York care home residents celebrate Queen’s Jubilee with a big family street party

Residents at Ebor Court care home in York have been reminiscing about the Queen’s Coronation during a weekend full of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

On Saturday, care home staff organised a Jubilee street party so that residents could celebrate with their families and enjoy refreshments and entertainment.

During the day, residents, along with their families and the care team all enjoyed a traditional buffet style lunch with scones, themed cupcakes and trifles provided by the care home’s chefs, Ian and Stuart. This was all washed down with a special jubilee punch and plenty of cups of tea.

Home manager, Shane Talbot, said: “The jubilee celebrations were a chance for our residents to put the past two years behind them and to join other residents and families for a big celebration. For some of our residents, it was a chance to reunite with loved ones that they hadn’t seen since before the pandemic.”

The care team at Ebor Court had been planning the celebration for weeks. Residents got involved in making all the bunting and flags and the care team sourced raffle prizes from local businesses leading up to the event. The main thing they wanted was for families and residents to celebrate all together once again.

Lifestyle manager, Susie Carman, said: “We loved getting everything ready and our staff and residents were all very excited. Some of the residents reminisced about their own experiences of previous Jubilees and of the Queen’s Coronation Day so it was wonderful hearing all their stories.”

One resident, Arthur, remembers on that day in 1952 as a young nineteen-year-old, watching The Coronation on a neighbour’s 9” black and white television. He said: “We didn’t have a television of our own so all of the neighbours in the street crowded around this tiny little square to watch it. It was one or two people in those days who had a television, not everybody could afford to get one.”

Another resident, Connie, added: “I remember seeing the Queen on her Coronation Day with Prince Phillip. They were such a handsome couple. Her dress was beautiful and her crown looked lovely.”

The day also included some of the songs from the 1950’s sung by singer, Janette Rose, and carer, Helen Martin, did lots of Jubilee themed face painting for staff, families and residents.

Home manager Shane added: “Everyone agreed that the party was a great success and we all raised a glass to toast Her Majesty’s incredible seventy years on the throne. It was lovely to see families celebrating together again and I am so pleased that our residents enjoyed it, so it’s been a very special weekend!

“I was told by a daughter of one of our residents that we are like one big happy family here at Ebor Court and that made me feel very proud as a manager.”

Ebor Court care home, on Great North Way in Nether Poppleton, is a purpose-built luxury care home operated by Ideal Carehomes. Close to local services and amenities, it is rated good by the Care Quality Commission.

For more information, call 01904 782 708, email ebor.court@idealcarehomes.co.uk or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk