The Martlets
Tea & cake at The Lighthouse Café, Ben singing Elvis and our Friday singalong.
Another fun week at the Martlets!
Easter preparations at The Martlets saw residents making bunting, baking biscuits and creating cards. There was also a fascinating visit from the curator of Rustington Museum, who brought the museum to us!
Another week of high tea, garden centre visits, healthy eating, birthdays and dancing!
For Nutrition and Hydration week at The Martlets a Tea and Cake Party was organised for our residents and staff. Beautiful cakes where donated by our amazing and supportive community.
We were extremely lucky to receive the following from;
Cuptates – zesty lemon curd sponge cake, a Victoria sponge cake alongside with some beautiful fresh fruit cupcakes.
Devilish Desserts – beautiful and delicious homemade oero and lotus biscoff cheesecakes, homemade sticky toffee pudding.
Lisa Bakes – Stunning homemade chocolate brownie doughnuts, old school sprinkle sponge cake and delicious glittery cupcakes
Jess Bouqcakes – The most beautiful 4 layered Victoria sponge cake with handmade icing flowers.
Bake Em Girl – Delicious homemade chocolate loaf.
More dancing, more feasting, puzzle time and a Mother’s Day biscuit bake-off this week at The Martlets.
Another busy week at The Martlets… pancakes, birthdays and partying! The highlight of our week was our very own 15th birthday celebration with visiting guests, a splendid dignitaries, cakes, cocktails, awards and general merrymaking.
We've welcomed our new eye-catching knitted extravaganza - a bicycle ridden by a giant fish.' It now has pride of place above a ground floor doorway, visible from all three floors. The amazing creation was made by East Preston Yarnbombers. We are so grateful.
The Martlets celebrated 15 years since the home opened! We were joined by Cllr Alison Cooper (Chair of Arun Counci), Cllr Paul Kelly (District Councillor), Cllr John Gunston & The Yarn Bombers.
We also presented long service and champion awards to some of The Martlets employees alongside the CEO Russell Brown and Regional Director Martin Vanhinsbergh.
Marian Drake current manager of Elizabeth House attended, Marian was the first manager here and opened The Martlets 15 years ago. There was a beautiful spread of food prepared under the leadership of Richard Tomkins, Senior Cook at The Martlets and his catering team.
Employees were celebrated for their dedication and commitment to The Martlets and the wonderful people that live in our home. A wonderful day was had by all and the party continued throughout the day.
Thank you to all that made the event a success and to The Party Shop for wonderful balloon creations for the event.
Birthday love, Valentines Day love, pub lunch love (as always), animal bingo, shopping and looking forwards to Spring have been in the minds and hearts of residents at The Martlets of late.
The Martlets recognise Becky Isted as Employee of the Month for January. Becky was nominate by her colleagues as she always listens to staff and supports them wherever possible. She makes the shift enjoyable and brings positivity and happiness to the home. She has a kind and caring nature, is extremely compassionate and is amazing with the people who live in our Service. Congratulations Becky and thank you for everything you do for The Martlets.
Activities pics from the last couple of weeks at The Martlets!
We've celebrated birthdays, had cuddles with pooches, and enjoyed sensory gardens, pub lunches, fish & chips, board games and crooners!
The Martlets Christmas Bake Off was great fun for residents and staff who took part this week. Enough sausage rolls were produced to feed an army!
A visit by staff member Myroslava’s two talented daughters, their friend and dance teacher brought a splash of ballroom sunshine to Martlets residents this week. Much appreciated by one and all! Thank you ‘That Rhythm Dancing School’ we all loved watching you.
We sure know how to party at The Martlets!… Our Xmas Celebration at the end of last week featuring Mark playing festive music on the steel pans was a real hit with residents, families and staff!
Our lovely week at The Martlets included a trip to Brooklands Park, Janet’s birthday and ended on a high with our super successful Christmas Fete! We enjoyed lots of food and craft stalls, face painting, mulled wine, music and Christmas celebrations with residents, families & friends.
Another full week at The Martlets with a visit from the delightful youngsters of East Preston preschool, a cuddle with Bramble the cavachon dog, Rosemary’s 101st birthday, plus the usual Friday afternoon singalong.
An early Christmas decorations trip, singing (and dancing!) with entertainer Hayley, Sally’s birthday, an afternoon of jam tart baking and games of skill at The Martlets this week.
Join us for our Christmas Fete for lots of Christmas Fun!
The will be Live Music, Tombola, Mince Pies and Mulled Wine and lots of delicious cakes!
Jock’s memorabilia collage (he was a professional football coach!), Mary’s 90th birthday celebration, a visit to Highdown Gardens and another pub lunch were the highlights of the week at The Martlets, as well as poppy making for Remembrance weekend.
Friendly game of skittles! Residents enjoyed playing and Barbara was particularly happy as she won herself some chocolates.
Pumpkin fun in the Swan Lounge at The Martlets, getting ready for an afternoon of Halloween partying in the garden! Halloween music, spooky cakes, blankets and melted marshmallow ‘s’mores’!
A bumper Martlets Got Talent show attended by residents, staff and families. We also enjoyed a seaside relaxation session in the Happiness Haven and a visit from Big Band Dave.
A week full of board games, shopping trips, museum visits and a church service for the residents at The Martlets this week!
Residents and the team enjoyed a fabulous visit from two owls and a falcon with Kevin from Hawking About this week. Residents were spellbound and each had a chance to get up close and personal with these wonderful creatures.
We had a fun filled week at The Martlets this week! Games, lunch trips and singalongs plus Glady's 68th wedding anniversary celebration. Lots of memories made.
Everyone’s a winner… at our regular board games sessions! Boggle and a Yes-No game prove a hit. Babs (Doris) learns to play dominoes at 101 (and wins 2 games) And David enjoys some birthday treats!
A fine week of Elvis, knickerbocker glories and pampering for Martlets residents.
Last weeks activities at the Martlets included pottery painting, a trip out to Littlehampton shops and café, a garden singalong with 60s and 70s music, and shortbread baking with high tea in our new sunny yellow kindness café.
Martlets highlights this week included a shopping trip to Rustington, pub grub and high teas, and a great grandchild visit for Mary.
A lovely afternoon celebrating the team at The Martlets
Martlets minibus trips last week took residents to Bognor’s Hotham Park, Worthing’s Marine Gardens and Littlehampton’s Harbour Park. Much sun and fun had by all!
Everybody had such a fantastic time at our recent Summer Garden Party. There were so many residents with their families and it was such a joyous and successful event, with a bbq and rock n roll band.
We had a lovely bus ride to Rustington followed by a delicious pub lunch at The Lamb.
Residents enjoyed aqua painting and loved seeing their pictures magically appear.
Residents had a lovely morning on Tuesday with Alexis singing all their favourite tunes.
Betty enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea whilst Pam picked blackberries. We made a yummy fruit compote for dessert.
The Martlets ended a woolly week with a knit and natter afternoon, a visit to the East Preston Yarnbombers exhibit and a bit of beach air!
Entertainer Robbie serenaded Martlets residents with a tribute to Neil Diamond (and a bit of Cliff Richard tagged on at the end for good measure!!)
Much singing, clapping, laughing and dancing.
Fun & Games at The Martlets today with a great game of Jenga!
A busy week of shopping expeditions, more pub lunches and our manager Jess’s baby shower!
A busy week at The Martlets …. of 60s music with Phil, several garden centre and local minibus trips, and our first church service in a while, now to be a monthly fixture, with Father Andrew from St Mary’s Church.
Our employee of the month goes to Alosious Valerian! Alosious is a beacon of light and a valued member of staff, who is loved by his colleagues and residents. he is a generally a kind, caring soul who is highly respected by his colleagues. Well done Alosious, well deserved.
Martlets residents were entertained this week by Robbie The Magician with slick tricks, great humour and accompanied by a very cute bunny rabbit which everybody had a chance to meet at the end of the show.
This mornings first fabulous visit of youngsters from East Preston Pre-School to The Martlets. Both residents and the children had a fabulous time, with story reading, balloon fun and a good sing song. Our eldest resident Babs held the youngsters in thrall with stories of her schooldays. A truly heartfelt meeting of the ages.
George also celebrated his birthday at The Martlets with cake, beer and good wishes!
Elvis was outside the building… in the garden actually…. for a beautiful sunny morning of song and serenading to these adoring Martlets residents this week.
Some marvellous marbling painting was going on in the Happiness Haven this morning. Lots of residents tried their hand at this craft painting, with some magical results. Residents had lots of fun enjoying music from the musicals, a glorious afternoon tea, a quiz and a raffle in a packed village community hall as part of East Preston Festival this week. We have enjoyed two farm trips to Ferring Country Park this week, seeing the animals, enjoying the beautiful weather and cooling off with delicious ice creams.
Martlets residents lined the street this weekend to see the East Preston village parade pass by.
Resident Pauline enjoying an afternoon sing-a-long in fancy dress props
Two Martlets birthdays in one day!
Happy 90th birthday to Anne and Happy Birthday Christine!
Sandy enjoyed a brisk morning walk down to East Preston seafront.
To join the festivities at the start of the East Preston Festival this year, Martlets residents enjoyed three trips to see the flower show at the nearby Conservative Hall. Exhibits were all created by members of the Floristry Club, based around the themes of popular musicals, within the big stage filled with an arrangement to celebrate The King And I.
Residents turned out in the sunshine to watch and water five new Red Robin trees being planted around the Martlets gardens. Our tireless volunteer Sheila King took full charge of the planting, ably assisted by Ellie and Jules from activities, using holes dug by handyman Andrew! A true team effort. And a real red Robin turned up after the planting to give its seal of approval!
‘Big Band Dave’ serenading Martlets residents with his saxophone, including a special birthday rendition for Brenda Osgood’s 80th.
Goldendoodle puppies (yes, only one year old!) Bentley and Lily visited Martlets residents this week with owners Lana, David and their daughter Kimberley and charmed everyone they met. Lovely first visit from these scrumptious pups!
A heartwarming moment in Swan lounge this morning as Martlets resident Pam, checks on one of our newer residents Babs to see how she is settling in and share a kind word. Residents have also been getting creative and just having fun in The Happiness Haven lately. What better way to spend a bank holiday Monday than having a tipple with lunch. Cold shandies and G&T’s went down a treat after a morning in the sun!
Top floor residents at The Martlets were the first to try their hands at our new range of aqua painting, bringing these beautiful pictures to life with just a brush and water. It proved a great way to reconnect with their creativity and fine motor skills, and a highly addictive activity! Cheers to these residents who this week enjoyed a pub lunch just around the corner from The Martlets, at the British Legion in East Preston. Lots of chat and good grub. These pub lunches are becoming something of a regular!
Martlets residents thoroughly enjoyed an all-day trip to the Bluebell Railway complete with lunch in the station pub, train museum and a return trip on a working steam train from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead. Residents aboard included Sandy, who worked on the railways for much of his life, and Mary, who’s father was a train guard, and grandfather who maintained the old steam trains when she was a child. Lots of memories and excitement for all.
Another fabulous pub lunch for these martlets residents, with a profiterole showdown at the end!
Martlets residents made the most of the bright sunshine this week exploring Hotham Park, Bognor Regis, and enjoying ice creams, coffee and the beautiful views. Singer Ria entertained residents this week with her mix of mellow and up-tempo songs for our regular Wednesday Live @ The Martlets show. Martlets resident Sandy enjoyed a romantic meal at a special table for two with his wife Jean for their 65th Blue Saphire wedding anniversary. They also received a personal congrats from King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla!
Lovely sunny afternoon watching bowls and enjoying tea and cake in Marine Gardens Park with these happy Martlets residents!
Brian was serenaded during this week’s Friday afternoon singalong at The Martlets and then shared his beautiful coffee cream birthday cake with one & all! Joe’s surprise family visitor really brightened up his day and gave him a great excuse to whoop it up in The Happiness Haven, our special new room for residents and their families.
Birthday celebrations at The Martlets this weekend for resident Nev (Sandy). A lovely cake and presents to celebrate.
The residents enjoyed a wonderful Coronation weekend
Presenting our new magnetic poem board for middle floor residents at The Martlets. We cannot wait to see how they interact with it….
Littlehampton and Rustington shopping expeditions kept these Martlet residents busy this week, looking for phone cases, wooden owls, mint chocolate bath soak and a good cup of coffee!
When you turn 94 years old, you might be as lucky as Martlets resident Clifford and get two birthday cakes!! Happy birthday Cliff! Making good use of the Martlets new sensory and activities room, our Happiness Haven, residents enjoy a quiet afternoon session with glow lightsand restful music, being led on an imaginary journey through rich forests.
Lots of smiling Martlets faces at our two delightful pub lunches this week at The Roundstone in East Preston.
The residents at The Martlets making Easter cards, decorations and baking Easter chocolate nests!
Martlet’s resident Ian just popped out to the local shops for some chocolate raisins and came back with a surprise… an irresistibly cuddly teddy which he thought might bring some cheer to everybody. He judged right! The bear brought huge smiles to everyone he met: office staff, care staff and other residents, proving an extra special hit with fellow Swan resident Vida.
Snatching a chance at some good weather before the rain, Martlets residents headed to Mewsbrook Park for a walk around the lake looking at the wildlife (dogs and children included!) and tea and ice cream for afters.
A terrific end to a full week of minibus trips for Martlets residents with a morning’s bowling in Rustington.
Great day out for Martlets middle floor residents, bowling at Out of Bounds, Rustington. Lots of laughs, surprises, hidden talents and near misses. Even a strike or two!
Double date for two Martlets residents, David and Beryl, and their spouses, watching the airplanes take off and land, and having tea and tiffin at Shoreham Airport. Super afternoon.
There was plenty to explore at Rustington Museum for Martlets residents who visited this week. Exhibits included memorabilia about famous people who lived there, through to historical journeys from Stone Age Rustington to life in the area during WW2.
Full house for Monday morning chairobics with Anna at The Martlets!
Lovely trip to see the impressive interior of Arundel Cathedral for four Martlet residents, despite a blustery day. It brought back memories especially for Brian who often used to sing in a church choir here.
An impromptu bowls game brought the competitive spirit out in residents before our usual Friday afternoon singalong at The Martlets.
‘Handy’ Ruth shows Martlets manager Jess and puts the finishing touches to our new Activities Workbench, cleverly designed to hold the interest of middle floor residents at The Martlets. It features a wealth of safe tools, ironmongery, latches, magnets, Meccano and other stuff to fiddle and tinker with, especially designed to engage residents who during their former working lives handled such implements. The workbench is now situated permanently outside our Happiness Haven and we’ll be keeping a close eye on how it is received and used by residents.
Tom’s birthday, Rita’s cafe expedition and entertainment for all from Phil with music from the 60s and 70s!
Martlets residents thoroughly enjoyed a lively midweek boogie when Hayley visited with her songbook from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. They just couldn’t help but get up and dance!
Clifford proved a dab hand at Tchaikovsky’s piano Concerto no1! Next stop is to get him some sheet music and see what else he can play. (The other residents listening in Swan Lounge were mightily impressed too… one was in tears.)
After a special Valentines Day lunch at The Martlets, with heart-shaped cakes for dessert, the Guys in Pink (our Activities Team: Anna, Jules & Ellie) did the rounds with a special ‘Love Trolley’ spreading the love to every resident, with a gift of chocolate and serenading them with love songs!
Always something to have fun with at Haskins Garden Centre, even on a cold grey day!
