all were welcomed with champagne and canapés on arrival.

Everyone was entertained by brilliant singer, Nicky Moran, before being served a delicious banquet.

We even had our own 'Oscars', with many deserving winners.

We have a new resident here at the home, 'Ottley' the Tortoise!

The residents and staff are very keen to learn all about 'Ottley' and everyone is getting involved with taking care of him. We'll have some more updates on him soon!