Enfield care home celebrates London Pride with dancing and drag

The garden patio at Elsyng House on Forty Hill became a dance floor as Sissy took residents through crowd-pleasers from artists such as Abba, John Denver and Neil Diamond, and got them on their feet, singing along and showing off their moves with family, friends and staff.

Elsyng House provides residential, nursing, memory and respite care for its 76 residents. Sissy Lea, who hails from Sicily, is a former star of Drag Race Italia and regularly visits the home where she has become a favourite among the residents.

She celebrated London Pride dressed in a shocking pink lace dress with balloon sleeves, and matching pink hair.

Giovanna Scozzari, 87, is from the same Sicilian village as Sissy and the pair love to chat and swap memories of their home town.

“'Sissy is brilliant!” she said. “I love it when she comes in. She’s glamorous and a wonderful singer, but it’s also nice to be able to speak Italian together. I look forward to seeing her here again soon'.

Resident Angela Wass, 75, agreed. “I had a great time,” she said. “Sissy looked fabulous!”

The creation of care worker, Massimo Malluzzo, Sissy was initially nervous about performing to an elderly audience but said the community at Elsyng House has embraced her.

“Up until about two years ago, I’d never performed in front of that generation,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what they would make of a drag queen, but they love it! We have such a great time together, singing and dancing, and I’m thrilled they welcome me in and enjoy what I do.”

The home was adorned with rainbow flags and residents wore fascinators and sunglasses in Pride colours. Head of Hospitality, Stephen Eshmade, said it was more than just a party.

“Our celebration was a beautiful reminder of the importance of diversity, inclusion, and love in all its forms,” he said. “From rainbow decorations to heartfelt conversations, our Pride event was a true testament to our commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive community for everyone.”