100-year-old World War II veteran, Chares Barnes who lives at Haywood Lodge care home in Studley, visited children at Mappleborough Green CofE School to share his memories of the of the war.
Charles was called to service in 1944 when he was 20 years old. He spent weeks training and was first shipped to Bombay. Charles travelled to several places during his time serving in the war before ending up on the front line in Burmah.
For Charles, D-Day was ‘like any other on the front lines’, but when he finally returned home from the war, he learned of the Normandy Landings on 6th June 1944, where his close friend had been killed in action. Charles said,
‘I watched the D-Day celebrations on television and saw the street parties that took place. That was a normal day fighting on the front lines where I was.’
When Charles shared his experiences in the war with the school children, he and his fellow Haywood Lodge resident Ann, who remembers listening to the D-Day announcements over the radio, where overwhelmed by how intently the children listened to the stories.
Charles continued, ‘I found our visit to the school very emotional. One boy came and shook my hand to show his respect. I just hope that those children never have to go through a war like we did.’
After the visit, the residents and staff members at Haywood Lodge invited the Studley community to the home for a celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and to commemorate its fallen soldiers.
Georgia Cooney, the Home Manager at Haywood Lodge, said, ‘Our D-Day remembrance celebrations were filled with song, dance and community spirit. Children from three local schools made poppied to hang around our home, which look beautiful and mean a lot to our residents.
‘Thank you to everyone who came along and made the day so special.’
On Sunday 30th June, Haywood Lodge will be hosting a Kids Car Boot Sale, run by local children who want to sell their old toys. Homemade refreshments will be provided by the Haywood Lodge kitchen team.
To find out more or reserve a stall, call 01527 911 005 or email Haywood.lodge@idealcarehomes.co.uk.
Haywood Lodge is a purpose-built luxury residential and dementia care home operated by Ideal Carehomes. With 66 ensuite bedrooms, the home provides person-centred care and a
full and varied activities programme. Ideal Carehomes were named a Top 20 Care Home Group for the fourth time by carehome.co.uk.