Innovative chair reduces number of hospital visits
A HOMECARE provider is seeing huge benefits after introducing an innovative piece of equipment to help clients who have fallen.
Westmorland Homecare’s South Lakeland branch, which is based in Kendal, has incorporated the use of the Raizer, a lifting chair, into its care practices.
“This year alone the Raizer has been successfully utilised more than 25 times, significantly reducing the need for ambulance calls and subsequent hospital visits,” said the branch’s recruitment coordinator Jack Monopoli.
“This very much aligns with one of Westmorland Homecare’s main aims, which is to reduce strain on the NHS. The Raizer has proved to be an invaluable tool in ensuring our clients’ swift recovery from falls, thereby enhancing their overall safety and well-being.”
He said a testament to the Raizer’s effectiveness had come from the son of a client, who said: “It’s been a big help. When she is on her feet she can move about and walk around using her walker, but the difficulty is when she goes down, even when uninjured and fine, she finds it impossible to get up.
“The Raizer makes a difference because she can be safely and easily lifted up by two carers, reducing the need for an ambulance or the hospital. Westmorland Homecare has become the first point of call for falls and the staff are brilliant on every occasion when we’ve met them.”
Jack added: “Our commitment to providing top-notch care for our clients is unwavering.
“One of the critical areas we focus on is fall management, particularly in reducing the time our clients spend on the floor after a fall. Falls can have severe consequences, especially for elderly people, and timely assistance is crucial.
“The quick response and efficient use of the Raizer by our skilled caregivers ensure that our clients do not suffer the detrimental effects of prolonged immobility after a fall.”
He said research underscored the importance of reducing the time spent on the floor following a fall.
“More than one hour spent on the floor following a fall is known as a ‘long lie’, and longlies are associated with serious complications, including pressure sores, dehydration, hypothermia, pneumonia, and acute kidney failure (Rhabdomyolysis).
“By using the Raizer, Westmorland Homecare effectively mitigates these risks, providing timely assistance and ensuring better health outcomes for our clients.
“Our proactive approach in adopting such advanced equipment exemplifies our dedication to highquality care and the well-being of those we serve.”
He said the client’s son’s feedback highlighted the Raizer’s role in not only providing physical assistance but also offering peace of mind to Westmorland Homecare’s clients and their families.
Ashton Court in Newcastle-upon-Tyne hosted an event that brought a touch of nature to its residents. Gosling Raptors, an organisation renowned for its work with birds of prey, visited the care home, introducing the residents to a group of owls. Home manager Valerie McLoughlin said: “Our residents thoroughly enjoyed meeting the owls. It’s not every day that you get to interact with such magnificent creatures up close. The presence of these birds sparked numerous conversations and introduced our residents to something they’ve never experienced before.” The owls brought to Ashton Court included several different species, each with its unique characteristics.
Time is running out for entries
OPERATORS wanting to put themselves forward for recognition have been urged to enter the Caring UK Awards in partnership with Virgin Money.
Nominations for this year’s event are now open at www.caringukawards. co.uk
The awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with Caring UK, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the care industry.
And with more than 20 categories up for grabs, there’s something to suit every type of care business.
These include everything from Quality in Housekeeping and Catering Team of the Year to Best Outdoor Environment and End of Life Team of the Year.
Event director Dominic Musgrave said: “We are really excited to be introducing the seventh Caring UK
Awards – nominations are coming in and our events team is already busy ensuring that this year’s event is bigger and better than ever.
“Obviously, our main aim is to recognise and honour the best in our wonderful care sector and showcase the innovation and dedication that goes on every day so please share your successes and tell us about your hard work and initiatives by sending in your nominations … it’s a real privilege to read them.”
A shortlist in each category will then be drawn up, with winners chosen by an expert industry panel.
Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday, December 5 presented by television personality Emma Jesson. Closing date for nominations is September 2nd.
Roo wins Best in Show at event
A GOLDEN Retriever called Roo has taken the title of ‘Best in Show’ at Westall House, a residential care home for older people in Heathfields run by Abbeyfield.
The dog show, which was the brainchild of activities coordinator Lynn Mayfield, brought together the residents, their families, staff, volunteers and their canine companions to compete for a variety of different awards.
She said: “Our residents love to get engaged in all sorts of activities and events, and they love it when animals – especially dogs – come to visit us. This was a great opportunity to bring many of their favourite dogs together in one place for a fun event.
“Many of our residents live with some form of dementia, and interaction with animals is proven to have a positive effect for these people, helping to alleviate stress, rekindle old memories and kickstart conversations.”
Parading in front of the watchful and impartial eye of renowned dog trainer Debbie Mullen, whose niece Mel Parsons is a receptionist at the home, the pets vied for titles including ‘Waggiest Tail’, ‘Precious Pup’, ‘Golden Oldie’, and even ‘Dog That Looks Most Like Its Owner’.
The winners of each category were entered for the ‘Best in Show’ award, which was won by Roo and his handler Jenny Virtue.
Jenny and Roo are regular visitors to Westall House. As well as brining Roo in for cuddles with the residents, she has been helping out with the home’s popular monthly coffee mornings for more than a decade.
“A lot of work was involved in
putting on the show,” added Jenny, “especially moving it inside at the last moment due to the bad weather, and it was a huge success.
“It goes without saying that I was proud of Roo winning Best in Show, particularly because she is quite wellknown at Westall House. The judge was most kind about her.”
Those attending the show were served Pimm’s and lemonade and a card games stall was also operated, while younger visitors enjoyed an arts and crafts session. A raffle was also held in aid of the local Young Carers group in Burgess Hill, which the home regularly supports, raising £85.
The dog show is just one of the range of activities that Lynn puts on for the residents, and planned upcoming occasions include a one-day music festival featuring a variety of local performers of all ages, and a miniOlympics, which will involve some dog-based events.
Home’s virtual world cruise celebrates diverse cultures
A SPECIALIST dementia nursing home set sail on a mini-virtual world cruise which saw its residents celebrate different cultures, cuisines and activities.
Wren Hall in Selston treated its residents to a week full of adventure through ‘SS Wren’, its virtual cruise ship which docked in five countries, at a different location every day.
Anita Astle MBE, managing director of Wren Hall, said: “We’re dedicated to providing engaging activities for our residents, and the virtual cruise is just one of them.
“It allowed us to bring the world to our home, offering daily mental stimulation through diverse cultures and activities. Everyone had great fun throughout the week, and we saw a real positive impact on the residents’ mood and wellbeing.”
The cruise saw residents and staff immerse themselves in the lifestyle, food and activities of Zimbabwe, England, Ireland, India and Nigeria.
The home leveraged the knowledge of its diverse and inclusive workforce
to teach residents about the different countries and cultures.
Nikita Chifamba, a senior member of staff, shared his experience of Zimbabwe, where he was born and grew up before moving to the UK to pursue a nursing career.
And sisters Jincy and Rose Antony, who both attended a service held by King Charles II to celebrate the contribution of international nurses to the UK’s health and social care sector, taught them about India, where they emigrated from in 2003.
On the final day, a group of senior care assistants joined forces to share all the wonderful things about their home country, Nigeria.
During the week, Wren Hall also hosted its monthly Wren’s Nest, whereby the home provides a special restaurant-like experience with food, table decorations and waiter service.
Known as the ‘Captain’s Table’ for this particular occasion, the five-star service replicating that of a luxury cruise ship, was a bucket list wish of one of the residents.
Construction set to begin on new supported living house expansion
A CEREMONY was held to mark the start of the construction of five new build flats as an addition to the assisted supporting living home for older people at Pilcher’s Field, Crapstone, owned and operated by the independent Abbeyfield Buckland Monachorum Society Limited.
The Society currently operates a 10-apartment supported living home in the village of Crapstone and parish of Buckland Monachorum, north of Plymouth. The first original Abbeyfield Home in the parish opened in 1974, and on completion of the additional flats the Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The current Pilcher’s Field Home was purpose built in 1992 and then re-developed, extended and improved in 2014 to give more space in the apartments and ensuite facilities, together with additional communal space.
The construction of the five additional flats will help meet the demand for supported living accommodation for older people in West Devon.
Ken Farnham, ABMS chairman said, “It is a great achievement that we can meet an increasing demand within
our community, in providing assisted supported living in a way to help people live as independently as they can in their own home with a tenancy agreement and at the same time supported in their day-to-day tasks.”
In 1999 the Society bought an adjacent plot of land with a view to increasing the number of available apartments.
This part of the project was taken forward 18 years later with the
commission of a new building design and planning permission granted. Progress was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the demands on the construction industry immediately afterwards meant that the Society did not have the opportunity to send out tender documentation to potential contractors, apply for grant funding, or put in place agreement for Charity Bank funding until late 2023.
The contractor took possession of the site at the end of March 2024 and completion is anticipated in early 2025.
Abdul A Ravat, head of development and relationships at Abbeyfield Living Society, added: “ALS is delighted to support the Abbeyfield Buckland Monachorum Society with this exciting expansion at Pilcher’s Field, which will help to address the critical need for new affordable homes for older people, especially in rural parts of the county.
“We are pleased to have been able to secure grant funding from Homes England, through our status as an investment partner, and to provide ongoing expert advice on how to maximise this opportunity for growth and achieve the best outcomes for the local population.
“The new apartments will increase the available, tangible options for potential residents and their families as to where they can spend their later life in comfort and security, without the need to move far from the local villages, which will in turn enable them to maintain their existing connections with family and friends in the area.”
Group’s latest £13m care home opens
OAKLAND Care has officially opened its latest care home, Osbern Manor.
The 72-bed facility in Wigmore, Kent, is the 10th to open in the business’ growing portfolio across the South East and London.
The new £13m care home will offer fully equipped accommodation and amenities such as café bistro, hair salon, activity room, library, quiet lounges, courtyard, and landscaped gardens.
It is also certified ‘Excellent’ by BREEAM in line with the operator’s green mission as a carbon neutral care home group.
To mark the occasion an official launch event took place, with residents, their families and several notable local dignitaries in attendance.
This included the armed forces veteran and Deputy Lieutenant Brigadier, Andrew Wood TD VR DL, who officiated the event, and Mayor of Medway, Councillor Marian Nestorov, and the Mayoress.
Chief executive officer Joanne Balmer BEM said: “To officially open our 10th care home is a major milestone for Oakland Care and one we are incredibly proud of.
“Osbern Manor is an excellent care home that has been carefully designed to meet our exceptional standards and our environmental
ambitions as the greener choice of care home group in the UK.
“It expands our ability to deliver outstanding care to residents across Wigmore and Kent. This achievement is testament to the excellent work of everybody across Oakland Care who has helped build our reputation as a leading care home provider wellrecognised for the support we provide to our residents and their families.”
Guests then enjoyed singing from vocalists and local pupils from Fairview Community Primary School.
Following a ribbon cutting, attendees then had the opportunity to step inside and take a tour around the new care home, before enjoying ice cream from Simply Ice Cream, who brought their van along for the day.
The opening of Osbern Manor comes during a major month for Oakland Care, with the start of construction on their eleventh care home in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
The 75-bedroom home is their most innovative and sustainable to date and will be 100 per cent powered by electricity and will also include a wildlife garden area to promote and support biodiversity.
Meanwhile, next month will also see the care home provider mark their 10-year anniversary with celebrations planned across all their homes for the memorable moment.
Matron Helen’s memories come flooding back
TREASURED childhood memories have come flooding back for Helen Pervaiz in her role as matron at a North West care home for veterans.
Helen worked in the NHS for 30 years in a variety of roles, initially as a ward staff nurse before moving into community psychiatric nursing.
In 2008, she began specialising in caring for older people and those with dementia and spent 16 years working across care homes in the Tameside and Glossop areas.
But, when the chance came along to join Broughton House in Salford, she knew it was meant to be.
She used to frequently visit the care village as a youngster to spend time with her grandfather Henry Atkinson, a former serviceman who lived there for several years before he passed away in the mid-1980s.
Helen said: “I have clear memories of the old Broughton House building and its grandeur, and my visits to see my grandpa with my parents when I was a schoolgirl. He was a widower, and moved in because he had become frail due to various health problems.
“We used to come to Broughton House every week or two, and it was always a special time for me.
“I’d not been back since he passed away and it’s been a wonderful and emotive experience coming to work here. It’s as if it was meant to be – that the job had my name on it.
“I feel a very special connection to Broughton House. The home has been completely transformed into a phenomenal modern complex, but retains the same amazing aura and sense of belonging about it.”
Helen is responsible for overseeing, managing and supervising the nursing team and working with staff at all levels across the care village to ensure excellence in its standards of clinical care – physical, emotional and psychological – and the promotion of wellbeing for each resident.
She added: “It’s an absolutely golden opportunity for me, as it combines my passion for the care of the individual with a desire to continually drive and raise standards across the home.
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“We have a great team who have a strong sense of purpose for what they are doing – delivering the care that our current residents and the veterans of the future deserve.
“I have a real keen interest in wanting to be part of caring for the veterans of the future and shaping the service provision at Broughton House. It’s a privilege to care for our veterans of World War Two and those who since then have undertaken national service and served in post-war conflicts.
“I like some of the traditional ideas of the matron’s role, such as the dedication to standards, dogged determination and perseverance, but it’s also about promoting and delivering person-centred care in a modern way, being open with staff and fully engaging with residents and their families. I’m nothing like the image of the austere, bustling and comedic matron portrayed in the Carry On films.”
Karen Miller, chief executive of Broughton House, said: “Helen’s presence is hugely reassuring to our veterans and their families. For staff, matron acts as a role model and provides professional support for our nurses and carers.
“Helen has immense experience, is calm and well-organised, has warmth and empathy, and gets things done in the right way. She is also a focal point for our staff, and it’s an important post as it involves overseeing a large team. In an increasingly complex healthcare environment for staff, they know they can turn to matron when they need support, assurance and guidance.”
apetito expands closed-loop recycling system
apetito is expanding its pioneering closed-loop recycling system for meal trays into care homes across the UK.
Following highly successful results within its consumer business, Wiltshire Farm Foods, and within the NHS, the world-first “Project Boomerang” will soon be operating at select partnering homes with plans to extend further across apetito’s customers later this year.
Through this scheme, all of the plastic meal trays used in apetito’s Specialist Nutrition range can be washed and returned after use and recycled into new trays – right here in the UK.
Lee Sheppard, director of corporate affairs, policy and sustainability at
apetito, said: “To date, we have seen brilliant results and had positive receptions of this scheme from both our Wiltshire Farm Foods and healthcare customers and have collected back more than 25 million trays to be recycled.
“Reducing environmental impacts is becoming a growing priority for all businesses, and so we’re pleased to be able to work closely with our partnering care homes to help tackle their carbon emissions and provide a more sustainable packaging option through our closed-loop recycling scheme.
“Participation also has the potential to drive cost efficiencies for care homes through reducing waste
collection costs, at a time when cost inflation is a real concern for the sector.”
The recycling system guarantees that 100 per cent of trays returned will be recycled into new trays – compare that to UK household recycling where due to the lack of infrastructure nearly 50 per cent ends up being sent abroad for recycling – with uncertain results.
Participation in the initiative is set to save each care home an estimated 113kg CO2e per year based on one home returning 20 trays per day, supporting partnering homes to bring down their carbon emissions and minimise their impacts on the environment, as well as reducing waste costs.
Helen Pervaiz
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Henbrook House, a care home in the Connaught Care Collection, helped resident Ken Stokoe celebrate his 87th birthday in style by arranging for afternoon tea on a 1920s-style train carriage. A lifelong railway fanatic, Ken and a group of friends enjoyed venturing back to the golden age of rail travel. The Pullman-style luxury coaches offered high-back armchairs, classical décor, separate dining tables, and a fully stocked café and bar. Ken and his friends were treated to tea and handmade snacks, and later received a custommade ‘steam train cake’ from the home’s team of chefs. Ken was also able to enjoy his new favourite pastime; outdoor bowls, and his favourite meal — steak and chips. The afternoon tea, which was hosted on a vintage train car by Carriages of Cambridge, followed a trip to a model railway exhibition.
Roma Davies, a resident at RMBI Care Co. Home Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court, in Porthcawl, has celebrated her 103rd birthday. To mark the milestone she visited a local beauty retailer with support from the Home’s staff to have her ears pierced. “My original ear piercings had healed over, but I really wanted them redone so I could wear earrings again,” she said. Rome chose some sparkling studs. Roma then enjoyed a celebration complete with cake, party food and a live performance by Paul Harvey, one of the Home’s activities coordinators, who played the guitar for her. Roma moved into Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court in 2018 and was joined by her sister Gwyneth in 2020.
A 100-year-old Dorset care home resident had the ‘most wonderful’ birthday by rekindling her lifelong love of swimming. Great grandmother Ethel Wise told carers at Colten Care’s Avon Cliff in Bournemouth of her wish to take the plunge in a ‘calm and quiet’ pool, something she used to do every day. They contacted managers at the nearby ibis Styles Hotel who were only too happy to arrange exclusive use of their pool for a blissful hour of swimming, floating and relaxing. It was the first swim the former cook has had since she moved out of a retirement living complex in Bournemouth town centre where she enjoyed a daily swim in the pool. She was accompanied on her birthday trip by Avon Cliff companionship team members Elise Woolnough and Paulina Trzcinska.
Frances Thoms from Barnard Castle celebrated turning 100 at a party with friends and relatives. Centenarian Frances blew out her candles at the party held for her at Anchor’s Manor House care home where she has lived for six years. To celebrate the landmark occasion, Frances also received a special visit from the children at St Mary’s RC Primary School. They each provided her with cards, adding to the one Frances received from the King. Frances lived in Northallerton from 1984 until 2018. She celebrated 60 years of marriage to her late husband Ted in 2013. The couple have four children – Jocelyn, Stephen, Clive and Wendy. Frances previously liked to be involved with the local church of England and The Women’s Institute. She loves lace making, knitting and gardening.
Gertrude Clayton, better known as Gertie, celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends at HC-One’s Elmwood House care home, in Boston, Lincolnshire. She was joined by her two sons, Lee and Peter, granddaughter Holly and two greatgrandchildren, as well as residents and staff for a fun celebration. Corks were popped on bottles of celebratory prosecco along with soft drinks and party snacks, including cupcakes. The room was decorated with colourful balloons, banners and streamers, and there was a rousing rendition of happy birthday for Gertie on her special day. Pride of place was given to her card from the King, which Gertie proudly showed off to well-wishers. Born in 1924 in Yorkshire, Gertie was married to her husband George and worked as a home carer.
Residents and staff were virtually transported to the deep and dark jungles to enjoy a wild safari themed party at RMBI Care Co. Home Harry Priestley House, in Doncaster. Resident Lee Balmer also celebrated his 50th birthday along with his fellow residents. The resident and staff decorated the garden with jungle themed photo props and a balloon arch, and dressed up in costumes. Everyone participated in naming the tiger competition and a raffle draw. Much to his delight, Lee had an amazing birthday. When asked what his favourite part of his birthday was, he said: “Eating lasagne, and dancing with my friends and my brother Craig.” Home manager Anne Stobart added: “It was an absolute pleasure to help Lee celebrate his 50th birthday. Lee has lived with us for many years and he is a great joy to everyone at the Home.”
A resident at HC-One’s Meadow Bank care home in Bamber Bridge, Preston celebrated his 99th birthday in style with a party surrounded by family and friends. Harry Garrity was born in Workington and lived in Cumbria for 50 years and then Cockermouth for 21. Having gone to sea school, Harry joined the Merchant Navy aged 17. He was on a ship that torpedoed off South Africa, and he was also on ships that were circled around the British Isles. Harry subsequently got a job at the water board in sewerage, then later worked for United Utilities where he was the area manager for Keswick until he retired aged 60. He was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the water board and local elections. Harry was happily married to Ann, who passed away in 1974. The couple had two sons, six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He then met Liz and they have been married for the last 38 years.
An Oldham care home resident who helped crack the Enigma code has celebrated turning 103. Doreen Brooks, who moved to Anchor’s Millfield care home earlier this year, was previously given her purple plaque in honour and recognition of her service during the Second World War. She was once employed on the team that was tasked with intercepting German messages. Once intercepted, the team would log the messages and transfer them across to the British Intelligence Service at Bletchley Park. It was here Alan Turing’s ‘Enigma cracking’ machine would decode them. To celebrate reaching 103, Doreen was joined by fellow Millfield residents and staff to celebrate the occasion. Not only did she enjoy her homemade birthday cake, but she was presented with flowers by manager Alison Corley.
Sarah brings services to Wiltshire towns
SARAH Stanbrook always wanted her own business that benefitted her community.
Now Sarah has launched a Walfinch home care business, delivering adult social care at home to the community in Swindon and Marlborough, Wiltshire – and her mum inspired her to get started.
“I had never considered working in the care sector,” she said.
“My career was in administration, working for companies in all sorts of sectors, and I enjoyed the organisation and planning aspects.
“But then mum needed care. I was happy to do it and discovered how valuable care is, and how rewarding it can be.”
After her mum passed away, Sarah became the care co-ordinator at Walfinch home care Oxfordshire.
It’s a combination of forward planning, organising rotas for the care team, and occasionally dealing with unexpected problems, so it combined Sarah’s admin skills with the rewards of being part of the care community.
“It’s a job that takes a cool head and a genuine love of people,” she added.
Sarah went on to work in operations for Walfinch Oxfordshire and in the Walfinch national support office, gathering hands-on experience of many aspects of running a care business.
She is a firm believer in the Walfinch policy of providing positive activities to benefit both clients and carers, and has helped run art classes for clients, cookery training for carers, and was closely involved in arranging a visit from an assistance dog to delight a dog-loving client.
When the chance to become the Walfinch franchisee managing director in Swindon and Marlborough arose, she seized the opportunity, and
has now started her care business, which she manages around caring for her two sons.
Her husband is co-managing director, but as yet is not involved day-to-day in the business.
“As someone who has not run their own business before, I chose the Walfinch franchise because it provides training and access to a whole team of business, care and regulatory experts to ensure your business starts on the right foot, grows to benefit the local community, and maintains the high level of quality that is essential in the care sector,” she added.
“I’m looking forward to bringing the highest quality care and activities to our clients, and in the long term, to growing my business to cover a wider area.”
Walfinch Swindon and Marlborough will offer visiting and live-in care, and a whole range of specialist care, with the emphasis on enhancing clients’ lives.
Residents Phyllis goes horse riding again
AN East Devon care home resident has ticked off her bucket-list dream of going horse riding again, thanks to a local charity.
Phyllis Johnson, who lives at the award-winning Seaton nursing home, which is part of the Southern Healthcare group, was a keen equestrian in her youth and, despite her advancing years, had been longing to get back in the saddle one last time.
She told the manager of The Seaton, Emma Seal, of her wish while the two were having a chat one day.
Touched by the story, Emma immediately set about contacting the East Devon branch of Riding for the Disabled, who were keen to help.
Following a health and safety assessment, staff at the home took Phyllis to the RDA’s East Devon base at Whimple, near Exeter. She even brought her old riding hat. Phyllis was helped onto one of the charity’s horses, Sparky, and led around the arena by a team of volunteers, to her evident delight.
She is the oldest participant the EDRDA have ever helped to go riding.
Ex-royal milliner strengthens ties with school
A FORMER society milliner whose clients included Queen Elizabeth was guest of honour as she judged a hat competition involving young children in the New Forest.
Pupils aged up to seven in the preprep department of Walhampton School in Lymington paraded a series of creations at an end-of-term garden fete under the expert gaze of Louisa McIntyre.
The ex-proprietor of a Lymington High Street shop and fabric label, Louisa travelled to the school from her care home in the town, Colten Care’s Belmore Lodge.
“Both Phyllis and her family were absolutely thrilled, and her niece said she talked about nothing else when she visited Phyllis.”
Phyllis was presented with a special rosette to mark the occasion.
Elegant in her own hat, she enjoyed the pupils’ parade and awarded prizes including a special commendation for Henry Cole, who had taken part despite breaking his collar bone the day before.
Louisa, who has lived at Belmore Lodge for the past two years, said: “I had a fabulous time seeing all these young people being so creative.”
The invitation to judge the competition reflects Louisa’s career standing as a top haute couture milliner.
She trained with Mayfair-based Danish designer Aage Thaarp, known for the hats he created for Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
Aage recognised Louisa’s natural talent for millinery design and encouraged her to move to Paris to learn about the fashion houses of Dior, Chanel and Jacques Fath.
She lived with her sister in a tiny bedsit in the Latin Quarter, creating designs to display in a friend’s salon.
After her time in Paris, she moved to Lymington and in 1959 opened her High Street millinery shop and label under the trading name ‘Liz Tilley’.
Louisa told carers at Belmore Lodge that she chose the name because Tilley was her husband’s surname and she thought ‘Liz Tilley’ had a nice
sound to it.
The shop became a prominent fixture of the High Street and a wellknown destination for fashionistas until it closed in the 1990s.
When she moved to Belmore Lodge in 2022, Louisa brought with her a scrapbook of pictures and press photos featuring hats she made for Queen Elizabeth.
The book took pride of place in a display the home staged in honour of the Queen after her death in September that year.
Louisa was joined at the Walhampton School fete by a party of fellow Belmore Lodge residents.
The visit was the latest in a series of contacts between the independent school and Belmore Lodge.
Walhampton pupils’ Chapel Choir recently sang in the home’s garden along with residents from there and another Lymington facility, Court Lodge. The show, led by Colten Care’s music and arts partner Fiona Pritchard, included Any Dream Will Do from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, a musical that the school staged this year.
Also performing was 96-year-old ex-professional opera singer Dorrie Smith, who now lives at Colten Care’s dedicated dementia care home Fernhill in Longham, Dorset.
Dorrie, who in her youth sang on the BBC’s Listen With Mother programme and was a regular guest of the BBC Orchestra, told Fernhill carers of her wish to sing with a choir again so they arranged for her to take part in the Belmore Lodge event.
Companionship team leader Sharon Semple added: “We had such a warm welcome from Walhampton school when we attended their fete.
“That visit and their choir’s performance in our garden a couple of weeks before were both lovely experiences for all involved.”
Ex-royal milliner Louisa McIntyre, now a resident at Colten Care’s Belmore Lodge in Lymington, with pupils at Walhampton School where she judged a hat competition.
Sarah Stanbrook
Emma said: “Several of us were in tears, including Tracey Edworthy, the lady whose Mum, Sarah, owns Sparky and lends him to the charity.
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