40s-style glamour marks Colne View’s first birthday

Home news

Jun 21, 2013

Swinging back to the 40s brought songs and celebrations to Care UK’s Colne View care home in Halstead, Essex, as more than 200 guests celebrated the home’s first birthday.

The event included entertainment on every floor of the home in Colchester Road, and in the neighbouring Maplestead Day Centre whilst the garden played host to children enjoying the bouncy castle, and a candy floss stall, ice cream cones, face-painting, balloon art and the magician Samtastic brought a touch of fairground fun to the day.

The stars of the show on the entertainment front were the Rockabellas, a 1940s-style singing trio, who performed a range of songs from the era with their own brand of old-style glamour.

A magnificent birthday cake was cut by the Mayor Cllr David Hume, accompanied by Toby Siddall, Managing Director of Care UK.

Colne View’s manager Ana Maria Tudorache said: “We were really happy with how the event went – everyone had a lot of fun and there was a great atmosphere. All our residents had the chance to join in and we were really flattered when Cllr Hume said that he was very pleased to have such a wonderful home in the middle of Halstead.”

Colne View opened in April last year, providing personalised nursing and residential care, as well as respite care for anything from a few days to a few months. To help residents to feel truly at home, it is designed around a ‘village green’. Created to evoke memories of an old-fashioned village, there’s a coffee shop, a cinema with vintage-themed props and pictures, a village store and a hair salon. The result is a fun and lively space where residents can socialise with friends or family and enjoy a change of scene and a treat even when it’s wet outside.

The home, its staff and residents were blessed by the Rev Terry Streamer from St Andrew’s Church, Halstead, and the afternoon gave all the guests a chance to see the home in operation and take a tour round. Guests ranged from residents’ families and friends to local business people and health care professionals, as well as local charities, all of whom were offered afternoon tea.