VE Day Celebrations at Riverside
VE day stands for Victory in Europe Day which occurred on May 8, 1945 when the German Army offered a complete and unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces.
Here at Riverside we wanted to make VE Day very special for our residents. We advertised the party for the 7th May 2020 on our notice boards in the home. We printed out and gave invitations to all the residents in the home so no-one would be left out. We had to think outside the box with things we had available to us due to the lock-down.
We managed to get some bunting and hats for all the residents. We copied ration book covers along with clothing ration book covers and laminated these with each resident’s name on them and used them for placemats for each resident for the party and to keep later on if they wished on their tables in their rooms. We also printed Union Jack name cards for each place at the tables. We decorated the tables with red and white gingham table cloths, jam jars with two flags in each and fresh wild flowers in little vases on each table. Red Napkins and white plates finished the look. If a resident did not want to join in the dining room or were unable to join we set up their placemat, name card and flowers on their table in their room so they could also feel a part of the celebrations. Gary (from laundry) made bread and a fruit cake using authentic recipes from WW2. He made little cottage loaf rolls in white and brown. The fruit cake was the one Winston Churchill ate whilst signing the treaty. We also had sausage rolls, cucumber and corned beef sandwiches, crisps and chees in little cubes. We also got some balloons, blew them up and using a bath sheet as a sling attached to the ceiling to hold the balloons which we could release as part of the celebrations.
The residents came down to the dining room at 14.30 and were very surprised. They made their way to their places with their hats and decorations. We were playing war time music in the background and once they had all arrived and settled in it was explained why we were having the party and what it should mean to each of us. I talked about what peoples families had fought for and how much our lives would be so different if we had not won the war.
We then sang some war time songs off song sheets which the residents enjoyed immensely with all joining in clapping and swaying to the music and singing if they could.
After the singing we all enjoyed the food and the residents ate very well while enjoying the nostalgia of the music playing in the background and the chat between themselves followed by cups of tea. The staff came in and joined in the fun with the residents, helping where needed. Photos were being taken here, there and everywhere of everyone enjoying the fun.
On Friday the 8th May 2020 the residents enjoyed a concert put on by The Unforgotten Association for care homes. The concert had Dame Vera Lynn and many other celebrities singing and reminiscing about the war. There were also clips from the war shown during the concert. The residents were able to come and go from the dining room and were able to have their lunch while the concert was playing. The residents sang along or just watched the concert.
Please click the link below for the pictures of the celebrations
Click here to see more photos in our Gallery
Added: 8th May 2020
