17 October 2006
MAYOR & MAYORESS OF SWALE VISIT THE FAMOUS ROYAL STAR & GARTER HOME
The Mayor and Mayoress of Swale, Kent, Cllr John Morris and Mrs Ann Morris, visited The Royal Star & Garter Home for disabled ex-Service men and women in Richmond this week. The Mayor was invited by Mr Brian Lyons, Welfare Officer for SSAFA Forces Help who is based in Sheppey. As a disabled ex-Service man himself, Mr Lyons is keen to support the work of the Home in the Kent area.
Also joining the party was Mr Jeremy Thompson, who was recently appointed Regional Co-ordinator for Kent for The Royal Star & Garter Home.
The party visited 2 of the units in the Home where severely disabled ex-Service men and women are cared for. They also saw the Physiotherapy gymnasium and the Simon Weston Activities Centre, named after the Home’s Vice President Falklands veteran Simon Weston, where residents benefit from activities which are therapeutic, as well as fun.
The visitors met some members of the Residents Choir who were rehearsing in the splendid Queen’s Room, before walking through the terrace garden overlooking the river Thames. They also viewed a “mock-up” of what a resident’s room in the proposed new Royal Star & Garter Homes will look like. The Charity is planning to build three new homes, including one in the Richmond area to replace the current Home. The first of these will open in Solihull in the summer of 2008.
Jeremy Thompson said “I was delighted to meet the Mayor and Mayoress. I am hoping that Brian and I will be able to collaborate on some fundraising events for the Charity in the Kent area.”
About the Royal Star & Garter Charity
The Royal Star & Garter Home, an independent registered charity based in Richmond, has been caring for disabled ex-Service personnel since 1916. The Charity offers the best in nursing and residential care plus a range of therapies. There are also a wide variety of leisure activities available for our residents to enjoy, both inside and outside the Home. In future years, The Royal Star & Garter Charity intends to build new homes, in the Richmond area and elsewhere, in which to provide specialist care for the elderly disabled, and for those with dementia for whom there is very little provision at present.
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FURTHER INFO: Rebecca Spencer, Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator TEL: 020 8439 8118 or EMAIL: rebecca.spencer@starandgarter.org