With celebrations across the country for the queen’s 90th birthday, it was only natural that residents of both our nursing homes were looking forward to marking the occasion.
We couldn’t organise street parties for them, but we did lay on a weekend of festivities, with the lounges at both St Catherine’s and Holy Cross decked out with flags, bunting and pictures of the queen looking back across the whole 90 years.
The birthday parade in London on Saturday was watched on the big screens at both homes, with family and friends invited along for a buffet lunch and to raise a glass. Party-goers at Holy Cross were also treated to live music from Lisa Laidler, who closed her show by leading everyone in a rousing rendition of “God save the queen”.
Everyone was welcomed back on Sunday to watch the party in The Mall and enjoy afternoon refreshments.
Many of our residents are of the same generation as the queen so there was plenty of reminiscing about growing up in the early years of the last century and wartime experiences.