The residents and care team at Little Bramingham Farm, our Luton-based residential care home, have had a sparkling start to their Yuletide festivities. Together with their families, friends and over 150 neighbours and members of the local community, the care home hosted a spectacular and free Christmas Tree Light Switch On event and Christmastime gathering. “On Sunday 30th November we hosted our inaugural community Christmas Tree Light Switch On event,” said Emma Lawrance, the Registered Manager at Little Bramingham Farm. “It was so heartwarming to welcome over 150 members of our local community, neighbours, relatives’ families, old and new friends.”
“Local Little Bramingham Farm historian, Robin Dimmock, had the very important job of switching on the Christmas lights,” added Karen Charity, the care home’s Activities Coordinator. “Robin was a young boy when he worked with his family at Little Bramingham Farm and before he turned on the lights, he shared many memories of his childhood growing up and spending time at the Farm. He also recalled how the old barn was, at one point, used to house Prisoners of War, which was a fact many of us in the audience did not know.”
The Christmastide community event also had a very special Christmas performance by The Disharmony Choir to get everyone in a Winter Wonderful mood. “One of our Health Care Assistants, 85-year-old Abi Lewis, who has worked at Little Bramingham Farm for over 10 years, is a member of the Choir and arranged for her chorister friends to come along and not only entertain the crowd, but also to get the audience to join in with the Christmas classics,” continued Emma. The care home’s twinkling tree, which is positioned in the walled courtyard directly in front of Little Bramingham Farm, was all spruced up and looking sparkling pine adorned with lots of dazzling fairy lights for the official switch on. “When Robin turned the lights on, it was so pretty and festive. There definitely is a certain magic that happens when a Christmas Tree’s lights are switched on,” added Karen. Visitors at the community Christmas event also enjoyed a wide selection of warming and tasty refreshments, including delicious mince pies and hot chocolate.
“The residents had a marvellous time, it was a great way to get our Christmas activities underway” continued Emma. “There were lots of chats about the Christmases and Christmas Trees they had had growing up, and quite a lot of conversations about the history of how Christmas Trees became so popular in this country. I was astonished to find out that it was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who made the tradition fashionable in Britain after they decorated a tree at Windsor Castle in the 1840s. Yet again, the residents never cease to amaze me.
“The Christmas Tree Light Switch On was an enchanting event which everyone enjoyed. As the saying goes, ‘It’s not about what’s under the Christmas Tree that matters, it’s who’s around it’ and that was certainly true at our event. Everyone at Little Bramingham Farm would like to thank all the guests for joining us at the beautiful and magical night which go the Christmas celebrations off to a fantastic start,” concluded Emma.
Find out more about Little Bramingham Farm care home by calling 01582 582 433 or emailing [email protected].