Bop Back to the ’50s at Loxley Park
On Wednesday 23rd January, Loxley Park Assisted Living welcomed Avery Ambassador Sherrie Hewson to their 1950s extravaganza!
To prepare for the event, residents made bunting and table decorations to go in the lounge. The rest of the home was decorated as a 1950s diner, with the bistro being set up for refreshments where we served milkshakes, cream soda & ginger beer, while the restaurant was themed as a diner and the conservatory as a dance hall.
Sherrie joined residents and staff and jived to great ’50s hits before reminiscing about dreamboats and petticoats. Paul, one of our Well-being and Activities staff, also dressed up as Elvis to entertain us all, so we had a sing-a-long to some of the king’s greatest hits.
In the weeks leading up to our event, residents and staff had weekly dance classes from Doreen Shimwell and her daughter Tracey Squirrel. where we learnt how to jive and perform 1950s style dances such as the lindy hop and rock ‘n’ roll. In these lessons, Doreen and Tracey demonstrated movements, and residents partnered up with staff to learn and perfect them. They practised outside of their dance lessons too!
The chefs served a ’50s diner menu, consisting of seafood chowder, homemade beef sliders and hot dogs, and the desert was a homemade cherry pie or baked vanilla cheesecake. There were also side options of mac ‘n’ cheese and fries.
Visitors thoroughly enjoyed the day, saying ‘The 1950s day was wonderful and appreciated and enjoyed by all who participated. The activities team should be congratulated not only on the programme of events they produced but the effort before and during the whole day.’
Lindsey Scott-Walker, Group Customer Engagement Manager for Avery Healthcare, said ‘I was taken back in time to the ’50s as soon as I arrived, all the staff had embraced their inner rock and roll with some amazing outfits. The residents thoroughly enjoyed themselves joining in with the dancing whether on their feet or sitting down with cheerleader style pom-poms.’
