With the help of the local community and the Mayoress of Romsey, Cllr Celia Dowden, the activities team at Woodley Grange Care Home in Romsey pulled out all the stops to take residents on a trip down memory lane with a traditional street party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Woodley Grange activities coordinator, Erica Orchard, said: “Seventy years on, many of our residents still remember watching the Coronation on their TVs (if they were lucky to have one) or listening to it on the radio. We wanted to help recreate some of these special memories as well as create new ones to commemorate this momentous occasion in history. The Silver Jubilee is a huge memory from my childhood. I was ten at the time and we had a street party to celebrate. My brother and his friends had a jazz band, and they played all afternoon and evening. My dad made a special throne, with wigs and crowns and other props, as a photo booth. When I started planning our street party this is what I had in mind. It was such a happy event, and so memorable!”
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Erica and the team at Woodley Grange decorated the home in red, white and blue and were joined by the Mayoress of Romsey, Cllr Celia Dowden, who officially opened the street party, as well as residents’ family members and local neighbours. Guests were treated to an afternoon of games and entertainment from local signer, Mike Sideway, a royal-themed photobooth and a pop-up bar run by neighbouring pub, Hunters Inn.
The residents had a fantastic time, one said: “It was the best day ever. The music, the food and the decorations were all fantastic”. Another said: “It was a very lovely day indeed – what an amazing thing to do!”
Woodley Grange’s registered manager, Liliana Macieira, said: “We would like to thank the families and local residents who joined us for this truly special event, it was great to celebrate together. Also, a special thanks go to Mayoress Cllr Celia Dowden, Mike Sideway and Hunters Inn for making the day so memorable.”
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