Newsround 6 Newsround After the duvet days of winter, this season with its sunshine and bird song was a time of waking up and going out. Where residents are too frail to leave the home, staff and visitors bring the colours and freshness in, with fl owers and pictures. Reports from each home are so full of activities and events they hardly seem to be about older people! Our 202nd AGM and Thanksgiving Service was held in Mirfi eld, West Yorkshire. It was well attended, with people coming from all around the country. The speaker was author and evangelist John Blanchard. The full story, with pictures, will be in the next issue of the Quarterly. It seemed the end of an era when Ruth Edwards went Home at the end of March. Ruth was a pilgrim to the core and emblematic of Pilgrim Homes. A tribute to Ruth is on page 15. Brighton All of us know what it's like to face disruption when our homes undergo repair. Currently, the Brighton home has major electrical work underway. Understandably, it's a huge thing for residents. Several more rooms still need to be rewired plus the two main offi ces - the general and the managers'. Easter activities included painting hard boiled eggs and drawing Easter eggs. There was a competition with both the painting and drawings to select the best artist. St George's Day provided another occasion to celebrate. Residents enjoyed their lunch served by the resplendent pearly queen otherwise known as Anne Gower, home manager. The English fl ag and illustrations created a festive atmosphere with residents enjoying the cards staff made for them. The Brighton Auxiliary held an Open Day on the 6th of June. Stalls featured bric- a- brac, produce and cakes as well as the cards which residents made. Training continues to bring benefi ts. Staff are in the process of having dementia training based on a DVD called ' What do you see nurses?' and Anne Gower recently qualifi ed as an ' Infection Control Champion'. Chippenham The Leonora Home took on a festive air for the Easter season due to the artistic efforts of residents. They made special table decorations which created a lovely atmosphere. An ' images of spring' poster made up of residents' art work also added a seasonal fl avour to the small lounge. The choir from Mt Zion Christian Church, Hullavington, presented an Easter special. Chippenham residents are keen on music and the choir

Newsround 7 provides them with frequent visits. Leonora Home celebrates a 35th anniversary this year. This occasion is being marked in several ways. On the 27th of June, the Home Anniversary will be observed with a thanksgiving service. Later in the year, residents will celebrate with a party. Springtime began a season of local outings and other seasonal events. In May, there was an outing for tea and an informative talk at the local Salvation Army hall. On the 16th of May, Auxiliary members held a plant sale and coffee morning. Manager Gaie Marshall said, ' Because it's held in the home, residents can join in. These events are always popular and well supported.' Recent training has focused on food hygiene in order to keep staff up to date. Ruth Edwards, former Pilgrim Homes' matron, was called Home on 31st March. She will be missed by the Leonora family as well as her own, and others much wider afi eld. See page 15 for a full tribute to Ruth's life. Dorothea Court The 100th birthday of resident Florrie Ovenden was an occasion for celebrating that included four generations - and a solar powered water feature. The article on page 23 gives a fuller account. Dorothea Court enjoyed a very successful Open Day on 21st April with about 16 visitors from local churches and those on the Accepted Register ( prospective residents) coming to join in the residents' coffee morning. Visitors were able to chat with residents and look at the gardens and vacant rooms. Several made enquiries about the two vacant rooms. Manager Deryn van der Tang said, ' Everyone was delighted with the gardens which were wearing their mantle of spring glory with clematis in bloom and the tulips and other fl owers looking so bright and cheerful set against the foil of newly mown lawns.' The Friends of Dorothea group has been launched and people who are interested in helping have come to initial meetings. Two important sub- groups for pastoral and practical support have now been selected. Everyone is thrilled with the new guest room, which is also available for respite occupancy. A campaign is underway to make this known amongst the local churches and those on the Accepted Register. St Albans & District Auxiliary paid a welcome The garden at Dorothea Court