Westley Court - 02 June 2010

CARE HOME PUTS OUT THE FLAGS TO RELIVE QUEEN’S CORONATION

The bunting was out at a care home in Cookley, near Kidderminster, as residents enjoyed a street party to relive Coronation Day.
Westley Court Care Home, in Austcliffe Lane, watched a documentary about  the 1953 coronation ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier.
Then they sang along to the tunes of the day with entertainers The Troubadors, accompanied by the banjo, accordion, guitar and mouth organ.
And they tucked into a 1950s themed buffet tea, with spam sandwiches and ‘coronation chicken’.
Diane Day, activities coordinator at the home, which is owned by Alpha Care Homes, said: “Most of our residents remember the coronation, so we decided to celebrate it again on this special day, on June 2nd 2010 – exactly 57 years after the actual event.
“Everyone had a whale of a time and it brought back so many memories.”

Westley Court - 16 April 2010

GIANT SCRABBLE SPELLS ‘FUN’ AT WESTLEY COURT

Residents at a care home near Kidderminster are set for some lively debate – as well as great fun – as they test out their new giant Scrabble board for the first time.
New Scrabble rules that will allow the names of celebrities, places and companies are sure to be a hot topic as residents and staff challenge each other using the 6ft square board at Westley Court, which is owned by Alpha Care Homes.
“Our residents enjoy team games and Scrabble is an old favourite,” said Diane Day, activities coordinator at the home, in Austcliffe Lane, Cookley.
“Now everyone will be able to see what goes on as teams play on the giant Scrabble board which we have recently had delivered.
“I am sure we will all be having a discussion on the changes to the rules that were in the news this week.
“It remains to be seen whether we play with the new or old rules.”

Westley Court - 27 January 2010

Care home staff raise cash for Haiti victims

Staff at a Cookley care home are set to arrive at work in an unusual dress code for a special event to raise funds for the Haiti earthquake appeal.

Westley Court Care Home, in Austcliffe Lane, is due to hold a pyjama day on January 27.

Workers will spend the whole day dressed in their pyjamas to raise money for the people of Haiti who have been affected by the devastating earthquake which struck the Caribbean country last week.

Westley Court residents will also be served a full English breakfast for lunch as part of the event, as well as participating in activities and games throughout the day.

Diane Day, the home’s activities coordinator, said: “We were originally going to hold the event to raise money for the home’s residents’ fund but we have decided to send the proceeds to Haiti after being moved by the recent events there.

“The staff and residents are all looking forward to the event, which should be a fun occasion for all, and hopefully we will be able to make a small contribution to something we all feel is such a worthy cause.”

Westley Court - 12 November 2009

TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

Memories came flooding back for residents at a care home near Kidderminster when they were visited by a tank and a military motorcycle.

First to welcome members of the Birmingham and District Military Vehicle Trust to Westley Court, Cookley, was 83-year-old Bryan Smith, a veteran of the Rifleman Brigade.

Bryan, now a resident at the home, chatted to Mike Salter, from Kidderminster owner of the 1964 Daimler Ferret tank, and Neil Bishop, of Stourport, who took his 1940 Ariel motorcycle to Westley Court on Saturday (November 7th).

Diane Day, activities coordinator at Westley Court, which is owned by Alpha Care Homes, said: “We organised the visit as part of a week of Remembrance activities.

“Our residents were thrilled to see the tank and Mike spent a great deal of time talking to them, sharing experiences and reminiscing, which is such an important activity for them.”

Mike, Neil and Nigel Hepwood, who is a member of the Royal Naval Association, do charity work for the Royal British Legion.

Mike, of Waycroft, Kidderminster, said: “It was great to see Bryan Smith, who went to school with my father – and I took some photos of my parents’ wedding to show him.”

Mike is currently appealing for a secure garage to store his tank over the winter months so that he can carry out essential maintenance on the vehicle, which has a Rolls Royce engine.

Anyone who can help him should phone him on 07932 990710.

Westley Court - 28 August 2009

Kind donation strikes a chord with care home

Residents at a Cookley care home will be hitting all the right notes after receiving a musical gift.

An electric organ has been given to Westley Court Care Home, in Austcliffe Lane.

Philip Cook, a friend of the home, kindly donated the musical instrument for residents to enjoy.

The organ was originally owned by David Ingley, who has gone on to be a professional organist playing across the UK.

Residents and staff were able to listen to David play the organ at a thank you event held at the home.

Diane Day, the home’s activities coordinator, said: “All the residents thoroughly enjoyed hearing David perform on the organ and we are looking forward to trying it out ourselves.”

Westley Court - 07 April 2009

Youngsters on song during care home performance

Talented youngsters were in fine voice when they visited a Cookley care home to entertain residents with an afternoon of song.

A group of pupils from Wolverley Sebright First School dropped into Westley Court Care Home, in Austcliffe Lane, to give a special performance to residents.

The children sang a selection of songs from the hit musical Mamma Mia! as well as tunes from the school’s recent production of The Pied Piper.

Youngsters from the school also visited the home, which is part of the Alpha Care Homes group, in December last year to entertain residents with a Christmas carol concert.

Diane Day, the home’s activities coordinator, said all the residents really enjoyed the afternoon of singing.

“We are so pleased to have the school back again to perform for the residents as they thoroughly enjoy it,” she said.

“Many of the residents kept asking me when the children would be coming back to sing following their wonderful Christmas performance last year.”

Westley Court - 16 February 2009

Hawaiian Fun at Cookley Care Home

A care home in Cookley is hoping to shake off the winter blues with a tropical party – and is making an imaginary beach with sand, giant blow-up palm trees and coconuts to get in the mood.

Westley Court Care Home is holding a Hawaiian day on Friday 13th February.

Residents and staff will don grass skirts and flower garlands for the event and will sip cocktails out of pineapples, with Hawaiian music playing.

The home’s activity coordinator Diane Day said: “After all the snow and rain, we wanted to bring a bit of sunshine to the home which is why we decided to organise this event.

“The Hawaiian theme will run throughout the day and a special menu and games have been organised for the residents.”

Westley Court is owned by Alpha Care Homes and provides residential and respite care for its elderly residents.

Westley Court - 27 January 2009

536 REASONS TO CELEBRATE AT WESTLEY COURT

A care home near Kidderminster has more than 500 reasons to celebrate this January with six residents and one member of staff celebrating birthdays throughout the month.

Westley Court Care Home, in Austcliffe Lane, Cookley, is marking a grand total of 536 years of birthdays this month.

The home, part of the Alpha Care Homes group, held a special party for all its birthday boys and girls on Friday 23rd January, complete with entertainment from  guitarist Colin Jones and his wife, singer Jan, and a special party dinner.

The first resident to celebrate was Sarah Dunne, who was 96 on January 3rd. Westley Court activities coordinator Diane Day also celebrated her 63rd birthday on the same day.

Next was Jean Watson, who marked her 69th birthday on January 8th. Michael Watts was 70-years-old on January 21st, and Margery Scott was 72 on January 26th. Betty Hickman celebrates her 84th birthday on January 28 and last but least, Olive Hillman will be 82 on January 30th.

Activities coordinator Diane Day said: “All our residents and members of staff really enjoyed the party. It was a nice surprise to discover we had so many people marking their own special days and the join party was lovely way to celebrate so many years of birthdays!”