Activities at South Chowdene Care Home

Avid book reader Edna was overjoyed to meet a real life author at Birtley Library to find out about her books set in the North East.

The latest book is about an area Edna knows well and it was amazing to hear about how a novel is put together and the research behind the stories. Both Maureen and Edna were interested to hear about Glenda Young’s previous novels about ‘Corrie’ and her regular soap in ‘People’s Friend’ We had a lovely afternoon out with local community.

We were very happy to welcome Karen and Michael back from Gateshead Central Library for a look through the photos of Gateshead during WW2. There were some great memories and a lot of learning going on with detailed explanations on the back of pictures and Karen and Michael’s huge knowledge of Local History.

Michael had put a Wartime Musical Bingo together giving everyone a good singalong and the anticipation of winning a prize.

Three residents have been asking to visit Gateshead Library and the Shipcote area for a while now and we have been waiting for the weather so that we could have a good look around. At last we have succeeded in getting Val back to the library she worked in for a year in 1956 where she told us how the reception desk was set out and what all the different areas used to be used for. She had a great time chatting with the librarians and telling them about what she did and how books used to be stamped and filed and mended. She was quite overwhelmed at the new Reference area which she told us used to be downstairs and all residents very much enjoyed a look around the art exhibition in the new exhibition area.

We also saw the entrance where Maureen would go into Shipcote Baths where she got her Bronze swimming Award. This entrance is no longer in use but we had a look at the newly opened Gateshead Leisure Centre and managed to get to see the very pool in which Maureen had success and a lot of fun.

As we walked around the Shipcote area, all three ladies told us about what buildings used to be and took interest in what they are used for now. They told us what used to happen where and about the T.A. Centre, the Grammar School, the Jewish University and the Council Buildings.

Residents across our services enjoyed a fantastic virtual tour of The Deep, an award-winning aquarium in Hull.

Our residents dived into the underwater world of some fascinating creatures such as sharks, turtles and stingrays.

It was a truly immersive and educational experience that brought the wonders of the ocean right to our screens.

South Chowdene hosted their annual Summer Fair with a variety of activities throughout the day, including raffle, tombola, bric a brac, sweet and wax melt stalls as well as live entertainment from Dave Brewis, which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event.Family, friends, residents and staff sang and danced along to Dave’s eclectic mix, after which summer themed refreshments were on hand to revive and ensure everyone could continue enjoying the atmosphere and generational fun.

Whether you’re a die-hard Digestive fan, a Ginger Nut, or go crazy for a Custard Cream, National Biscuit Day, celebrated on May 29th, is the perfect day for you. And it was certainly a day of fun-filled biscuit dunking for the staff and residents here at the home.

To mark the celebration of the nation’s favourite biscuits, residents tucked into a variety of different options, which of course, were paired with a good old cup of tea.  There was much fun to be had taking part in a biscuit quiz, making gluten free oat biscuits and peanut butter cookies - and of course tasting them!.