Our Spring newsletter is now out!
With an introduction from our Chair of the Trustees, plus packed with stories and photos.
Please click on the link below to read
If you or anyone you know would like to receive a postal or emailed copy of our quarterly newsletter please email our Marketing Manager on sally.urwin@charlottestraker.org.uk. Please share – thank you!
Looking for extra support caring for your loved one? Charlotte Straker House is excited to announce that we now offer day respite care to the community. Whether you need a break for a few hours or for most of the day, our compassionate team is here to provide the personal care and high-quality attention your loved one needs. Give yourself some peace of mind and let our specialist team help you provide the best care possible. Contact us today on 01434 633 999 or email office@charlottestraker.org.uk to learn more about our day respite care services!
Our
Our residents celebrated the coronation with a day full of activities and events. The staff organized a fun-filled day for the residents to commemorate the historic event, and it was a huge success. On Saturday we watched a live broadcast of the coronation ceremony on the big screen TVs in the lounges. Muriel told us “I think Princess Charlotte in her white dress and the Princess of Wales looked absolutely beautiful.” Colin said that he had watched the coronation of the late Queen on a tiny TV set when he was younger so watching King Charles’ coronation on a huge TV was “massively different”.
On Sunday the highlight of the day was the coronation tea party, where the residents enjoyed a selection of sandwiches and cakes. The staff had decorated the dining room with red, white, and blue bunting, and everyone was dressed up in their finest attire.
All our volunteers, staff and trustees were invited and they were joined by relatives and family of our residents for music by the Sunshine Panners and our favourite singer Ruth Boyd.
Overall, the coronation celebration was a memorable and enjoyable day for everyone involved, and it was a great opportunity for the residents to come together and celebrate a historic moment in British history.
We had the pleasure of welcoming back the talented Baldy Holly to Charlotte Straker House this month! The residents were thrilled to see him again and listen to him singing a medley of hits from the 1960s onwards. Everyone was very impressed with his silver lame suit 😊 Avril our volunteer was up dancing and encouraged everyone else to get involved, clapping and singing along. Thank you to Baldy for brightening up our day!
A group of residents and volunteers were invited to visit the new Corbridge Heritage Centre which is situated at the former Methodist Church building – now the Corbridge Community Hub – to view a display about the history of the village.
We listened to a very interesting talk by David Waugh, who is an author on the history of the village and a very knowledgeable guide. Our residents were fascinated with the photos and artifacts and shared stories with us about their lives in the area. John B spotted his son in a Corbridge school photo from the 1970s and had a long chat with David about his life in the village. Keith S particularly enjoyed reading the exhibits about Corbridge villagers who fought in France in World War 1.
After looking round the display we were invited in to the regular “Tea and Chat” run by St. Andrew’s Church at the Corbridge Community Hub, which is held in another section of the old Methodist Church. We were made very welcome by Rev. Linda Hunter and her team of volunteers and Keith said the scones with jam and cream were the best he’s ever tasted! Thank you to everyone at the Heritage Centre and the Hub who looked after us so well plus our volunteers Jean and Avril – we will definitely be attending more of the get togethers. It’s wonderful that we can provide opportunities for our residents to explore and experience new things and also give them the chance to reminisce and share their own stories.
Due to a very generous donation from Cynthia and Paul Davidson from PDA Search and Selection Limited, we were able to take our residents to see a performance of Fiddler on the Roof at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle last week. It was a truly a magical experience! John B told us “I loved the music. The orchestra was wonderful and I remembered most of the songs.” Colin I added “it was lovely to get out, and very exciting to see the musical – it brought back lots of memories.” Muriel M said “I loved it all, the coach trip, the theatre, and the music – we were looked after so well.”
Berenice Groves, our Chair of the Trustees commented “A huge thank you to Paul and Cynthia Davidson who not only paid for the theatre tickets but also the cost of transport for our visit to the Tyne Theatre. Everyone was so excited to go, and it was a truly memorable day out. Watching residents singing along to the classic tunes and get lost in the captivating story was absolutely wonderful. Even getting on the coach for the drive to the theatre was great fun, as we could show everyone all the changes that had been happening to Newcastle City Centre. Once we were at the Tyne Theatre, the staff were so helpful and looked after us all beautifully. Thank you again to Mr and Mrs Davidson for their generous donation which helped make this wonderful day a reality for our care home residents. It’s truly inspiring to see this level of community
support and generosity in action.”
Happy Birthday to Margaret S, one of our amazing care home residents! We celebrated Margaret’s 83rd birthday last week and we couldn’t be more grateful to have her as a part of our community. She loves wearing cheerful colours, so the Charlotte Straker team gave her a bright fuchsia pink cardigan. She said “oh, I love this colour, it’s one of my favourites and it’ll go with lots of things in my wardrobe. Thank you!” After blowing the candles out on her chocolate birthday cake Margaret opened cards and presents whilst everyone sang happy birthday. #carehome #birthdaycelebration #elderlycare
Adrian Eley, President of Tynedale Rotary visited Charlotte Straker House last week to present us with a cheque from their recent Wine Tasting Event. The Rotarians raised a very generous £1,800 from the wine evening, and our Chair of the Trustees, Berenice Groves commented “I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who came to the Wine Tasting Event. It was a fantastic evening, full of fun and laughter, and it was also a great opportunity to give everyone attending the chance to learn more about the impact that their donations have on the individuals who live at Charlotte Straker House. The funds raised from this event will fund resident trips and activities throughout 2023. Thank you to Adrian plus all those who attended, sponsored and supported us in any way – it is very much appreciated.”
Charlotte Straker, Cookson Close
Corbridge, NE45 5HB
01434 633999
office@charlottestraker.org.uk
