Roll up, roll up for circus day at Speedwell Court

This is the greatest show

The garden at Speedwell Court, our dementia- specialist care home in West End, Southampton was transformed into a bustling circus arena for a fantastic celebration. 

It was a wonderful afternoon that brought our residents, their families and our team together for plenty of laughs and some nostalgia. 

Speedwell Court's manager, Rhona, stepped into the spotlight as the ringmaster to the get the day underway, with everyone settling into watch some impressive juggling and hoop acts, a brilliant comedy monkey routine performed by the team, as well as a tense balancing display that kept everyone gripped.

The garden was filled with music and songs and there were traditional games all around the lawn. A highlight for many was the chance to throw wet sponges at Rhona whilst she was locked in the stocks, which got a lot of laughs from the crowd. With a fortune teller, clown acts and fresh candyfloss on the go, it really did feel like a proper, traditional day at the circus. 

Reliving fond memories

The afternoon was a huge success and it was lovely to see it bring back so many memories for our residents. Reminiscing is an important part of what we do and events like this are brilliant for bringing those stories to the surface. 

One guest said, “It was a wonderful, fun-filled afternoon,” while another reflected, “I remember, when I was in my early teens, the hours spent trying and eventually getting one hoopla spinning.”

Customer Relations Manager Justine Owen said, “We wanted to create something different – something full of energy and joy that everyone could enjoy together. It was fantastic to see residents, their families and staff all laughing and joining in.”

A year of celebration

We're really proud of the team at Speedwell Court for the care and effort they put into creating days like this - it's a perfect example of what make life here so special. 

The circus day is just one of many events taking place across the country as we mark Abbeyfield's 70th anniversary. 

To celebrate seven decades of supporting older people, we are hosting a wide variety of activities throughout the year across all of our care homes, sheltered housing schemes and independent living complexes. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, look back on our history and make even more memories with our residents.

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