Shining a light on our amazing veterans
In the run up to Remembrance Sunday, our care home in Chester, which was recently awarded Veteran Friendly Framework status, is proudly celebrating the veterans living in its care home community.
Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home was recently awarded VFF status in recognition of the team’s dedication to supporting the practical, emotional and social needs of the armed forces community.
Following this accolade, the team are proudly celebrating the service of their own veterans.
One of those is 99-year-old Tom Parker, who served in the Royal Corp of Signals (RCS) between 1944 and 1947.
Tom drove 20-tonne trucks, carrying his colleagues and supplies, spending two and a half years stationed in Malaysia and Singapore.
“I think our VFF status is great, we work alongside a veterans’ charity and meet up at their coffee mornings,” said Tom, who moved into the not-for-profit home in 2023.
Alongside these events, local veterans come to Upton Dene for afternoon tea with Tom and his fellow residents, who have also visited another local Sanctuary Care home, Barony Lodge Residential Care Home in Nantwich, for its own VFF celebrations, when it was named the 200th home to achieve the status. Tom also proudly attends remembrance events with the team at the local cathedral and has visited the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker in Nantwich.
The home’s activities coordinator, Kirsty Wood, said: “We are so proud of our veterans and the sacrifices they have made. Our VFF status is just another way we can recognise their service. We have found that all of the events we have got involved in as part of this process, have been so beneficial for Tom and his peers, inspiring them to be much more involved in our local community, which has been wonderful to see.”
For more about Upton Dene, which provides residential, nursing, dementia and respite care, which can be booked in advance, our Enquiry Support Team are here to help on 0800 331 7411.
