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Two best friends from The Oaks Care Home went behind the scenes at the filming of a new episode of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

Residents Joan Gregory and Eileen Simmonds paid a visit to the set of the hit TV programme which was being filmed at the National Trust’s Powis Castle and gardens in Welshpool.

Joan, 94, and Eileen, 81, who are big fans of the show, watched the Antique’s Roadshow team, including the show’s experts and presenter Fiona Bruce, uncover the fascinating stories behind valuable personal items.

The trip was organised by Daniel Hart, Registered Manager of The Oaks Care Home in Newtown, Powys.

Daniel said: “We love taking our residents on exciting and fun trips around the county and when we heard that Joan and Eileen loved the Antiques Roadshow we surprised them with tickets to watch it being filmed.

“It was a lovely day out and so exciting to see such a wonderful TV programme being filmed in the setting of Powis Castle.

Joan Gregory said: “Eileen and I had a lovely time. After watching the programme on the television for so many years it was such fun to visit the set and see it being filmed.”

Eileen Simmonds said: “I really enjoyed the day out and it was such a treat to see all the people getting their treasured items valued.”

Two friendly alpacas called Alex and Bethany surprised residents today at The Oaks Care Home.
The woolly visitors popped into the home to meet residents, joining them at afternoon tea in the lounge and even popping up in the lift to see residents in their bedrooms on the top floor.
The visit was arranged by activities coordinator Izzy Titley and Daniel Hart, the new Registered Manager of The Oaks, who is on a mission to bring exciting new ideas to the daily lives of people living in a care home.
Alpaca Bethany was introduced to one of the home’s carers and namesake Bethan who said: “It made my day to give Bethany a big hug.”
Both alpacas took a trip up in the lift to visit 100-year-old resident Frances Williams in her bedroom. She said: “Oh my gosh. What a shock! I was just watching afternoon television when they walked in. It was lovely to stroke them.”
Resident Sylvia Hughes, 79, giggled: “Oh my lord I’ve seen it all now! You have absolutely made my day.”
Daniel Hart, 42, who has worked in the care sector for 20 years, said: “We have a great team at The Oaks and we love coming up with new and unusual ideas to brighten up the lives of our residents.
“Some of our residents mentioned that they’d love a trip to Chester Zoo but we thought it would be more fun to bring the animals to them. The alpacas were a big hit and it was wonderful to see the look on everyone’s faces when they arrived.
“I believe it’s so important for our residents to have a full and interesting life and we’ve got bags of creative ideas including a schedule of events to get them out into the heart of the community.”
Activities coordinator Izzy Titley said: “I’m leaving The Oaks in a few weeks to travel round the world and I wanted to pull some final tricks out of my hat to surprise the residents. I told them we were just having our usual Friday afternoon bingo!
“They met Digby the dog at Christmas and that was brilliant pet therapy but we’ve stepped it up bringing alpacas into the home. All the residents love animals and it was lovely that the alpacas were free to walk around the home and interact with everyone.”
The Huacaya alpacas are part of a therapeutic team of seven alpacas from Admirals View Alpacas in Shropshire, which is run by Sarah Tickle.
Sarah Tickle said: “Alpacas are very friendly animals and they loved their visit to The Oaks Care Home. They’re comfortable in the lift so even residents on different floors didn’t miss out on their visit.”

The Oaks Care Home in Newtown, Powys celebrated St David’s Day in style this week.

Staff put on a series of themed activities throughout the day, including daffodil arranging, biscuit making and patriotic face-painting and residents also made paper daffodil brooches and button-holes.

There was a special lunch menu with Welsh rarebit, followed by Welsh leg of lamb and Bara Brith and local ice-cream.

Jen Roberts, Registered Manager of The Oaks, said: “We love putting on specially themed days for our residents. A couple of weeks ago we had a lovely Valentine’s Day Ball and this week we celebrated St David’s Day in style. Everyone had a memorable day.”

The Oaks Care Home in Newtown, Powys, is part of the Sandstone Care Group. The Sandstone Care team are passionate about providing outstanding, resident-led care within a modern setting.

The Oaks Care Home has 73 bedrooms, all with en-suites, and offers 24-hour residential care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff and residents at The Oaks Care Home will be wearing their Christmas jumpers to support Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on December 11.

They will also be taking part in a range of activities to support their fundraising.

The Oaks Care Home Activity Co-Ordinator Isabelle Titley will also be paddle boarding around the Welsh reservoir Lake Vyrnwy dressed as Mother Christmas to boost funds.

Registered Manager Jen Roberts said: “We’re delighted that residents and staff are keen to get involved in this year’s Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day.

“We have set up a Facebook page for relatives and friends of The Oaks to support us.”

To support The Oaks Care Home’s campaign please visit their JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/isabelle-titley

Or scan the QR code to easily find the page:

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Residents of The Oaks Care Home in Newtown commemorated the 75th anniversary of VE Day by sharing some of their memories.

From a young miner who was working underground on VE Day to a teenage girl who celebrated in style at a street party, all recalled their special memories from 1945.

Staff and residents enjoyed a socially isolated ‘street party’ in the home’s private enclosed garden with afternoon tea served in vintage China tea sets sourced locally and songs from the 1940s.

Jennifer Roberts, Registered Manager of The Oaks, a luxury nursing and residential home which offers the highest quality care for older people, including those with dementia, said: “VE Day is a day that many of our residents remember so we wanted to make sure the 75th anniversary was a special day for them too.

“It was humbling to hear their stories or their lives and their vivid memories of an incredible time in British history.”

  • Max was ‘underground’ on VE Day. For three years he was working deep in a coal mine in South Wales. Here he is today enjoying the warmth of the sun!
  • Gwalia was only 16 on VE Day. She came from a farming community and vividly she remembers a street party in Carno, a village in Powys.
  • Peggy enjoyed a special trip to Rhyl to celebrate VE Day. She remembers seeing lots of celebratory bonfires fires light up the Welsh hills. It’s a day she will always remember she says.
  • Frank has vivid memory of counting in U-Boats on VE Day. He served in the armed forces during the war. After only a few days leave after VE Day he was posted to Ceylon.