Activities at The Cedars Bourne Care Home

Ron had a very special visitor this morning. Bourne Mayor Anna Kelly and Town Clarke Ian Sismey presented Ron with framed official photographs from last week's Remembrance Day Memorial Service.

Bomber Command Veteran Ronald Priest (100) was honoured to be asked to lay a wreath at the town memorial service on Sunday.

Ronald Priest worked in accountancy before the war and then served as a rear gunner, flying twenty five operations with 149 Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, in a Stirling Aircraft. He describes the aircraft as very reliable. It had four engines but it couldn’t get much height- it could only go 10-12,000 feet maximum.  During the war he had many life changing experiences- including a crash landing; dogfights over the North Sea and witnessing a plane crash.

His last flight was in 1946, when he was injured in battle. He recalls: ‘When I landed that last time and I was getting out of the turret, my co-pilot asked what was wrong with my eye. I said nothing? He said ‘it’s a ball of blood’. The paramedics came to see me and there were two pieces of metal in my eye. I was in Ely hospital for two weeks. They got the metal out with a giant magnet that they lowered onto my head. I was very lucky because there was no damage to my eye!’

As well as marking Remembrance Day by wearing poppies and watching the televised service from The Cenotaph, residents were also entertained by local vocalist Nicky Downes, who performed wartime classics on Armistice Day.

Residents and staff got into the spirit of things decorating the home with handmade Halloween decorations, before hosting a Halloween Party and Fancy-Dress Competition with the local community. Visitors from local nurseries and the wider community; as well as friends and family of residents and staff enjoyed spooky biscuits and cupcakes prepared by home chef Gee Jowett before participating in themed games and dancing to the best Halloween songs.

The Cedars Care Home in Bourne commemorated Remembrance Day on Sunday 13 November. Bomber Command Veteran Ronald Priest (100) was honoured to be asked to lay a wreath at the town memorial service on Sunday.

Ronald Priest worked in accountancy before the war and then served as a rear gunner, flying twenty five operations with 149 Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, in a Stirling Aircraft. He describes the aircraft as very reliable. It had four engines but it couldn’t get much height- it could only go 10-12,000 feet maximum.  During the war he had many life changing experiences- including a crash landing; dogfights over the North Sea and witnessing a plane crash.

Staff and residents at The Cedars Care Home in Bourne celebrated Bonfire Night with a bang this November 3rd when they gathered together to watch a fantastic firework display, expertly run by Head Of Maintenance Andy Vaughn. Residents and their sixty- four visitors then stayed to enjoy hot, fresh donuts provided by Paula’s Street Food, along with a hot chocolate.

Bonfire Night commemorates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot when fourteen individuals tried to blow up the House of Lords during the state opening of Parliament on November 5th 1605. 

Barchester’s The Cedars Care Home, in Bourne was a den of ghoulish activity as the home’s spooky Halloween party got in to full swing.  Residents and staff got in to the spirit of things decorating the home with handmade Halloween decorations, before hosting a Halloween Party and Fancy Dress Competition with the local community. Visitors from local nurseries and the wider community; as well as friends and family of residents and staff enjoyed spooky biscuits and cupcakes prepared by home chef Gee Jowett before participating in themed games and dancing to the best Halloween songs.