Mockley Manor - 22 August 2010

BOLLYWOOD COMES TO MOCKLEY MANOR

The sights, sounds and tastes of Bollywood will be coming to a Warwickshire care home on Thursday (August 12th).

Staff at Mockley Manor, in Forde Hall Lane, Ullenhall, near Henley-in-Arden, will dress in Indian costume.

An Indian dancer named Rani (do we know her surname and where she’s from?) will perform and residents will have henna daubed on their hands.

The residents will be invited to join in the dancing – either on their feet or with hand movements from their armchairs.

Kerry Hant, activities coordinator at Mockley Manor, which is owned by Alpha Care Homes, said: “Residents will be sampling some home-made Indian snacks and the whole day is aimed at bringing a touch of Bollywood to our residents.

“They always love the functions we organise for them and are keen to get involved.”

Mockley Manor - 07 June 2010

Mockley Manor Care Home stages rocking horse race!

Staff and residents at an Ullenhall care home will be under starter’s orders on Monday as they get ready to take part in Royal Ascot-themed celebrations.

Residents will don their best hats to watch staff battle it out in a special horse race around Mockley Manor Care Home, in Forde Hall Lane. But instead of riding thoroughbreds on laps around the home, brave members of staff will be saddling up rocking horses and hobby horses!

Residents will even be able to bet on which horse and jockey they think will cross the finish line first.

The fun race afternoon is being held on Monday June 7 to get the home, owned by Alpha Care Homes, in the racing mood for Royal Ascot, which runs from June 15-19.

Activities coordinator Kerry Hant said: “We are all very excited about watching this year’s Royal Ascot - it’s always a really popular sporting event with our residents. We decided to bring the races to our residents a week early with our own version.

“It should be a great day. The staff are all raring to go and the residents can’t wait to see if the horse they back will be first past the post.

“We just hope we don’t get any jockey’s being thrown from their horses!”

Mockley Manor - 26 May 2010

Mockley Manor residents enjoy an afternoon at the Ritz

An Ullenhall care home brought out its best china so residents could enjoy an elegant afternoon tea - Ritz-style!

Mockley Manor Care Home transformed its Tudor Lounge into the Ritz, complete with fresh flowers, white table cloths and soft music.

Staff from the home, owned by Alpha Care Homes, dressed as waiting staff on Wednesday May 26, to serve up a delicious treat.

Residents enjoyed afternoon tea, fresh cream scones and cakes.

Activities coordiantor Kerry Hant said: “The prestigious London hotel is famed for its afternoon tea and we thought our residents would enjoy the experience.

“We decided to give the residents a real treat and decorated the Tudor Lounge with fresh flowers and plants, and played music in the background.

“It was a lovely afternoon and our residents all really enjoyed their time at our very own Ritz.”

Mockley Manor - 23 March 2010

Open Day at Mockley Manor

Residents at an Ullenhall care home will never be lost for words after their new giant Scrabble game arrives during an action-packed open day.

Mockley Manor, in Forde Hall Lane, is throwing open its doors from 2 to 4pm on Friday March 26th so that friends and relatives of residents and people from the local community get the chance to meet its new manager.

Radio presenter and author Steve Brookes, who hosts a weekly horticultural show on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, will give a gardening talk and sign copies of his work at the event.

Residents will be treated to some pampering, including a foot spa, manicures and pedicures, and traditional afternoon cream tea will be served.

And the home, owned by Alpha Care Homes, will be taking delivery of its new, 6ft square Scrabble set – eagerly awaited by the residents, who love quizzes and games of all kinds.

Mockley Manor’s new manager Diane Williams, a registered nurse who has worked in the care homes sector for 14 years, said: “Our residents have very lively minds, read the newspapers every day and enjoy the quizzes and brain teasers we put on for them.

“The giant Scrabble game will be set up on the floor of the lounge and the residents are looking forward to trying it out.

“I’m looking forward to meeting anyone who wishes to turn up to look around our home, which is in a lovely setting with very friendly staff, who provide first rate care.

“The staff, residents and their families, who are extremely supportive of the home, have made me feel very welcome here.”

Mockley Manor - 10 March 2010

ULLENHALL CARE HOME GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

Residents and staff at an Ullenhall care home are looking forward to their own day at ‘the Oscars’ – as they celebrate 100 years of Hollywood’s movie industry.

Kerry Hant, activities coordinator at Mockley Manor Care Home in Forde Hall Lane, will be donning a glamorous ‘little black dress’, long gloves and cigarette holder as she becomes screen icon Audrey Hepburn for the day.

The home will be decorated in a Hollywood theme on Wednesday March 10th and the residents will enjoy a big screening of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, Audrey Hepburn’s double Oscar-winning film.

“As Oscar season draws to a close and Hollywood celebrates its centenary as the world hub of the movie industry, we decided to bring some of the glitz to our residents,” said Kerry.

“They always love the theme days we put on to provide entertainment and stimulation – and they are particularly looking forward to this event.”

According to Hollywood myth, the first film made there was Cecil B DeMille’s ‘The Squaw Man’ in 1914.

But, in fact, four years earlier, in 1910, the 17-minute ‘In Old California’, an adventure set in Spanish colonial days, directed by D W Griffith, was the first to be filmed in its entirety in the village of Hollywood.

It was released on March 10th 2010 – exactly 100 years before Mockley Manor’s Hollywood event.

Mockley Manor - 01 March 2010

Afternoon Tea to help Haiti

Residents, Staff and relatives from Mockley Mnaor Care Home in Ullenhall got together on Saturday 20th February to enjoy a cuppa and raise money for the Haiti earthquake appeal.

The day was a great success and the home raised £200 which will go directly to the DEC appeal.

Mockley Manor - 26 January 2010

Residents face tasty bushtucker trial

Kangaroo and crocodile will be served up to residents at an Ullenhall care home when it celebrates Australia Day.

Mockley Manor Care Home, in Forde Hall Lane, is set to hold a special event to mark Australia's national day on January 26.

Residents will get the chance to sample a range of dishes from down under as part of the celebrations, including unusual meats such as crocodile and kangaroo.

Staff and residents will get into the Aussie spirit by wearing traditional cork hats and the home will also be decorated with Australian-themed props and flags.

Kerry Hant, the home's activities coordinator, said: "We regularly hold themed days as part of our activities programme at the home. Last year we marked Chinese New Year so this year we thought we would celebrate Australia Day.

"There are a host of activities and games planned for the day and the most exciting is our Australian menu, which will see residents given the chance to taste some interesting cuisine which they probably won't have eaten before.

"Fortunately our local butcher stocks a range of exotic meats so we will be able to cook-up a real treat using crocodile and kangaroo meat!"

Mockley Manor - 10 December 2009

Reindeer spread Christmas cheer at care home

Two live reindeer brought an early Christmas present to residents at an Ullenhall care home.

The festive animals, accompanied by Santa’s sleigh, took time out from their preparations for Christmas by paying a flying visit to Mockley Manor Care Home, in Forde Hall Lane, on December 8.

The reindeer, named Holly and Nicholas, were brought along by The Animal Company.

Residents were also entertained on the day by children from Kidderminster’s Stourminster School.

Pupils aged between seven and 12 performed a nativity play, as well as singing carols and Christmas songs.

Kerry Hant, the home’s activities coordinator, said: “We arranged for two reindeer to come and say hello to residents in the build up to Christmas.

“A lot of our residents and staff have never seen live reindeer before so was a wonderful experience kick started the festive season at Mockley Manor.

“We are delighted that the children from Stourminster joined us for the event and everyone at the home enjoyed their performance.”

Aimee Pearce, Stourminster School’s Primary Faculty Head, said: “The children worked very hard to get ready to perform the nativity play at Mockley Manor.

“It was the first time our school has paid a visit to the home and the 20 children taking part really looked forward to meeting the residents and the reindeer.

“The day was a lovely way to celebrate Christmas.”

Mockley Manor - 06 November 2009

LILLIAN REACHES HER CENTURY AT ULLENHALL CARE HOME

A great grandmother, born in the year that Louis Bleriot flew the first airplane across the English Channel and Joan of Arc was made a saint, will celebrate her 100th birthday at an Ullenhall care home on Thursday (November 5th).

Lillian Steed, who has lived at Mockley Manor Care Home, in Forde Hall Lane, since 2005, still reads a daily newspaper and magazines and enjoys laughing and joking with staff there.

Kerry Hant, activities organiser at Mockley Manor, which is owned by Alpha Care Homes, said: “She is very chatty, asks for her newspaper every day, which she reads in a morning, and then she likes to socialise with our other residents in the afternoon.”

Lillian’s centenary will be celebrated with a tea party for her relatives, residents and staff at the home on Thursday, starting at 2pm.

She was brought up in Dartford, Kent, and then lived in Tovil, near Maidstone, where she worked in factories and in the wartime fire service.

She and her late husband, Bert, who have two sons, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren, moved to Braemar Road in Solihull in the mid 1950s.

In the West Midlands, Lillian worked for a time as a part-time school cook and Bert was a senior foreman for an advertising company.

Her son Ron Steed said: “She was born one of six girls, most of whom lived until their 90s – and she has outlived all of them.

“She enjoys the lovely views from her room at Mockley Manor and also says the food and accommodation are good there.”

Mockley Manor - 14 October 2009

Care home’s special guest is a real Star!

A four-legged friend was the centre of attention when he paid a special visit to a Ullenhall care home.

Star the donkey, from the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust, received a warm greeting when he dropped in to Mockley Manor Care Home on Tuesday (OCT 6).

Residents got to say hello to Star as he walked around the Forde Hall Lane home’s lounges.

The donkey also visited some of the bedrooms to greet those residents who are less mobile.

Kerry Hant, the home’s activities coordinator, said: “All the residents had been looking forward to seeing the donkey and it was so lovely to see their faces light up when he walked into the lounges and bedrooms.

“Star was a real star and we hope to see him again as part of the activities we plan for the residents at Mockley.”

The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust provides donkey therapy to children with special needs at its purpose-built centres located around the country.

The Trust also does outreach therapy visits to adults in nursing homes.

Mockley Manor - 13 May 2009

Goodbye to Eva

The residents and staff at Mockley Manor Care Home in Ullenhall will be saying a fond farewell to Care Assistant Eva Bailey who has worked at the home for over 20 years.

Eva joined the staff of Mockley Manor in September 1986. At that time Eva was working part time for the NHS as well as caring for the residents at Mockley Manor Care Home. Eva fell in love with caring for older people and has worked as a care assistant since then.

Mockley Manor Manager Chenga Llhamo said “Eva is a family woman who is very hard working and has a caring nature. Eva has been so reliable during her time at Mockley and she is always flexible to help out whenever she is needed, she will be missed by all the residents and staff”.

 Eva Bailey said “I have loved looking after all the residents and have treated them as if they were my own mum and dad. I will miss all the residents and staff at Mockley and i would recommend Mockley to anybody as its one of the best homes and the team is fantastic.

Mockley Manor - 15 April 2009

Easter bunny takes up residence at care home

Staff at a Ullenhall care home have a special resident to look after following the arrival of a furry new guest.

Mockley Manor Care Home, in Forde Hall Lane, now has its very own Easter bunny after a resident’s relative donated a pet rabbit to the home.

The home, which is owned by Alpha Care Homes, has held various fundraising activities to buy a hutch for the bunny.

Residents, relatives and staff are also set to take part in a competition to provide Mockley Manor’s latest addition with a name.

Kerry Hant, the home’s activities coordinator, said: “The residents love animals and we have many different creatures come to visit the home.

“We thought it would be nice for the home to have its own pet and the new bunny has arrived just in time for Easter.”