Grange Hall News - Grange Hall Care Home

Grange
Hall
News
LEFT: Senior carer, James, recites the poem. RIGHT: Chef, Stephen, and Matron/Manager, Wendy, with Grange Hall’s
famous Burns Day dessert.
Ode to the clootie dumpling!
Residents enjoying the concert in the Social Centre.
THE haggis – great chieftain o’ the
pudding race – is traditionally saluted on
January 25, to celebrate the birthday of
Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns.
But at Grange Hall’s Burns Day lunch,
another Scottish delicacy is also
celebrated in rhyme – the clootie
dumpling.
Residents enjoy the dumpling so much
that it has its own poem which is read
out before they tuck in.
And this year the honour fell to senior
carer, James Douglas, who recited the
‘clootie ode’ with gusto, while Matron/
Manager, Wendy Smith, held the
dumpling aloft for all to admire.
After everyone had their fill, it was off to
the Social Centre, for a super concert
with music provided by Jimmy Gold and
some Scottish country dancing to finish
off a great day.
Fun over the festive season
AT Grange Hall, the festive season officially began on December
10 with the annual Christmas Social. The stalls included cake
and candy, bottle and different crafts and there was also a raffle
as well as delicious afternoon tea.
Accordionist, Jimmy Gold, provided the musical entertainment
and the grand total of £444.61 was raised for the Residents’
Social Fund.
Said administrator, Alison Scott: “The social went very well, but
unfortunately the weather wasn’t very good that day. We would
like to thank all those who braved the difficult conditions to come
along and support this event.”
On December 20, the traditional carol service was held, led by
Rev Julie Woods from Earlston Parish Church.
And on Christmas Day, Santa Claus arrived with a sackful of
presents then residents enjoyed a fantastic dinner with all the
trimmings.
The arrival of 2012 was toasted at the care home with a special
New Year lunch which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
Santa with some of
the residents on
Christmas Day.
TOP: Visitors enjoying afternoon tea at the
Christmas Social.
ABOVE: Resident, Anne Morrison, with members of
her family at the event.
BELOW: Resident, Margaret Gillie, enjoys a cuppa and
slice of cake with her daughter at the social.
Open door
Jim
Smith
EVERYONE at
Grange Hall was
saddened to learn of
the death of Jim
Smith in January.
Jim was the
secretary of
Harmony, the
Borders charity
which brings live
musical performances to care homes
and sheltered
housing throughout
the region.
Harmony is based at
an office in Grange
Hall and Jim,
together with the
other committee
members, his wife,
Ann, treasurer, and
Violet Baillie, chair,
worked tirelessly to
organise the
hundreds of free
performances every
year.
Their dedication
was recognised in
2011 when they
received The Queen’s
Award for Voluntary
Service at a special
ceremony held at
Grange Hall on
August 4.
The previous month,
Jim, Ann, Violet and
Grange Hall’s
Matron/Manager,
Wendy Smith, were
invited to attend a
Royal Garden Party
at Holyrood Palace in
Edinburgh, which
was a very special
occasion for them all.
Jim, who was a
Principal Educational
Psychologist before
he retired, was also
one of the founders
of the Borders Party
in 2006.
He will be very sadly
missed and we would
like to extend our
sincere sympathy to
Ann, his children,
Douglas and Alison,
and four grandchildren.
Diamond event
is streets ahead
MANY people around the
country will be
th
celebrating the 60
anniversary of The
Queen’s coronation this
summer by holding street
parties.
And Grange Hall
residents will not miss
out on all the fun.
For plans are in the
pipeline to have a street
party in the care home
too!
Explained social carer,
Margaret Scott: “We have
asked reflexologist, Debi
Noel, to design a special
street scene which the
residents will help to
paint and decorate.
“Debi has designed
fantastic murals for us in
the past including one for
the Royal Wedding last
year and the residents
really enjoy working on
them.
“We thought it would be
a great idea for Grange
Hall to have its own
street party to celebrate
The Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee.”
Staff plan to hold the
event on June 2 and
there will also be a
concert and games
outside if the weather
is fine.
Added Margaret: “We
want to have the sort
of games people would
have played back in
1952.
“And we hope that
the residents’ family
and friends will get
involved in the
planning of this
special event too.”
Fantastic one-man show
was out of this world
LOTS of costume changes, fancy hats and plenty of laughter was the order of the day when
the Frantic Theatre paid a visit to Grange Hall on January 7.
This remarkable one-man show turned the Social Centre into a whirlwind of activity, and, as
you can see from our photographs above, the residents were encouraged to join in the fun.
They enjoyed it so much that this super showman will return with more fantastic
entertainment in July.
Staff profile . . . staff profile . . . staff profile . . . staff profile . . . staff profile
Alex has
had quite
a journey
from the
King to
Lords!
FEW of us mere mortals can say we have had
lunch with a King.
But Alex Johnstone has tucked in with royalty –
thousands of miles from home!
Alex, 56, is one of Grange Hall‟s
maintenance men, responsible for
keeping the beautiful baronial
mansion in good running order as
well as making sure the lovely
grounds look their best.
But Alex‟s journey to Grange Hall,
where he has worked for the past
nine years, has taken him from the
Borders to France and back again,
twice around the world, then spells in
Holland and England before
returning to his home turf
permanently.
He said: “I was born in Duns, but
moved to France when I was two as
my father worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
“We stayed in Lequenois first of all
then moved to Arras, both in
northern France. I was educated
there and was bi-lingual, but couldn‟t
read or write in English, so I had to
learn when we moved back to
Scotland when I was 14!”
The family settled in Earlston where
Alex‟s mother came from and he
attended the local high school. His
first job was at Brownlees Sawmill in
Earlston, but Alex soon achieved his
ambition – to join the Royal Navy.
“I joined my first ship as a Junior
Marine Engineer Mechanic in Cape
Town in 1973,” he said.
“I served on HMS Mohawk and
HMS Penelope, both frigates, then
was stationed for a while at Faslane,
Maintenance man, Alex Johnstone, fixes one of
the care home’s wheelchairs
the Clyde submarine base. After that
I joined HMS Glamorgan, a
destroyer, for three years.”
Alex rose through the ranks to
become a Marine Engineer
st
Mechanic 1 Class, before joining
his last ship, HMS Sheffield.
He decided to leave the navy in
1982, but tragedy later struck HMS
Sheffield during the Falklands War
when the ship was hit by a missile
with the loss of some of the crew.
Said Alex: “I didn‟t see active
service myself, but it was really sad
to hear about HMS Sheffield. If I
hadn‟t left the navy, I would have
been on board.”
During his time at sea, Alex
travelled around the world twice.
“My favourite of all the places I
visited is New Zealand as the
scenery is just incredible.
“I also loved the Pacific Islands,
Tonga and Fiji, and enjoyed my
visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and
Australia, especially Tasmania.”
But it was during his stay in Tonga
that Alex came face-to-face with
royalty.
“We were asked to play a football
match against one of the local teams
and afterwards were invited to lunch
with the King of Tonga himself!
“I„ve made some really good
friends on my travels and still stay in
touch with them,” he said.
Alex worked in Holland for a while
as his parents had moved there, but
eventually decided to come back to
Britain.
“I got a job with a security firm and
was based firstly at Heathrow Airport
then Lords Cricket Ground.
“I was at Lords for about three
years and saw some really good
matches as well as quite a few
celebrities including Rod Stewart,
Mick Jagger and the former Prime
Minister, Sir John Major.”
When Alex returned to live in
Earlston he worked for several local
firms before obtaining a job as a
groundsman at Mellerstain House.
While he was there, one of his
colleagues was Violet Baillie – a
weel kent face at Grange Hall - and
she later encouraged him to apply
for the vacant maintenance post at
the care home.
“I started in March 2003 and really
enjoy my job,” said Alex.
“Together with Douglas King, the
other maintenance man, we fix
anything that has to be done both
inside and out.
“I particularly like working in the
grounds and enjoy having a chat and
a laugh with the residents. The staff
are a good bunch of people too.”
Away from Grange Hall, Alex still
enjoys the odd bit of travelling –
cycling along the Borders roads - in
his spare time!
Residents enjoy
this wheely
great service
Finlay is on
the right track
Railway enthusiast, Finlay Miller,
started to make this magnificent model
engine, above, himself.
But as a surprise, his family asked
someone to finish it off for him, and
then presented it to him in December as
a special Christmas present.
Finlay is delighted with the result and
the engine has been much admired
since it arrived at Grange Hall.
OUTINGS are very important to
the residents at Grange Hall.
And many are made possible
thanks to the not-for-profit
community transport project, Gala
Wheels.
Run by the Borders Disability
Forum, Gala Wheels has three
minibuses which seat seven
people and are all converted for
those in wheelchairs.
Grange Hall uses a minibus
every Monday during the winter
months and twice weekly in the
summer to take residents out for
coffee, visits to garden centres
and various sites or for jaunts
round the countryside.
Explained Alison Stables,
Community Transport Coordinator: “To use the service, you
must register with us as a member
and the transport can be used for
any disabled or elderly people.
“All drivers have to be
registered too and they must
complete a familiarisation session
organised by Gala Wheels before
a driver authorisation card is
issued.
“Anyone who is over 21 and has
held a driving licence for at least
two years can drive the minibuses
and for security we inspect the
licences and carry out a
criminal records check too.”
Alison said the low cost of the
service, just 20p per mile for
the first 80 miles then 50p per
mile after that, under the
Scottish Borders Social Car
Scheme, makes it accessible
for everyone.
And family members, carers
and friends can take
advantage of the vehicles to
organise outings.
She continued: “We have
volunteer drivers too so that
people can hire a vehicle
without having to rely on family
or friends.”
Gala Wheels, based in
Roxburgh Street, Galashiels,
covers the Central Borders
area.
But there is also Berwickshire
Wheels in Duns, Tweed
Wheels in Peebles and Teviot
Wheels in Jedburgh, so the
whole region is covered.
Anyone who would like
more information on this
important service can
contact Alison on 01896
668578.
A golden day
Resident, Jessie Davis, and her
husband, Roy, celebrated 50 years of
wedded bliss on December 21.
The happy couple had a special
celebration at Grange Hall with their
family, complete with an anniversary
cake, bucks fizz and balloons.
Jessie and Roy, who used to be a chef
at Grange Hall, are pictured at the happy
event with their daughter, Mandy.
Read all about it
The next edition of the Grange Hall News
will be the Spring one, covering all the
events in March, April and May. If there
is anything you would like to contribute
to this issue, please contact
Matron/Manager, Wendy Smith.
February 14 – Valentine’s Day – was celebrated in style with a
special concert in the social centre. Jimmy Gold provided the
musical entertainment which was enjoyed by all with lots of the
residents singing along to the romantic tunes!
They were also very busy earlier making cards and hearts - many
of which were used to decorate the lounges, dining room, and the
social centre itself.
Annie Wands with members of her
family and her lovely cake
birthdays
It’s Grange Hall’s magnificent seven – the residents who celebrated their birthdays in
December, January and February! They are, Annie Wands, who was 81, Helen Sibbald, 84,
Isabella West, 83, Bobby Liddle, 74, John Fisher, 85, Beatrice Glasgow, 74, and
Emily Shirley, 88. Best wishes to them all.
Eggstra
special
time
for all
Everyone loves
Easter –
especially all the
eggs!
And at Grange
Hall, residents
will be rolling up
their sleeves to
prepare for an
eggs-travaganza
of their own on
Easter Sunday,
April 8.
The residents
will dye and
paint hard-boiled
eggs.
But the event
will be no ‘yolk’
as the results
will be judged
and a special
prize awarded
for the best one!
So this Easter
promises to be a
fun time for all
the residents.
Return
of the
animals
Birthday girls: Above, left, Emily
Shirley, and right,
Beatrice Glasgow.
Below, left, Helen Sibbald with
members of her family and right,
Isabella West.
Last year’s visit
by the Gorgie
City Farm in
Edinburgh
proved so
successful that
the animals and
staff will be
coming back on
July 16.
Residents –
particularly the
frailer ones –
loved holding
and stroking the
rabbits, guinea
pigs and even a
snake last time,
so it will be
interesting to see
which animals
will come along
this year!