Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Nostalgia

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Lavender Fields, a Greensleeves Care home in Sevenoaks, has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its inspection at the end of April.The inspection focused on five key areas integral to the running of the home, including whether the home is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. These key areas surmise the full report, which saw Lavender Fields receive a rating of ‘Good’ out of the possible ratings of ‘inadequate,’ ‘requires improvement,’ ‘good’ or ‘outstanding.’The CQC inspectors spoke to several of the residents’ family members, who were particularly appreciative of the care staff. The report showed comments

Residents at Weald Heights Care Home are searching for Sevenoak's most lovable pooch in our virtual dog competition and raising funds forForget-me-not cafes.Simply email your photos, along with the name of your dog and category to amelia.moore2@careuk.com.If you are also happy to make a donation to Forget me not cafes via the just giving website (see donation link below), that would be much appreciated.Categories are:-Best puppy (up to 1 year old). Golden Oldie. Cheeky chappie or lassie. Happiest face. Best of friends.(the winner will be judged on the best overall of these categories).Enties no later than midnight on 2nd May

Whilst searching past copies of the local paper for something else, I came across a much more interesting story, that of (William) Bill Dewing and his extraordinary life.Bill wasn’t a native of Sevenoaks. Born in 1886 in Deptford, he moved to the town sometime in the 1940s.He first appears in the Sevenoaks Chronicle in 1949. Clearly already a popular figure, Bill was a dream for any interviewer, in that he was happy to talk about his many experiences.Bill, now a purveyor of dried logs and manure, is first profiled with his trusty mare, Stella, who pulled his cart through the

Employee of the Month is a great honour, no matter where you work. However, for two members of the care team at Gloucester House Care Home in Sevenoaks, this achievement was extra special, as they were nominated by a resident of the home.Rueben and Rose, two vital members of Gloucester House’s care team, were nominated for the award by resident Gillian, who wanted to express her gratitude for the exemplary care she has received at the Greensleeves Care operated home.Gillian explained the reasons behind her nomination, saying “I nominated Rose and Reuben because they work so well together, they are so

On 23 March 2021, the anniversary of the first national lockdown, people across the country took part in the National Day of Reflection.  Whether it’s by joining a minute’s silence at 12pm or reflecting on those who died during the pandemic, it was an opportunity to reflect and remember.At Lavender Fields care home in Sevenoaks, staff and residents decided to commemorate residents lost to COVID-19 by decorating the floors with butterflies they made during their earlier craft session.  Each butterfly was named after a resident the home lost during pandemic. After morning tea, residents and staff joined in a ‘reflection’

Today is Census Day and you should already have received the information that will help you complete it.Like all U.K. census, it will be protected by the 100 year rule. Historians and genealogists are looking forward to the imminent release of the 1921 census due in 2022.A census in England has been taken every year since 1841 (with the understandable exception of 1941). The census has evolved over time. The most recent available, the 1911 census, was the first to be completed by the head of the household rather than someone knocking at the door to ask questions. It also

Monday was a very special day for visitors to Lavender Fields care home in Seal, Sevenoaks.  It was the day when, after months in lockdown, family members could visit their loved ones at the care home.  What made this day extra special for female residents was that it coincided with International Women’s Day.Following the government announcement that care home residents in England will be allowed to receive close contact indoor visits from one person from 8 March, families could not wait to see their loved ones and booked their visits early.Although visits via protective screens were allowed in the past

I began my suffrage research and writing journey back in 2017 when I answered a writing magazine advertisement that said publisher, Pen & Sword Ltd, were looking for new authors.  Little did I know at that time that this was how so many got involved in the suffrage movement more than a hundred years ago.  An example of this is the 1913 Pilgrimage by the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS).  They advertised country-wide seeking all non-militant associations and friends and sympathisers, both men and women, to join the pilgrimage and help in other ways.  This included giving money,

A real treasure trove of information regarding some of the women of Sevenoaks who worked as nurses during the war is the archive of material left by Kathleen Mansfield, Commandant of the Cornwall Hall VAD 76 Hospital. The archive also includes card, letters, drawings and photos of many of those cared for at the hospital, some of whom are named while others are labelled as ‘patients’ or ‘Belgians’. Kathleen Mansfield and her husband served throughout the war, tireless in their work to care for those that arrived at Cornwall Hall, from the Belgian refugees who began to arrive in Sevenoaks in late 1914,

Following our story about the disappearing woman at Dunton Green Station, here is another strange tale about a mystery man at a school in Sevenoaks.