HC-One care homes across the UK celebrated Burns Night on Thursday 25th January. Burns Night is a celebration of the life of the bard Robert Burns, his Scottish poetry, legacy and contribution to Scottish culture.
Catmoor House Care Home in Scone, Perth, celebrated Burns Night when Carer, Callum Wallace who has worked at the home for over three years introduced the first ever chocolate haggis in the world to be produced in Scotland to residents to sample. Outside of work, Callum is a talented musician and entertainer, putting on performances at other care homes, weddings and parties.
Due to his musical talents, Callum was given the opportunity to take part in a recording session as part of a TV advert for Simon Howie Butchers in Dunning for a new product launch of the world’s first ever chocolate haggis. The TV advertisement was aired on STV in the month of January which featured Callum playing the drums whilst dressed up as a chocolate haggis! Callum brought in some of the Chocolate Haggis puddings for residents at Catmoor House to try. Residents enjoyed tasting the new product, Simon Howie’s Chocolate Haggis which is the first ever chocolate haggis in the world to be produced in Scotland.
Claire Innes, Home Manager at Catmoor House Care Home said:
“We were delighted to involve local community businesses in our Burns Night celebrations. It was great to see the residents tasting their first ever chocolate haggis. Thank you to Callum for bringing some samples in for residents to try.”
Celebrations didn’t just happen in Scotland. Residents at
Clarendon Hall Care Home in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, celebrated Burns Night by enjoying a wonderful traditional Burns Night Supper consisting of a famous Haggis dish with neaps and tatties, after addressing the haggis. Residents ended the night listening to tunes and having a sing-along to songs from the good old days to bring the famous Scottish celebration to a close.
Home Manager at Clarendon Hall Care Home, Nicola Walker, remarked:
“We loved celebrating Burns Night and it really does give us something different to celebrate. Residents particularly enjoyed trying the traditional Scottish Burns Night Supper, expanding their taste palate.”
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Primrose House Care Home in Crewe, Cheshire, residents and colleagues celebrated Burns Night by decorating the home especially for the occasion with some colleagues getting dressed up in traditional Scottish attire donning bag pipes to entertain residents with a singsong and dancing session at the home much to the resident’s amusement. Residents enjoyed a beverage tasting session when a special drinks trolley with classic Scottish tipples including Scottish whisky were provided to residents to select and choose from to wash down their Burns Night Supper.
Primrose House’s Home Manager, Dawn Sadler said:
“It was so lovely to see the residents engaging and celebrating the tradition of Burns Night. A special thank you to our colleagues for taking part and entertaining our residents by playing the bagpipes and playing for our residents. We were well and truly spoilt.”
At
Larchwood Care Home in Braintree, Essex, resident and colleagues celebrated Burns Night by welcoming two special visitors to their home. Father and daughter, Bob and Lily Adam visited the home to perform a traditional Scottish tune for residents in the lounge area, with Bob playing the bagpipes and Lily playing the drum. Residents, staff and visitors all enjoyed joining in and dancing along to the music.
Home Manager at Larchwood Care Home, Beckie Condie, stated:
“Bob and Lily put on a fantastic performance for our resident staff and visitors at the home. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the show and couldn’t resist getting up to have a dance. It was amazing!”
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Park House Care Home in Guisborough, Redcar and Cleveland, the home celebrated Burns Night by welcoming the Lizzie B Quartet fronted by Lizzie Bishop to perform a concert of Scottish songs which residents knew and sang along to. In addition, there was a Scottish fiddler performing too called Marjorie who performed Robert Burns’ poem ‘My love is like a red rose’. The Chef at Park House cooked a haggis for residents to enjoy and the home’s special guest, Ian McWilliam who is a Scottish bagpiper and Burns Night speaker who has been attending Park House’s annual Burns Night celebrations for the past five years was dressed in his full Scottish regalia addressed the haggis. Whisky was served to toast the haggis and everyone enjoyed tea and Scottish cupcakes along with Highland Shortbread for dessert.
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Dove Court Care Home in Burnley, Lancashire, residents enjoyed a Burns Night Scottish themed afternoon celebrating the life and work of famous poet, Robert Burns. Residents enjoyed tasting traditional Scottish food and drink in a tasting session consisting of Iron Bru, Haggis, Shortbread, Scottish tablets, oat cakes and chocolate tea cakes. This was then followed by Scottish themed games including toss and pass the haggis, Scottish quizzes and readings of Robert Burns’ Poetry.