Showers failed to dampen spirits at a Wrexham care home’s annual summer fete.
Staff and residents of leading care organisation Pendine Park’ invited family and friends along for an afternoon of fun.
However, a solution to the rain showers proved an easy task – staff simply moved the party games and stalls indoors.
Activities Manager Gerry Humphreys said: “All the residents seem to enjoy the summer fete. They like having hot dogs and browsing the stalls for everything from bric-a-brac to new handbags.
“It really is a popular event and everyone has had a wonderful time.”
That was certainly the case for three generations of one family who tucked into a plate of home-baked cakes.
Former Countess of Chester Hospital mid-wife, Jayne Jones, 47, of Kelsall, suffered a catastrophic brain haemorrhage and stroke which has left her barely able to speak and confined to a wheelchair.
Jayne’s daughter Rachel Jones, 18, and her mother, Lynn Bullen, 72, dropped into have some summer fete fun with her.
Lynn Bullen said: “My daughter, Jayne, is doing so well here and slowly improving although progress was always going to be slow.
“We love visiting Jayne as we are always made so welcome and staff always have a smile and the offer of a cup of tea.
“Jayne, although divorced, has three children, Rachel and two boys, Sam, 17, and Andrew, 13. I now take care of my grandchildren so it’s nice to know Jayne is happy here at Pendine Park. We can actually see how content she is and that she’s beginning to make progress.”
Twenty-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer, Shelley Rogers of Shotton, is a resident of the Pendine Park’s Penybryn centre.
She said: “I’m waiting to get a place of my own but I have enjoyed being here. The staff are brilliant and we always have a good laugh, I’ll be sorry to leave in some ways because I’ve made a lot of friends here.”
Suzanne Lewis, 32, who hails from Prestatyn, is a Bryn Bella resident and has been at Pendine Park for almost a year.
She is currently awaiting assessment in the hope she can live independently in a bungalow near her family.
She said: “I’ve enjoyed the fete and have bought myself a new handbag and purse. Pendine Park has been brilliant and the staff have helped me a lot. I really have enjoyed it here.”
Elizabeth Roberts, 55, of Southsea, Wrexham, suffers muscular dystrophy, and says she has only just managed to start getting out and about in her wheelchair.
She said: “I’ve been stuck in bed but they have managed to get me up into a wheelchair and I can move about a bit. I do enjoy it here as the staff are really good to me.
“I’ve really enjoyed the fete but there is always something going on to keep you busy.”
Eighty-nine-year-old Highfield resident Ken Freeman had two special visitors drop into see him, his 12 year-old cross Yorkshire terrier, Bruno and Bruno’s mum, Poppy, 13.
Ken, who originally hails from Wallasey on the Wirral, had been living at the home of his friend, Lynn Barnes, in Coedpoeth but mobility problems meant he could no longer manage and needed full-time residential care.
Lynn, who owns Poppy and looks after Bruno for Ken, says she regularly brings Bruno in to see Ken.
She said: “Ken really loves it in residential care as he simply couldn’t manage at home. Clearly he couldn’t have brought Bruno in with him to live as that would not have been practicable.
“But the staff are so good and never object to Ken having visits from Bruno and Poppy. Ken’s a real animal lover and he does have a budgie, Joey, in his room. All the staff think the world of Joey.
“We have had a great time at the summer fete despite the showers. There is always something going on here to keep residents occupied and busy and they always greet visitors so well.”
Ursula Thomas, 47, who is herself a wheelchair user, dropped into the fete whilst visiting her mum who is a resident on Pendine Park’s newly opened Dementia Unit, Bonlobdeb.
She enjoyed meeting Welsh cob, Otis, who dropped into the fete with his owner, Lynda Williams of Pentre Broughton, who also runs Pen-y-Bryn Riding School.
Lynda was visiting her dad, Reg Buckley, who is himself a Highfield resident, and was asked to bring Otis along to meet residents by Gerry Humphreys.
Ref Buckley said: “My daughter visits me every day. I’m used to being in residential care now and enjoy it. I’ve been living on the Highfield Unit for 12 months now. I’ve enjoyed the fete but there is always something going on here.”
Ursula Thomas added: “Mum has settled well into Bodlondeb which is a brand new unit. I can visit when I want. I love horses and have enjoyed giving Otis a carrot or two at the summer fete.”
