Witney care home hosts cockney ‘hale and hearty’

Home news

Dec 21, 2020

A care home in Witney was transported to East London to help a resident reconnect with his roots.

When Ron Hayes, a resident at Care UK’s Millers Grange, on Curbridge Road, made a wish to have a traditional ‘Cockney knees up’, the team got busy making it happen.

On the day, the chefs at Millers Grange prepared a special Cockney-themed menu featuring jellied eels, as well as pie and mash. The home’s café was also turned into a tavern, where residents enjoyed a sing-along, led by Ron dressed as the Pearly King.

Alison Parry, Home Manager at Millers Grange, said: “We actively encourage residents to reminisce about their younger years, from life-long passions and hobbies, to their favourite places and memories growing up.

“Ron is a true Cockney, ‘born within the sound of Bow Bells’ as he likes to say, with an instantly recognisable accent, which is something he’s really proud of. When he said he’d like a ‘Cockney knees up’, we knew we had to make his wish come true.

“Our chefs’ special menu, featuring some of Ron’s favourite dishes, proved really popular with all the residents, and everyone had a great time celebrating all things Cockney in our very own tavern for the night – it was a truly memorable event for everyone involved.”

Ron was born in London on 22^nd February 1933 and spent a large part of his life in the East End, moving to Millers Grange earlier this year. He met his wife Barbara Louise at a motorbike café; and together they had three sons, Karl, Shaun and Warren, During his time in the capital, he worked as driver and personal assistant to Henry Ford II on his regular visits the UK, and even met a real Pearly King at a club in Bermondsey.

Millers Grange has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential dementia and respite care.

To find out more about Millers Grange, please call Customer Relations Manager, Jim MacLeod, on 01993 764730 or email james.macleod@careuk.com

For more information, visit careuk.com/millers-grange