Her Royal Highness meeting resident Joan, who will turn 101 this autumn
HRH Princess Alexandra visit to Royal Star & Garter Home, Solihull.
Princess Alexandra with the High Sheriff of West Midlands, Mr Christopher Loughran, his wife, Mrs Jane Loughran, Major General Tim Tyler, Chief Executive, Andy Cole, the Mayor of Solihull, Mrs Flo Nash and Deputy Lieutenant Professor Nigel Thrift
Residents and staff were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra when she visited The Royal Star & Garter Home in Solihull. The visit was part of a day of celebrations to mark the Home’s 10th anniversary.
The Princess was received by the Charity’s Chairman, Major General Tim Tyler, The High Sheriff of West Midlands, Mr Christopher Loughran, and his wife, Mrs Jane Loughran, Deputy Lieutenant Professor Nigel Thrift, the Mayor of Solihull, Mrs Flo Nash, and the Mayor’s Consort, Mr Alan Nash.
After introductions, the Princess was given a tour of the dementia care house where residents were enjoying flower arranging. Her Royal Highness then moved into the café-bar where she chatted to residents, all of whom were delighted to meet her. Resident Joan Taylor, who will be celebrating her 101st birthday in September, commented, “The Princess looked amazing, so elegant. She asked me how long I’ve been living at the Home. I told her the staff are fantastic at putting on these kinds of events and that they spoilt me silly for my 100th birthday.”
After cutting the exquisite birthday cake, Princess Alexandra was presented with a posy by Margaret Tennet, who has been a resident since 2012. Margaret’s husband, Brian, an RAF veteran, was one of the first residents of the Solihull Home and they both met the Princess during the Home’s official opening ceremony in 2008.
Nurse Olive Parantar was presented to Her Royal Highness along with two other staff members who have worked at the Home since 2008. Olive commented, “The Charity is so supportive, and days like today emphasise that. It was an honour to meet Princess Alexandra.”
The Princess has been closely involved with The Royal Star & Garter Homes after becoming the Charity’s President in July 1964.
Later in the day, the Home held a black-tie gala buffet where residents, staff and volunteers enjoyed delicious food and vintage themed music performed by local vocal trio The Bluebird Belles. After the buffet, the Home held its Annual Volunteer Awards, an event that celebrates all the volunteers who share their time and skills with residents.
Commenting on the day of festivities, Home Manager Cheryl Harbourne said, “I’m extremely proud of everyone for helping make today such a wonderful occasion. It’s lovely to be able to celebrate alongside the residents.”
Ends
Captions:
- Her Royal Highness meeting resident Joan, who will turn 101 this autumn
- Resident Margaret presenting Princess Alexandra with the posy.
- Princess Alexandra with the High Sheriff of West Midlands, Mr Christopher Loughran, his wife, Mrs Jane Loughran, Major General Tim Tyler, Chief Executive, Andy Cole, the Mayor of Solihull, Mrs Flo Nash and Deputy Lieutenant Professor Nigel Thrift
For further information please contact:
Diane Fisher, Press Officer, e: diane.fisher@starandgarter.org, t: 0208 481 7669
Cally Madden, Marketing & Communications Manager, e: cally.madden@starandgarter.org, t: 020 8481 7692
Michelle Danks, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, e: michelle.danks@starandgarter.org, t: 020 8481 7691
About The Royal Star & Garter Homes:
The Charity provides award-winning care for veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia.
The Royal Star & Garter Homes is a charity founded in 1916 to care for the severely injured young men returning from the battlegrounds of the First World War. Today we provide specialist care to the whole military family in our friendly, state-of-the-art Homes. Disabled ex-Servicemen and women, and their spouses, can all benefit from our pioneering approach to nursing, dementia and therapeutic care.
We are in the process of building new Homes around the country to provide specialist nursing care for disabled ex-Service people in the best modern surroundings, including dementia care facilities to address this growing need. The Charity has award-winning Homes in Solihull, West Midlands, and Surbiton, Surrey, which also enables the Charity to offer interim care for young disabled Service personnel. Following the successes of the first two Homes, a third Home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, is being built, with a planned opening in 2018.
We are proud to have enjoyed Royal patronage since our foundation, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from 1953 to the present day.
The Charity celebrated its centenary in 2016: providing specialist care for disabled veterans since 1916.
- Twitter: @starandgarter
- Facebook: facebook.com/starandgarter
- Website: www.starandgarter.org
The Royal Star & Garter Homes is a member of the National Care Forum – the leading voice for not-for-profit care providers. A national perspective may be available from info@nationalcareforum.org.uk or by contacting 02476243619. More details on NCF available at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk.
