Let there be light: Care home invites local community to honour D-Day

On Wednesday and Thursday, June 5 and 6 from 11.30am Care UK’s Tennyson Grange on Westmead Road is holding its very own lamp lighting ceremony to remember the hundreds of thousands of brave people who took part in the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

To honour the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 1944, Care UKis partnering with royal pageant master Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, coordinator of D-Day 80 Lamp Light of Peace. Along with the three forces’ charities and the Merchant Navy Association, more than 100 care homes will take part in this nationwide tribute.

On the first day of the celebration guests can enjoy a special performance from The Barrack Boys and talk about the history of D-Day.

The next day the D-Day Dollies, will perform wartime classics and resident Lily Weeks’s granddaughter, Sharon Weeks, will share Lily’s husband Bert’s experience of D-Day, landing on Sword Beach on 7th June when he was only 20 years old.

The lamp, which represents the peace that followed the end of the second world war, will be lit in the evening by resident Glen Cole, born February 21, 1935. Glen was in the Royal Armoured Corp, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. He was a tank commander, a gunner, driver & signaller during his national service. He was based in Luneburg Germany, where Montogomery signed the peace deal in 1945.

Brighton Nyagomo, General Manager at Tennyson Grange, said: “We’re thrilled to be marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day with the help of the community.

“Reminiscence activities are a great way for older people, especially those living with dementia, to connect with those around them and maintain a sense of identity. In the run-up to the day, residents have been sharing their own stories and it’s been inspiring to hear everyone’s experiences and memories from wartime Britain.

“On behalf of the whole team, I’d like to extend our welcome to anyone interested in coming along for what we anticipate will be an informative and enriching day.”

To find out more about how Care UK is supporting the initiative, please visit: careuk.com/dday-80th-anniversary.

To find out more about Tennyson Grange, please contact Home Admissions Advisor Francois Erwee on 020 3797 2375 or email [email protected].