Staff and residents at Littleton Lodge care home in Cannock have gathered to mark the centenary celebrations of two important national institutions, The Royal British Legion and Soroptimist International.
Two magnolia trees have been planted in the garden at Littleton Lodge, on Bishop Street in Hednesford, one to commemorate the Royal British Legion’s centenary, and a second to mark 100 years of Soroptimist International.
Littleton Lodge, operated by Ideal Carehomes, is a residential and dementia care home.
The Mayor of Hednesford, Cllr Emma Hunneyball, Chairman of the Hednesford branch of the Royal British Legion, Bob Plumb, and Royal British Legion member, Cllr Sharon Jagger, attended a special ceremony at Littleton Lodge on Sunday 17thOctober to plant the Royal British Legion’s commemorative magnolia tree.
A lone bagpiper, Lyn Dickson, played as special guests, residents and care home staff gathered for the tree planting ceremony. The Mayor and Bob Plumb then made a short speech before planting the tree. Afterwards, guests were treated to an afternoon tea and were presented with thank you gifts by the care home team for attending the event.
During their visit, the Mayor’s children helped to scatter poppy seeds around the tree and in the care home’s poppy garden, which is full of handmade poppies made by Littleton Lodge residents.
On Tuesday 26thOctober, President of Cannock and District Soroptimist International, Jackie Prince, and Soroptimist volunteers June Bould, Trish Mellor, Lynne Tuckley and Adrienne Hewitt, attended a special centenary tree planting ceremony for their magnolia tree at Littleton Lodge.
Soroptimist International (SI) is a global volunteer movement that advocates for human rights and gender equality. Its members work on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential and have an equal voice in communities worldwide.
To celebrate its centenary, Soroptimist International has challenged all its local groups to plant 100 commemorative trees each. The organisation has created a centenary map which marks all the trees that have been planted for the celebration, including the date it was planted, the type of tree and which organisation donated the tree.
Home manager, Rachel Ellis, commented: “We are honoured to support both The Royal British Legion and Soroptimist International by donating and planting two magnolia trees in the gardens at Littleton Lodge.
“We chose magnolia trees because they will look absolutely stunning in the springtime and our residents will really enjoy them when they are out in the garden.
“It was a privilege to welcome the Mayor of Hednesford, and representatives from each organisation, to Littleton Lodge and we are proud to have played a small part in their national centenary celebrations.”