Celebrated on 25th January, Burns Night is a ceremonial gathering in honour of the celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns. Typically involving the consumption of whisky and haggis, the event was celebrated by OSJCT homes in Oxfordshire whose residents truly got into the spirit of the occasion.

Marston Court Care Home in Oxford invited Steve Duffy, Her Majesty’s Major Piper, to address their haggis, and residents enjoyed poetry readings and Scottish dancing including a demonstration of the Highland Fling. The duly addressed haggis was then enjoyed with neeps and tatties for their Scottish-themed lunch.

Along with whisky and haggis tasting, Burns’ poetry was also enjoyed by residents at Madley Park Care Home in Witney, while employees and residents at Larkrise Care Home in Banbury were dressed in their best tartan for the day. Residents at Larkrise also got creative and painted pictures of the Highlands while sampling some delicious Scottish shortbread.

At Westgate Care Home in Wallingford, residents enjoyed a wee dram of whisky while one of the home’s multi-talented and fully-kilted carers, Jon, addressed the luncheon haggis whilst playing the bagpipes. Residents later enjoyed a poetry reading and hearing a wee history of Burns night itself.

There was a wide variety of questions asked over four rounds, with one round called “closest answer wins”, in which the answers were either huge numbers or outrageously exact, so an educated guess was often the only solution.

There were six teams, including the “Coombenders”, comprising  Coombe End’s Home Manager - Amanda Palfrey, Head of Care - Kelly Edwards and their families.  Resident Caroline Gregory also joined the fun.  However, it was not the “Coombenders’”night, having achieved first place in the opening two rounds, they ended up coming last.  Better luck next time!

After a very enjoyable night, it was “The Moonrakers” who emerged in the lead and won the £100 cash first prize, which they very generously donated back to the home.

Thank you to all who attended the quiz and to the Ukulele Group for a very lively performance.  Thanks also to the Coombe End team who helped to cook, serve and clean up.  The night raised a total of £161 for the residents’ amenity fund.

The home looks forward to hosting another successful event soon.  For dates and information about upcoming events at Coombe End, please visit https://www.osjct.co.uk/coombeendcourt/. 

The aim of the event is to fundraise for the home’s amenities pot but for also The Churn Project in Cirencester which offers support to the most vulnerable people in the area to help improve their well-being.

The static bike in the home was host to several keen cyclists supporting the fundraising cause. These included Dan Hayes, the CEO of OSJCT, county area operations director Chris Bamford, Swindon Wheelers cycling group and they were joined by employees at the home, friends and family of the residents and the local community. Everyone took turns to cycle on the bike over the 24-hour period. There was also a ‘guess the miles cycled’ competition with a spa voucher donated by DeVere Cotswold Water Park Hotel.

Mandi Short, Home Manager at The Lakes, comments: “This event has been very well-received with lots of enthusiasm and is also helping to raise valuable funds for the residents to partake in various interesting activities and excursions. These all provide new experiences, engagement and interaction for the residents and it is wonderful to see them enjoying these events”.

Present on the same day as the cycling took place was a dementia friends representative in the café at the home. The Orders of St John Care Trust welcome family carers and the community into the home and are always happy to provide information, advice and support.

For more information on The Churn Project, please view: http://www.churnproject.org.uk.

Residents wrapped up warmly and took to the ice, some for the very first time.

Jan Matthews, Activities Coordinator at The Meadows, said: “Age should not be a barrier when it comes to trying new experiences. Some of our residents had expressed an interest in trying ice skating and it seemed like a good choice at this time of year. The ice rink is good at making skating accessible for all and our residents couldn’t get enough of the ice! They were asking to go faster and then afterwards we warmed up with a nice hot drink.”

The residents of The Meadows were pleased to welcome the new year with a new hobby under their belt to take into 2019.

Glitz and gold could be found in abundance at this year’s event and we were delighted to welcome Cllr Andy Geddes, Mayor of Devizes and his lady Mayoress and wife, Chrisie. Mrs Hailey, Avonbourne Care Centre’s famous resident was in attendance, at 107 years young she said: “It was a wonderful day, I really enjoyed the disco.”

Residents and OSJCT staff were treated to a two-course Christmas meal, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  The fun did not stop there, as it was then time for the much-anticipated disco and the music quiz; the joint winners of the quiz were Brookside and Seymour House.

The party really got started as residents and staff took to the dance floor. Fantastic music from different eras was played for all to enjoy. As glitzy and glamorous residents filled the dance floor, it was clear that the residents could teach a thing or two to our younger members of staff about how to do the twist.

The atmosphere continued to heat up as the winners were announced of the ‘design an advent calendar’ competition.  In the true spirit of Christmas, everyone got a chance to vote for their favourite.  The winners were:

• 1st place – Willowcroft (28 votes)
• 2nd place – Seymour House (27 votes)
• 3rd place – Athelstan House (20 votes)
• Highly Commended – The Cedars (14 votes)

A huge thank you to all the volunteers and the OSJCT team who were involved in this event.  It was truly a day to remember and residents are still talking about how much fun they had.

The health and care system are where Sian began her career working as a Bank Auxiliary Nurse at Moreton Hospital 21 years ago. Sian returned to college to complete her studies to fully train as a Nurse but personal circumstances prevented her from continuing with the course. However, opportunities and employee recognition at The Orders of St John’s Care Trust enabled Sian to progress from housekeeper to Deputy Home Manager.

Sian commenced her career at OSJCT in 2009 as a Housekeeper at another OSJCT home and thereafter applied for the Head Housekeeper vacancy and secured this position. In March next year Sian will reach her 10-year anniversary with the Trust.

To further her career development, Sian applied for a role as a Carer at the home whilst still working as Head Housekeeper. This role allowed Sian to enjoy a new relationship with residents and steered her to taking on a full-time role as a Carer at OSJCT Jubilee Lodge.  Sian continued to work at OSJCT Jubilee Lodge for 4 years and in that time she progressed from Carer to Relief Care Leader to Care Leader and then to Unit Leader. 

In 2016, Sian was asked by OSJCT to go on secondment as a Deputy Manager to Windsor Street Care Home in Cheltenham; one of the Trust’s biggest homes that cares for 81 residents. In 2017 she applied for the role of Deputy Manager at Edwardstow Court and was successful.  Sian is now completing her Level 5 in Health and Social Care to enable her to progress to a Manager’s position within the Trust. 

Sian Howse comments: “I have always been the kind of person who really likes to make a difference to people’s lives. This is why I know the care industry is for me.  I really believe in the Trust’s values and grateful for the opportunities that arose, which is also why I have never thought about leaving The Orders of St John Care Trust.” 

Mr. Hanley and the student choir gave all of us at Grace Care Centre a real treat this festive month, with some very popular Christmas songs few added animations and lots of energy in each. A lot of practice and work must have gone into this and it really showed. It is amazing that these young people came to our home and remembered residents by name from their last visit; as well as spending the time after their performance speaking to residents and staff.

Following suit our activities team here at Grace rolled out a trolley full of treats and goodies for each student to enjoy; as well as dipping into ‘Santa’s Bag’ for some present the ‘BIG’ man sent us for this visit.

Music is a very powerful tool in this world! “The smiles and laughter of the students was lovely, weren’t they brilliant” said one resident.

From all of us here at Grace Care Centre, we would like to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Please see and follow our Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/GraceCareCentre/ ) for future events as well as some great photos and videos

Dasher and Comet, two reindeer from Claydon Christmas Tree Farm in nearby Steeple Claydon, brought festive cheer to Langford View during their visit. Many of the residents had never seen reindeer before and remarked at how magical the animals were.

Father Christmas gave out presents that were organised by Home Instead Senior Care who run a gift giving scheme called ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ and acquired the presents through the kind donation of the local Tesco store.

It was very much a community occasion: local families came along with their children who gave out chocolates to the residents and there were carols and mince pies to round off a very festive event.

Farida Ait-Tales, Langford View Home Manager, commented: “We were so happy to have the reindeer visit us. The sheer joy on the residents’ faces was wonderful to see. Here at OSJCT we like to create an environment of engaging and memorable experiences for our residents. The residents were able to stroke the reindeer and feed them. It was also so nice to see the community drop in and join in on the event. It was a much-enjoyed lovely morning for all.”

If you would like to be kept up-to-date with all the goings on and latest events at Langford View, please do follow the home on Facebook.

Charlie first stopped by the lounge area where he met some of the residents, including David (a former banqueting manager at the Dorchester hotel in London) for a well-earned carrot or two. He then trotted off down the corridor - accompanied by his handler - to meet those residents who weren't able to get to the lounge.

We were delighted to welcome the local media into the home to capture all of the fun for posterity.  Leanne Sims, Activity Coordinator at the home, was interviewed live on BBC Radio Wiltshire in the morning, and then later by ITV West Country News where she spoke passionately about how animal therapy enriches the lives of residents, particularly those with dementia.

If you would like to see Charlie in action - follow the link here: Charlie spreads Christmas cheer

After an eventful morning, residents waved goodbye to Charlie -  but he has promised to come back again at  Easter for more carrots and cuddles!

Each week they have acted out an instalment of their murder mystery, which saw the residents travel the route of the famous train as they hunt for clues to solve the case of a grisly murder. This was accompanied by a themed lunch to represent each of the countries they would visit along their hunt; a truly immersive experience.

Week 1

November 8th, 1930 - The body of Head of Care, Paul Feddery was found at the foot of the stairs. This was an untimely demise and the residents suspected foul play. Enter Captain Hastings, played by Home Manager Jamie Carter. As a good friend of Mr Hercule Poirot, he investigates the grisly scene and finds a clue: a torn ticket to the Moulin Rouge dated one week prior. Captain Hastings hot-foots it to Victoria Station and catches the next available train to Paris: The Orient Express.

Residents enjoyed a London themed lunch of roast dinner followed by jam roly-poly and custard.

Week 2

The residents arrive in Paris which is still gripped by the frenzy of the roaring 20s and the Gatsby era of the 30s. The Moulin Rouge is filled with flappers and gangsters listening to Jazz and watching the Charleston. The residents stay for the show. Captain Hastings interrogates suspicious people in the crowds he reaches the dancers and asks them if they know anything from the night in question. One of the dancers, played by Head Housekeeper Jeanette, seems frightened and is reluctant to answer the Captain’s questions. Just as he moves to interrogate her she grips her stomach and falls to the ground; at the hospital it is discovered that she has been poisoned! The last thing she ate was Emmental cheese and at the hospital, she tells Captain Hastings that she received it in a hamper from her aunt in Lausanne, Switzerland; the next destination

Residents enjoyed lunch of Boeuf Bourguignon and Crème Brûleé.

Week 3

The residents arrive in Switzerland and Captain Hastings travels to visit the aunt of the dancer who was poisoned the week before, hoping for some more clues. The home is empty as he approaches but a dark shadow of a figure seems to be watching him. As he searches her home he spots two Venetian masks on the table; Masquerade masks and an invitation to a masquerade ball. The date of the ball is one week from today.

Residents enjoyed a lunch of beef in mushroom sauce with vegetable gratin. Later they sampled a selection of swiss cheeses and chocolates.

Week 4

The residents arrive in Venice and they enter the masquerade ball. Behind their masks, Captain Hastings and the residents blend in with the guests. The Captain surveys the crowd. He spots ‘the Siren’ dancing the tango, seduced, he joins her and together they do the dance of jealousy. When the music fades the captain grabs her hands to ask some questions, but she slips away into the crowd, but she leaves behind a clue: her purse. Inside he finds a vial of holy water and a silver crucifix.

The residents enjoyed a lunch of moussaka or Pizza Venetia.

Week 5

The residents arrive in Belgrade: Vampire County! The captain stumbles upon the same group of dancers as he’d seen the week before in Venice, dressed as vampires. Hastings thinks he is getting close to the truth of the murder of the Head of Care, but he needs an interpreter to speak to a male dancer. Captain Hastings recognises The Siren and overcome with passion the two dance together once more. The male dancer is visibly jealous of the pair and before Hastings has time to interrogate him he slips away, heading for the train.

Residents enjoyed a lunch of spicy kebab or chicken stew

Week 6 – The Finale

Residents find themselves aboard the Orient Express headed for Athens. Captain Hastings is searching the carriages looking for the male dancer. As the train enters the station a dark figure leaps from the train and charges away with Captain Hastings in hot pursuit. He wrestles with the stranger and pulls off his hat and scarf to reveal none other than Chris, Brookside’s Handyman! Captain Hasting helps the police to apprehend him and he is placed under arrest.

So the murderer is revealed. After a confession from Chris, Captain Hastings explains that Chris was fed up with painting, gardening, fixing things and being told what to do. He didn’t mean to kill the Head of Care but he had questioned his whereabouts the week before when he should have been at work and wasn’t; because he had been to watch the love of his life, The Siren, perform at the Moulin Rouge. The Head of Care had found the ticket and wanted to know how he could afford a trip to Paris on a Handyman’s wage! He said that he had been moonlighting as a chef in a restaurant to earn extra cash. The two had argued and the Head of Care attempted to give Chris a formal warning about his behaviour. He stormed past the Head of Care but bumped into him and he stumbled. Chris tried to catch him but he fell and so he met his end. Chris was scared and so he fled to his love, but she rejected him. In fear of returning to Brookside he caught the train to Athens to be with his Mama, she would know what to do.

The case is cracked.