VIP guests join VE Day 80 celebrations at Sale care home
A Sale care home proudly welcomed the community to join residents and their relatives for a joyful and nostalgic celebration marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, pulled out all the stops to commemorate the poignant anniversary of Victory in Europe, and hosted a 1940s-themed afternoon with a lively performance by Deborah McCormick, who provided the perfect atmosphere for a dance and a sing-along.
Also in attendance at the special commemorative event were VIP guest and veteran Ewen Douglas from the Imperial War Museum North and PO Harry Pickering, who delivered speeches in tribute to veterans and active serving members of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, who all joined in on the celebrations.
Resident Fred aged 98, said: “It is so important to bring the community together both old and young, we are here to pass on stories to make sure the younger generation don't have to experience what we did during the war. I was in the RAF and loved my time during the service, but nobody should ever experience what we saw ever again, even after the war. Times have changed and for the better.”
“The whole day brought back so many memories—it felt like stepping back in time,” said Jane another resident. “From the team dressed in 1940s uniforms and costumes to the wonderful music and the impressive display from the Imperial War Museum, it was truly nostalgic.”
Dan Cole, home manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “We had a fantastic time celebrating VE Day 80 with residents, their families and the wonderful Sale community here at Oakfield Croft. Everyone was in high spirits as we marked this momentous occasion, but we also took time to reflect on the poignancy of the milestone.
“I’d like to thank Ewen Douglas, PO Harry Pickering and the Trafford Veterans for joining us, and the entire team for making this celebration possible, as well as all the guests who joined us at Oakfield Croft for our party.
“It was a privilege to honour this important anniversary and to see the residents enjoying the Deborah McCormick performance, some delicious food and the company of the community as they shared their memories of times gone by. It’s so important to enable residents to foster meaningful connections with the local community and for us to host nostalgic events that can prompt reminiscence, so our VE Day celebration was a roaring success.”
Oakfield Croft has officially received ‘Veteran Friendly’ status for meeting eight standards laid out in the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The VFF framework involves noting Armed Forces status within residents’ care plans, addressing social isolation, and signposting residents and their relatives to relevant support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans and their partners.
Oakfield Croft is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobbies and leisure activities. The building's layout is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities, as well as facilities like a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.
For more information about Oakfield Croft, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Amber Williams, on 0161 820 4019 or email amber.williams@careuk.com.
