ExtraCare locations honour Remembrance Day

During World War I convalescing soldiers were encouraged to create heart shaped pincushions as part of their recovery. At Hughenden Gardens Village in High Wycombe residents took part in the ‘Have a Heart’ initiative creating a stunning installation of hearts of their own hanging down from their ceiling. Each heart was made individually and placed by residents and staff for their Remembrance Display. The village held a 2-minute silence and last post and reveille on Saturday, and a children’s church choir will perform today followed by a service with various dignitaries and legion reps attending as well as residents.

It is well documented that members of the armed forces are more likely to engage in social isolation and suffer from PTSD symptoms as they age, with this in mind Longbridge Village in Birmingham held a Veteran’s Breakfast which proved a valuable gathering for all involved. Open to other villages, veterans were invited to enjoy a discounted breakfast and likeminded company. ExtraCare’s wellbeing service worked in collaboration with Longbridge’s amazing chef to put on the wonderful brunch.

Solihull Village has a beautiful display prepared by residents and staff outside the entrance with wooden soldiers and nets of poppies. The team will be joined by the local press at their Remembrance event today. Shenley Wood Village’s residents hold a service every year and have paper poppies for residents to write a name or message of remembrance on which are then stuck to their soldier display.

Stoke Gifford Village’s Knit and Natter group have been working hard to add to their display this year in Bristol. Alongside their knitted soldier they have created a beautiful knitted 8ft representation of the London Cenotaph which faithfully recreates the monument’s shape in soft yarn. Using different shades, it mimics the stone-like appearance. Knitted poppies embellish the base, paying homage to the original structure. Group member Jenny featured on BBC Radio Bristol on Friday discussing the project and its importance. Earlsdon Park’s Knit and Natter group have also been creating their own display of poppies with their friends and families. Wixams Village also created a beautiful knitted solider for their own display. 

Yates Court in Evesham held a coffee morning to watch the service on tv and residents joined a group to walk into town to see the local service. Whilst over at Pannel Croft Village singer Kerry Young will be singing wartime songs in the bistro on Remembrance Day. The display at the Birmingham location features a table draped in poppies with a soldier on top.

Take a look at just some of the wonderful displays and events that took place in our gallery.