The Abbeyfield Kent Society Newsletter - 2012 Issue one

The Abbeyfield Kent Society

the AKS TimesIt’s our birthday!

The Abbeyfield Kent Society celebrates 45 years of caring for KentThe Abbeyfield Kent Society is celebrating a landmark birthday with a range of special events and occasions at all of its homes throughout the county.

St Martins residents get connected

Connors House resident on BBCAhead of her exhibition to be held at the Canterbury home, Marise Edlin spoke to BBC South East Today. Page 13

Facebook training session leads to continental connections for residents at the Larkfield home. Page 17

Dene Holm residents celebrate DiwaliResidents at Dene Holm residential home celebrated the festival of lights with a special party. Page 18

www.abbeyfieldkent.org

WelcomeWelcome to the first 2012 issue of the AKS Times, The Abbeyfield Kent Society newsletter, which aims to keep you up-to-date on the news from around the Society.

This issue covers all the news around the Society’s homes over the winter months of 2011 and the early part of 2012, a year which sees Abbeyfield Kent celebrate its 45th birthday, a landmark of which we are incredibly proud.

To mark the occasion, we have a wide range of events lined up to celebrate; the biggest of which being our first ever charity ball, which is taking place in November, details on page 12.

Later in the year we will be encouraging the whole of Kent to recreate the “Summer of Love” for one weekend as we turn back the clock to 1967. Keep an eye out for details in issue two of the AKS Times, available in July.

A huge variety of events have taken place since the final newsletter of 2011. Christmas saw our annual Lantern Parade for residents, as well as our Companionship at Christmas Campaign, which helped prevent a number of older people spending Christmas alone at home by bringing them in to Abbeyfield Kent suported homes.

There have been not one, but two appearances for Abbeyfield Kent on TV since the last newsletter. Watling Court starred in an episode of Homes Under The Hammer and Marise Edlin, a resident at Connors House, spoke to

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The Abbeyfield Kent Society is a registered charity and housing association; providing care and housing to over 500 older people at 16 locations throughout Kent.

The Abbeyfield Kent SocietyThe Old WharfStation RoadCuxtonRochesterKentME2 1AB

Telephone: 01634 723007

Registered in England under the Companies Act No. 908333Registered under the Housing Act 1974 No. H2362Registered Charity No. 254140

You can keep up-to-date on all the news from the Society’s homes and events all year round by visiting the following sites:

BBC South East Today about her upcoming art exhibition. Again, more details of that in issue two.

Lots more has gone on, from Facebook training sessions and Valentine’s Day, to National Storytelling Week and what we think is Kent’s oldest pancake chef. All included in issue one.

We welcome your feedback on the AKS times. Please feel free to contact the media team on 01634 723007 or email media@abbeyfieldkent.org

Enjoy the issue.

abbeyfieldkent.orgfacebook.com/abbeyfieldkent

twitter.com/abbeyfieldkent

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Society news

Guests get festive at Lantern ParadeThe Abbeyfield Kent Society held a Christmas service and Lantern Parade for its residents and invited guests at Aylesford Priory in the build up to Christmas.

In celebration of Christmas, Abbeyfield Kent invited all of its residents to the Lantern Parade, which was held at The Friars Relic Chapel on Sunday 11th December. The service consisted of readings of the Christmas story by Father David Fox and the singing of Christmas carols.

Connors House, the Society’s home in Canterbury, has recently established a community partnership with Canterbury’s Parkside Community Primary School, and to celebrate the school choir came along to sing to the congregation. Lead by Choir Master Tracy Castle, the choir sang Away In A Manger, Silent Night, and Jingle Bells.

Residents from each of the Society’s residential homes from around Kent were in attendance. During the service, guest readings were carried out by Maggie Town, Spirit of Abbeyfield Ambassador, and Connie, a pupil from Parkside Community Primary School.

The Friars is an ancient religious house of the Order of Carmelites, dating back to the 13th Century, and its picturesque setting offered the perfect background for a festive occasion. After the service, the whole congregation gathered lanterns and formed a procession outside the Relic Chapel, around the grounds at The Friars.

Abbeyfield Kent were lucky to receive support from a number of Kent’s dignitaries; in attendance were Georgie Warnie, The High Sheriff of Kent, The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, The Deputy Mayor of Sevenoaks and The Deputy Mayor of Maidstone.

Leon Steer, Abbeyfield Kent Chief Executive commented: “Aylesford Priory is a wonderful venue for a Christmas event, and it provides a very special backdrop for our Lantern Parade. It is very important for the Society that our residents are able to enjoy a special Christmas service, and we do all we can to ensure they are afforded every opportunity. This year’s Lantern Parade really was special, everyone at the Society is already looking forward to next year.”

Pupils from Parkside Community Primary School entertain the congregation.

Connie from Parkside Community Primary School gives a reading during the service.

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Abbeyfield offers Companionship at ChristmasTo help combat the increasing trend of festive isolation, in the build up to Christmas Abbeyfield Kent launched a campaign to give older people an alternative to spending the Christmas period alone.

As part of a national initiative, which involved 140 Abbeyfield houses around the country welcoming older people in over the festive period, all of Abbeyfield Kent’s supported homes invited in older people who were planning on spending the Christmas period alone.

Older people who were due to be on their own over Christmas were invited to visit Abbeyfield Kent supported homes for a free daytime stay, which including a delicious Christmas dinner.

Several local dignitaries visited Abbeyfield Kent homes in the build up to Christmas to lend their support to the campaign, which relied on friends, family and neighbours getting in touch to invite their older relatives and neighbours to take part.

The Mayor of Maidstone visited Abbeyfield Kent’s Old Tovil Road home on the afternoon of Tuesday 29thNovember to meet the home’s residents and learn more about the Companionship at Christmas campaign. After a tour of the home led by Trustee John Young, the Mayor joined the residents of Old Tovil Road for tea and biscuits; discussing their plans for Christmas and their plans to invite people in to their home over the festive period.

After visiting Old Tovil Road, Brian Mortimer, Mayor of Maidstone commented: “I think the Companionship at Christmas campaign is a great idea and I’m delighted to support it. It is horrible to think of older people being on their own this Christmas, but coming into Abbeyfield Kent homes like Old Tovil Road can bring them companionship, Christmas spirit and some good food! Even if only one person signs up, it will make a huge difference to their Christmas.”

Next up, the Chairman of Sevenoaks Council Robert Orridge visited Abbeyfield Kent’s St Marys home on the morning of Wednesday 7th December to meet the home’s residents and learn more about the campaign. The Chairman was given a tour of the home by residents and Trustee Shirley Brigham, then joined the residents of St Marys for tea.

After visiting St Marys, Robert Orridge, Chairman of Sevenoaks Council commented: “Abbeyfield Kent’s Companionship at Christmas campaign is a wonderful idea and I’m very happy to

Society news

Mayor of Maidstone Brian Mortimer with Old Tovil Road resident Ivy Scott

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Abbeyfield offers Companionship at ChristmasSociety news

endorse it. The campaign presents older people who are alone over Christmas with a unique opportunity to enjoy the companionship of other people in a warm and homely environment, when they would otherwise be isolated. I hope people who are alone are encouraged to get in touch.”

Sevenoaks Council Chairman Robert Orridge with residents at St Marys

Finally, in the week leading up to Christmas Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, visited residents at Abbeyfield Kent’s Old Tovil Road supported home, to wish them a very merry Christmas and find out more about the Companionship at Christmas campaign.

After a tour of the home, Helen joined the residents for Christmas dinner and discussed their plans for Christmas and their lives at Old Tovil Road. Just before Helen arrived, the residents had been busy opening their Christmas presents, so were all in the festive spirit!

After visiting Old Tovil Road, Helen Grant MP of Maidstone and The Weald commented: “I am so impressed with Abbeyfield Kent Old Tovil Road, the atmosphere is great and feels so warm

and welcoming. Having spoken to all the residents, I can see how happy they all are here – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my visit this morning.”

Leon Steer, Abbeyfield Kent Chief Executive commented: “It’s dreadfully sad that there are older members of our communities who live isolated and sheltered lives, but over the Christmas period their solitude feels that much more heartbreaking. Many of us go away over Christmas to spend time with friends and family, but it doesn’t mean that anybody should have to spend Christmas on their own. The Companionship at Christmas campaign offers older people a wonderful opportunity to spend some time in the comfort of Abbeyfield homes with people of a similar generation. I am delighted that we were able to offer these daytime visits.”

The campaign was a great success, with a huge number of enquiries generated and several people spending the day at an Abbeyfield Kent supported home who would have otherwise spent that time alone.

Helen Grant MP with Old Tovil Road residents

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45 Years

Laurence Fowler-StevensSomebody once said that, if you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t there.

That is nonsense, of course: some of us were there and can certainly remember it very well indeed, especially the Summer of Love, as it is now called, psychedelic hippies with their flower power philosophy and their naïve belief that “All You Need is Love”. Yeah, man. Groovy!

Being 13 years old in 1967 was very frustrating. I was no longer a child yet still rather innocent but excluded from the “permissive society” that was a hallmark of the time (which was probably just as well!). But, yes, I remember it well, as Maurice Chevalier sang a generation or two earlier.

So, let’s have a bit of flavour of the year 1967. Those of you who were alive and kicking in the sixties can indulge in a little nostalgia, those not born in that Golden Age can either look on with envy or laugh at the memories of a man limping toward his own personal Sixties.

Let’s start with politics. Jeremy Thorpe – later disgraced - became leader of the Liberal Party. Moshe Dayan – famous for his eye patch - became Israel’s defence minister just in time to lead that nation’s armed forces to victory in the Six Day War. General De Gaulle stirred up some trouble when on a State visit to Canada by insulting his hosts with a plea for a “free Quebec”. Revolutionary or terrorist (depending on your point of view) Che Guevara died as did Clem Attlee, the

Labour Prime Minister who enjoyed that landslide victory immediately after the Second World War. This was also the year when the Greek Royal Family had to flee Athens after a failed attempt to overthrow the military regime.

On the stage and silver screen, Harold Pinter staged “The Homecoming” and a young man called Tom Stoppard had a huge success at the Edinburgh Festival with “Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”. “Bonnie and Clyde” starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty and was a box office smash hit of the year. Basil Rathbone, Viviene Leigh and Spencer Tracey died. Academy Awards went to “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, both films dealing with the emerging issues of race discrimination in the USA.

Other films that year included:•The Dirty Dozen•You Only Live Twice•Casino Royale•A Man for All Seasons•Thoroughly Modern Millie

1967 and all that

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45 Years

On the literary front, William Golding published “The Pyramid” and Graham Greene’s “The Comedians” was filmed. Siegfried Sassoon and Carl Sandburg died.

It was quite a year for music of all tastes. Sandie Shaw’s “Puppet on a String” won the Eurovision Song Contest (in an era when we won most years); Gerry Dorsey changed his name to Englebert Humperdink and had instant success with “Please Release Me”, the single which prevented The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” reaching the No.1 spot, the first time that had happened since their very first record five years earlier. However, this was also the year of “Sgt. Pepper”so they probably didn’t worry too much about that. The musical “Cabaret” opened in New York. Sir Malcolm Sargent died. Elvis married Priscilla.

What else happened?

•Expo ’67 – the World’s Fair – opened in Montreal, Canada.•Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay) was indicted for refusing to be inducted into the army. He was also stripped of his Heavyweight Boxing World Championship.•The model known as Twiggy took the world by storm.•Billie Jean King won just about every tennis tournament open to women.•The BBC began broadcasting colour

television (though few people could afford the sets!)•The first heart transplant was carried out.•The average house price was £3,840.•A gallon of petrol was the equivalent of 27p. That’s just 6p a litre!•A Ford Cortina was £749.•The United Kingdom applied to become Members of the Common Market…

Nineteen sixty-seven was, in many respects, an age of innocence. That was all about to change, however. The following year saw world-wide revulsion at the Vietnam War explode onto the streets. The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square came dangerously close to being overrun by protesters. In Czechoslovakia, the so-called Prague Spring came to an abrupt end when Russian troops invaded the country, choking off the small shoots of real freedom. The assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King in 1968 just about ended any hope that peace and love would save the human race. Life took an altogether more serious turn.

Meanwhile, somewhere in a Kent meeting room, a small group of people, concerned about the plight of elderly people in the County, got together to do something about it. The rest is history.

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Around the homes

Watling Court stars in TV showWatling Court, an extra care scheme that provides care for older people in Gravesend, featured in the hit daytime television show, Homes Under The Hammer in February.

A large group of residents, staff, friends and family settled in the home’s lounge to watch the show and a large cheer went around the home when Watling Court finally appeared. The feedback from everyone who viewed the show was positive, with new residents able to appreciate the evolution of the site over the last four years.

The new scheme, which opened in 2011, was one of three properties featured in the show, which focuses on properties that have been purchased at auction and then redeveloped. The extra care scheme came to the attention of Lion TV, who produces the show, back in 2008 when Kent County Council auctioned it.

The transformation since then has been

dramatic, and drew praise from the local estate agents and property experts featured on the show. The 56 apartment building is made up of one and two bedroom accommodation for older people with care and housing needs. In addition to the apartments, residents benefit from on-site restaurant, hairdressers, shop and IT hub.

The show’s experts provided estimations to the value of the scheme, which revealed that the project has been a sound financial investment, with a commercial value well in excess of the initial outlay.

Zena Thomas, scheme manager at Watling Court, commented: “It was great to see Watling Court on the television, the residents have been looking forward to it since Christmas and they all really enjoyed it. Everyone at Abbeyfield Kent is very proud of the scheme, and I’m very glad that we got an opportunity to show it off to the whole country.”

For more pictures from the day, visit our facebook page at

www.facebook.com/abbeyfieldkent

Homes Under The Hammer hosts Lucy Alexander and Martin Roberts

Cynthia Mastin from Watling Court gives her feedback on Homes Under The Hammer

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Around the homes

Residents at St Martins residential home in Larkfield watched on over a weekend in February when members of the local community joined forces with staff from the home to build an impressive snow man in the garden.

The start of February saw a cold spell grip a lot of the country, and Kent was no different with almost all Abbeyfield Kent homes affected in some way by the snow. It is important to keep an eye on elderly neighbours during periods of weather, which makes getting about difficult, but Abbeyfield Kent homes are always well looked after.

In Larkfield, near Maidstone, members of the local community ensured that the residents at St Martins didn’t miss out on any of the fun and games associated with snowy weather.

Unable to get out in to the snow and take part themselves, residents at St Martins

were treated to a snowy display when members of the local community got together with staff from the home and built a snowman in the front garden of St Martins.

St Martins is situated close to an arcade of shops, so admiring visitors looked on and joined in with the snow project, making it even more heartwarming and spectacular! After the snowman was finished, residents at St Martins invited the group into the home to warm up with a cup of tea and some biscuits.

Home manager Jan Moulton watched the snowman take shape: “It was wonderful to see and testament to the support group that we have around Larkfield. The residents really appreciated it and were keen to get all the helpers into the home afterwards to warm up; that’s what I call community spirit!”

New resident moves in to St Martins

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Around the homes

Love in the air at The DynesResidents at The Dynes celebrated Valentine’s Day in style this year with a special evening at the Kemsing residential home.

The Dynes celebrates Valentine’s Day every year, but wanted to mark it with something special in 2012. All the members of staff at the home pulled together to make the home look amazing, by decorating the dining room with red hearts and roses.

Head chef Kevin is famous at the home for his exceptional skills, and for Valentine’s Day he made a wonderful three course lunch of Leek and Potato soup, a main of steak in red wine sauce with garlic roasted vegetables, followed

by a dessert of strawberry mousse with chocolate hearts, all washed down with a nice glass of wine!

Nicky Pett, home manager at The Dynes, was delighted with the effort staff had put in, commenting: “It was really nice to see the home’s dining room decorated especially for Valentine’s Day, I think the residents really enjoyed seeing it too. The dinner that Kevin prepared smelled delicious and every one of the residents really enjoyed it. We put a lot of thought and effort into our events calendar, it is great to see it paying off. We’re working with the residents to sort out the next special event.”

The Dynes resident Eileen Waddington enjoys Valentine’s Day dinner!

The kitchen staff at The Dynes worked hard to create a special dinner for residents. Josephine Welsh serves up.

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Around the homes

Bill and Tess celebrate diamond anniversaryEdenbridge couple Bill and Tess Cummings recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by hosting a special party.

Bill lives at Stangrove Lodge residential home in Edenbridge, so the couple’s children organised a wonderful party at the home on the morning of 19th January, sixty years to the day after Bill and Tess tied the knot.

Married on a snowy January day at Saint Vincent’s Church in Sheffield in 1952, the couple set up home in Yorkshire and remained there until moving to Kent 18 months ago. Surrounded by friends and family, including other residents from Stangrove Lodge, the happy couple toasted their marriage before cutting their cake and reading the many cards they received, including one from Her Majesty the Queen.

Enjoying the company of friends and family, Tess Cummings said: “I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. We’ve been very fortunate to enjoy such a long and happy marriage, and we’re looking forward to many more content years together.”

Kent’s most mature pancake chef?

To celebrate Pancake Day, Rogers House oldest resident put forward an attempt for a unique claim to fame.

Victoria Middlemiss is 102 years old, celebrating her birthday early in February. Not wanting to miss out on the fun and games of Pancake Day, Victoria jumped at the chance to get in the Rogers House kitchen and knock up a batch of pancakes. Surely becoming Kent’s most mature pancake chef?!

Rogers House home manager Lucy Dixon was enthusiastic about getting the home’s residents involved in the kitchen, commenting: “Victoria is such a huge character around Rogers House and was a real good sport today getting involved in Pancake Day; we couldn’t stop her! She’s an inspiration to everyone at Rogers House.”

Abbeyfield Kent looks after 500 older people throughout Kent, so is in a unique position to judge: we’re certain that Victoria is Kent’s oldest pancake chef, but we’d love to be proved wrong. Do you know of an older pancake maker? Get in touch and let us know via our Facebook

wall at www.facebook.com/abbeyfieldkent

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CaresWho

To celebrate 45 years of providing care for older people across Kent, The Abbeyfield Kent Society is hosting a Charity Ball to raise funds for the Who Cares? Initiative.

May 16th 2012 sees Abbeyfield Kent celebrate its 45 year anniversary, and has a range of special events lined up across the year to celebrate. The single largest celebration is taking place on November 24th at Turkey Mill in Maidstone, where the Society’s inaugural fundraising ball will boost funds for Who Cares?

Turkey Mill is one of Kent’s finest venues and guests will be treated to a delicious three course dinner, entertainment, live music provided by sixties act The Sweet Nothin’s, and an auction led by Clive Emson, all in aid of a great cause.

Who Cares? offers older people peace of mind by supplying a bursary fund to keep them in Abbeyfield Kent homes. Sometimes, the care that Abbeyfield Kent provides can no longer be paid for from diminishing personal resources for some long term residents. It’s a sad fact that, when many older people have to move to a less expensive home, often miles away from family and friends, the change can lead to sickness and premature death.

The Who Cares? Initiative was established to provide the funding needed to bridge the gap between the cost of high quality care and what is

45 Years of care celebrated with Charity Ball

affordable. Abbeyfield Kent uses money raised by the Who Cares? Initiative to provide peace of mind to those who need that extra support so that they can remain in our homes as part of the Abbeyfield Kent family.

The Who Cares? Initiative relies on donations from individuals and organisations that recognise the need to help those who are vulnerable and at risk. The full 100 percent of those donations are used to directly support those whose need is greatest: The Abbeyfield Kent Society administers and promotes the scheme without using any of the money donated to pay for administration or any other costs.

Tickets cost £75 per person; as an incentive to invite your friends if you buy a table of ten tickets, the tenth ticket is free!

For more information about the Who Cares? Charity Ball or to book tickets, please call 01634 729173 or email media@abbeyfieldkent.org

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Around the homes

drew the attention of local television news show BBC South East Today. The BBC visited Connors House early in March to talk to Marise about the exhibition and her life as an artist. The visit was broadcast twice that day, being viewed by an estimated 650,000 people!

Marise was joined at the shoot by her son Paul, a regular visitor to Connors House, who brought along Marise’s “Beachcomber” which drew lots of admiring glances from fellow residents and member of staff who had never seen it before.

Christine Devlin, home manager at Connors House, is delighted that Marise is getting recognition for her talent once more: “This was the first time we had viewed “Beachcomber” and staff at the home were all amazed, it is a stunning piece of work. I’m so pleased that the BBC covered Marise’s story and I hope it helps make the art exhibition the success she deserves.”

For more examples of Marise’s work and more details on the art exhibition, please check our

facebook page at www.facebook.com/abbeyfieldkent

Marise makes TV debutMarise Edlin, a resident at Connors House in Canterbury, starred in an episode of BBC South East Today at the start of March as a result of an art exhibition she is hosting.

Marise is a talented artist who has lived at Connors House since 2009. Marise has painted all her life to great acclaim; her “Beachcomber” was made the Royal Academy’s Painting of the Year in 1969, and was exhibited in Scotland along with some other examples of Marise’s work.

Unfortunately, an incurable hip condition means that Marise can no longer stand to paint, and had stopped painting entirely before her move to Connors House. After finding out about her unique talent, staff at the home worked with Marise to develop a new technique for painting, and she hasn’t looked back since.

To celebrate Marise’s revival as an artist, Connors House are hosting an art exhibition at the home, an event which

Butterfly Mug,Marise Edlin 2012

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Around the homes

Story time across KentAll across the county, Abbeyfield Kent homes opened their doors to local children to celebrate National Storytelling Week 2012.

National Storytelling Week is an annual event run by the Society for Storytelling. A huge number and large variety of people and organisations took part this year, with thousands of people getting involved in events including storytelling tours on buses to themed days at libraries.

A number of Abbeyfield Kent homes took part in the event by linking up with local schools to put on special events for residents and children.

One of the visits was in Wateringbury, where Wateringbury Church of England Primary School pupils took part in a reading session with residents at Greensted.

The event encourages all areas of the community to get involved in creating and enjoying storytelling, so a mixture of generations gathering together to celebrate was a wonderful way to mark the occasion.

On Thursday 9th February, pupils from the school visited the home and read stories to residents gathered in the reading lounge, including Hairy Maclary and Five Minutes Peace. Afterwards the residents told the children a few stories of their own over a cup of tea and a cake, and were very complimentary about the readings that the children carried out.

Greensted are fortunate enough to enjoy a close relationship with the primary school and visits between the two are becoming a frequent occurrence. Wateringbury Church of England Primary School Headteacher Mrs Vinall commented: “We asked the children in assembly who wanted to visit and they all put their hand up; they really enjoy coming along. One of our pupils even visits on weekends now with her mum as she has made friends with Bea, a resident at the home. I’m delighted that we’ve managed to establish such a good relationship.”

Reflecting on the event, Louise Russell, Stangrove Lodge resident Mary Hatton with

pupils from Edenbridge Primary School

Florence from Wateringbury Church of England Primary School with Fred Richards

from Greensted.

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Around the homes

Greensted home administrator commented: “The residents really love it when the school visits, they think of the children as their friends now so when I heard about National Storytelling Week I knew that we’d have to get them involved. It was a fabulous morning and the atmosphere was wonderful. We’re already looking forward to future visits!”

Another home that took part was Stangrove Lodge, where Edenbridge

Primary School pupils took part by reading with residents and staff at the home.

On Friday 3rd February, pupils from the school visited the home and read stories to residents gathered in the home’s largest lounge, including The Grateful Elephants and The Scorpion. This was followed by Edenbridge Primary School’s year five pupils, who read a range of stories and adapted them to create their own, enhancing them by accompanying the story with music.

Reflecting on the event, Sarah Simmons, Stangrove Lodge home administrator commented: “The children’s visit really lit up the home and the residents loved hearing them read their stories, in particular the efforts of year five, which were very interesting indeed. The residents are already looking forward to their next visit!”

William, Daisy Richards, Luke and Percy Clements after the storytelling session at Greensted.

Arwen and Max from Wateringbury Church of England Primary School.

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45 Years

Summer of Love hits KentThis May, to celebrate 45 years of caring for older people, Abbeyfield Kent are encouraging everyone across Kent to turn the clock back to 1967 with a Summer of Love party.

The Abbeyfield Kent Society was founded in Gillingham on 16th May 1967 by the Reverend Tom Rogers, and has a range of exciting events lined up throughout 2012 and 2013 to mark the occasion. First up is our Summer of Love Weekend, over 19th and 20th May.

We’re encouraging everyone to get involved with the event by hosting their own party in keeping with the Summer of Love theme, so the whole county will be turning the clock back!

All Abbeyfield Kent homes from across the county, from Canterbury to Edenbridge, will be taking part by hosting their own special party, with fancy dress, themed food and of course, sixties music.

Why not cook up some sixties specialties? Menu items associated with the era include prawn cocktail, crème

brulee and quiche, and there are a wide range of sixties cocktails still available, plus of course babycham!

As part of the the celebratory process, later in the year, we’ll be compiling a playlist for the parties taking place at our homes with the help of our Facebook friends. 1967 was an iconic year for music, so there are plenty of memorable hits to choose from; including I’m A Believer by The Monkees, All You Need Is Love by The Beatles and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

There are lots of fun ways of getting involved in marking the landmark occasion. Events could range from low-key viewings of your favourite film from the sixties, perhaps The Graduate or The Jungle Book, to Summer of Love parties with your friends and family.

It’s a great way for generations who didn’t experience the sixties directly to find out about the culture, fun, food and music from the Summer of Love!

Let us know what you’re planning, send us suggestions for food and playlists on our

Facebook page at www.facebook.com/abbeyfieldkent

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Around the homes

St Martins, a residential home in Larkfield, hosted a Facebook training session in March to demonstrate to residents the benefits of the social networking site.

Noticing an increasing amount of residents becoming interested in computing, St Martins home manager Jan Moulton decided to organise a Facebook training event, so that residents at the home could better get to grips with social networking. St Martins is located close to Larkfield library, and several residents at the home make use of the IT facilities there to contact friends and family via email and Skype.

Two social media savvy volunteers were recruited, and set up in St Martins lounge where interested residents had gathered. After being talked through the basics, four residents volunteered to have their own Facebook profiles created, and were soon searching for friends and family to keep in touch with.

One of the residents who took part in the course was Roland Berkeley, who took advantage of the day by setting up a Facebook profile and becoming friends with his daughter and son-in-law, who live in Germany. Roland commented: “I’ve had an interest in computers since purchasing an Amstrad from Sir Alan in the eighties, but things like Facebook have remained a mystery to me. I really enjoyed the session and Facebook looks a fantastic website; I’m looking forward to seeing more of what my family are getting up to in Germany and showing off my new computer skills!”

The home raised some money over the course of 2011 by staging a series of fundraising events, and after much deliberation the residents committee decided they would like to set up an IT hub in the home, meaning that they can regularly log on to Facebook in the future and save queuing up at the library.

Jan Moulton, home manager at St Martins, organised the Facebook training morning and was delighted to see the residents enjoying it: “We have a number of residents at St Martins who enjoy using the computer, and almost all the residents have friends and family on Facebook. It offers a great way for our residents to keep in touch with their friends and family and I can’t wait to see them get more and more into it. The Facebook training was a great day, and the residents really enjoyed it.”

St Martins residents get networking

St Martins resident Irene Nice shows off her new Facebook profile

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Dene Holm, a residential home in Northfleet, has held a special party to celebrate Diwali for residents and members of staff.

The festival celebrations were organised by members of staff at the home, who put on similar events at Dene Holm every year. Members of staff and residents were encouraged to invite their families into the home to take part, so the lounge was full up and had a great atmosphere before the celebrations began.

Over 30 residents gathered in the home’s largest lounge in anticipation of the event on the morning of 26th October, the first day of the 2011 Diwali festival.

Residents who wished to participate had a tilaka marked on their forehead and barfl, traditional Diwali sweets, were passed around before the celebrations began. Residents were treated to music and dancing by some of the home’s members of staff and their families, with quite of few of them choosing to join in!

Being the festival of lights, no Diwali party would be complete without fireworks; members of staff led the residents as they celebrated with sparklers along to the music. To finish off the celebrations, guests were treated to a special lunch, with unique culinary delights befitting the occasion.

Like all Abbeyfield Kent homes, Dene Home practices the Eden Principles, a concept that helps eradicate loneliness, helplessness and boredom. The Diwali celebrations were an extension of the Society’s commitment to the Eden Principles, with the residents benefitting from the involvement and participation in the Diwali party.

Taofeek Bolakale, home manager at Dene Holm, commented: “I have only recently started working at Dene Holm, but the tradition of holding a party to celebrate Diwali goes back several years. It was truly wonderful to see residents, members of staff and relatives all taking part on such a special occasion. I am very proud of the members of staff who organised the celebrations, which the residents and our visitors enjoyed tremendously.”

Dene Holm celebrate Diwali

Rajinder Rai places a tilaka on Dene Holm resident Kathleen Taylor

Rajinder Rai and Charles Durham enjoy Diwali celebrations at Dene Holm

Around the homes

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Our homes in KentResidential

Connors HouseCraddock Road, Canterbury CT1 1YP01227 769774

Dene HolmDeneholm Road, Northfleet, Gravesend DA11 8JY01474 567532

Edward Moore HouseTrinity Road, Gravesend DA12 1LX01474 321360

Greensted16 The Orpines, Wateringbury, Maidstone ME18 5BP01622 813106

Rogers HouseDrewery Drive, Wigmore, Gillingham ME8 0NX01634 262266

St MartinsMartin Square, Larkfield, Aylesford ME20 6QJ01732 842628

Stangrove LodgeManor House Gardens, Edenbridge TN8 5EG01732 864975

The DynesNightingale Road, Kemsing, Sevenoaks TN15 6RU01959 523834

WoodgateTudeley Lane, Tonbridge TN11 0QJ01732 350952

Supported housing

Barnsole Road159 Barnsole Road, Gillingham ME7 4JH01634 852298

Drewery DriveWigmore, Gillingham ME8 0NX01634 364375

Old Tovil Road105 Old Tovil Road, Maidstone ME15 6QE01622 677793

Margaret Fisher House30 Old Kent Road, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge TN12 6JD01892 834550

Northwood Road59 Northwood Road, Tankerton, Whitstable CT5 2HA01227 771310

St Mary’s15 The Glebefield, Riverhead TN13 3DR01732 460545

Extra Care Scheme

Watling CourtIfield Way, Gravesend, DA12 5BP01474 352201

Contact details

The Abbeyfield Kent Society

The Abbeyfield Kent Society

Saturday 24th November 7pmTurkey Mill, Maidstone

Buy a table of ten and get the tenth ticket free!For more information, or to purchase your ticket please

contact our media team on 01634 729173 or email media@abbeyfieldkent.org

In celebration of our 45th anniversary, The Abbeyfield Kent Society is very excited to announce that we will be hosting a charity ball in aid of our

Who Cares? Initiative.

Join us in celebrating our birthday, with a delicious three course meal, entertainment, including a live band, and an auction delivered by local TV

auctioneer Clive Emson – all in aid of a great cause!

Every penny raised on the evening will be spent on continuing to provide peace of mind to those who need that extra support, so that they can

remain in their home, as part of the Abbeyfield Kent family.