At Orford House, our Coulsdon-based residential care home, the residents and care team and are ‘Putting on The Ritz’ and getting ready to host a Roaring Twenties Great Gatsby community party to celebrate the charity’s landmark 120th Anniversary.
“On Thursday 14th August from 2 pm, the care home will take a step back in time and be transformed into a 1920s ‘Palais de Danse’ that even Jay Gatsby himself would be proud of,” added Mary Bradley, the Activities Coordinator at the care home.
“As part of our continued commitment to keep all the residents and respite guests we support and care for active, motivated, healthy and engaged with their local community, we wanted to host something really special for them all to enjoy to celebrate Friends of the Elderly’s milestone anniversary,” said Michelle Kennett, the Registered Manager at the care home.
“The Great Gatsby community event will be a flapper-tastic and fun time for all the residents, their families, loved ones and our local community. “We will be serving a delicious 1920s traditional High Tea, together with a selection of classic cocktails from the decade.”
“The 1920s was known as the Prohibition Era, but it is also known for some of the most iconic cocktail creations. Classic 1920s cocktails included The Old Fashioned, The Sidecar and French 75, and non-alcoholic choices such as The Shirley Temple and Roy Rodgers, so there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
“We were chatting with the residents and reminiscing about different decades, and the conversation moved on to the 1920s,” added Mary. “The residents never cease to amaze me – they really are fonts of all knowledge, especially when it comes to films. One resident told me that back in 1921, Rudolph Valentino set hearts racing when he danced The Tango in the movie The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, helping to make it the highest grossing film of the year, and another said that the first talking film The Jazz Singer was released in 1927. I really do learn something new from the residents every day.”
“We are all looking forward to celebrating Friends of the Elderly’s 120th Anniversary, and to welcoming residents’ family members, their loved ones, friends and our local community to join us in the ‘roaring’ festivities, ” concluded Michelle.
To RSVP or to get in touch, email orfordhouse@fote.org.uk or call 020 8660 2875.