Care UK care homes celebrate the Queen and Prince Phillip’s platinum wedding anniversary

Home news

Dec 21, 2017

The Care UK team decorated homes with Union Jack bunting for the celebration and residents enjoyed a spread of traditional afternoon tea and a screening of the iconic wedding day.

A special video was created by team members and residents from six Care UK homes across the country to celebrate the anniversary. Residents shared their memories of the special day as well as their own secrets to a long and happy marriage.  

Ray Old from Tiltwood care home, and his wife Marion, aged 75 and 73 both featured in the special commemorative video with Marion revealing: “You have your ups and downs, but you’ve got to be honest with each other – I love my Ray more and more every day, and that will never end."  

Iris and Sidney Grimes, aged 94 and 96, at Mildenhall Lodge also shared their pearls of wisdom in celebration of the royal platinum wedding anniversary. Sidney said that the secret to a long and happy marriage is buying Iris flowers every week, “we’re now in our 90s and we’re still very much in love – Iris still gets her weekly flowers!”

Other Care UK homes also joined in the royal celebration. Residents at Field Lodge were joined by the Mayor of St Ives, Councillor Phillip Pope, for a party ‘fit for a queen’. Councillor Pope enjoyed traditional cream tea with the residents and watched the film in the home’s cinema.

Skylark House also got in the party spirit with the team encouraging residents to share their own love stories in celebration of the royal milestone. One love story which stood out was Joan and Harold Tucker, the couple were reunited by destiny after the second world war forced them apart, they went on to enjoy 69 years of marriage together.

Glastonbury Court hosted a royal family themed quiz to test residents on their regal knowledge. The team rounded off the day’s celebrations by raising a glass to the happy couple. 

Home manager, Sharlene Van Tonder, explained why Glastonbury Court celebrated the wedding anniversary: “Celebrating the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s platinum wedding anniversary gave us a fantastic opportunity to provide residents with a valuable reminiscence activity, which is particularly important for those living with dementia.

“Many residents remember the wedding day in 1947 and we all enjoyed hearing their stories and memories from this historic event. We all had a brilliant time celebrating and raising a glass to the Queen and Prince Philip on their special day.”