Despite observing strict social distancing rules, self-isolating apartment Owners at Churchill Retirement Living’s new Beatrice Lodge development in Sittingbourne have managed to create a spectacular VE Day display including a “Poppy Fountain” made of over 1,800 individual poppies to mark this week’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
Explaining the positive VE Day spirit on show, Lodge Manager Abigail Carden says: “We have spent several days making a fountain of poppies which comes out of a second floor window onto the ground floor. One of my Owners used a special cutter to cut them all out, and then they were safely passed on to other apartment Owners to sew on the black buttons – there are 1,865 poppies in total!
“We also have streams of bunting on show, with each individual piece of bunting including a silhouette of a solider – 320 of them were cut out by hand by some of the Beatrice Lodge Owners and then stapled on to each white flag. They’ve been working hard on it and we’re all really proud of the result!”
To help keep its self-isolating Owners across the country in good spirits, Churchill has put together a special programme of VE Day activities and information to help people celebrate at home while staying stay safe in their apartments.
At Beatrice Lodge Abigail has truly gone the extra mile, also arranging a special ‘ration pack’ to be delivered to each apartment with treats for Owners to enjoy. She explains: “I have filled some brown paper lunch bags with rations of scones, jam, cream pots with some strawberries, and a bottle of cider so everyone can join the toast together at 3pm from their apartments.”
Located on Canterbury Road near the heart of Sittingbourne, Beatrice Lodge is not a care home, but a brand new collection of privately-owned one and two bedroom retirement apartments specially designed for independent living for the over 60s. Churchill recognises the potential vulnerability of its Owners in respect of the Covid-19 virus and is doing all it can to protect them and ensure developments like Beatrice Lodge continue to have exceptionally high levels of safety and service. Lodge Managers like Abigail are going the extra mile to provide the very best guidance and support, keep everyone in good spirits, and act as a key point of contact for the apartment Owners and those who care for them.
To find out more about the new apartments available at Beatrice Lodge, call Churchill Retirement Living on 01795 859 690 or click here.