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MP opens Golden Anniversary gardens
Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark formally opened new garden features at Rusthall Lodge Care Home created to mark its 50th anniversary at a summer party on Saturday 28th July. Local people joined staff, residents and their relatives with a celebratory cream tea in the newly refurbished gardens.
The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr James Scholes and Mrs Jane Scholes, were among the special guests who helped to mark 50 years since Rusthall Lodge was converted from the private residence of Margaret Fremlin, of the brewing company, into a care home run on a charitable ethos. Music was provided by a vintage Bursens Street Organ and there were a number of vintage cars on display.
‘I was delighted to be invited to formally open the new garden feature at Rusthall Lodge Care Home to mark its 50th anniversary. It looked absolutely beautiful and I am sure will be enjoyed by many of the home’s residents over the next 50 years!’ said Mr Clark.
Open party
‘Rusthall Lodge is a unique place so we wanted to celebrate our golden anniversary with our residents and their relatives with a very special event, but also with the local community,’ said Facilities and Marketing Manager at Rusthall Lodge, Bill Blackford. ‘We have always played a role in supporting our local community and also in welcoming them into our lovely grounds and home, so we made our Golden Anniversary summer party open to all.’ 
People from Rusthall, Langton Green and Tunbridge Wells visited the Lodge for the afternoon garden party enjoying delicious scones, sausage rolls, cheese twists and sandwiches made by the resident chef.
Garden improvements
Rusthall Lodge, which enjoys modern, purpose-built facilities, is set in beautiful gardens. ‘The gardens have always been a key attraction for our residents and their visitors, so we thought we would make them even better as part of our Golden Anniversary celebrations,’ explained Rusthall Lodge General Manager, Hilary Taylor. ‘We’ve installed a new patio to make the most of the natural suntrap and new pathways to connect this to the existing patios to make it easier for the residents to walk around the gardens on a level surface.’
At the centre of the new design is a specially commissioned sundial, created by multi award-winning garden ornaments designers and manufacturers, Chilstone, based in Fordcombe. Steve Clark of Chilstone commented: ‘My wife’s grandmother was a resident at Rusthall Lodge Care Home in the 1980s, so we were delighted to be able to provide the centrepiece for the new garden features.
The sundial bears an inscription for Ann Hughes who has been involved with Rusthall Lodge since it opened it's doors in 1968. Ann still serves as a voluntary Trustee.
There is also a lovely tie-in as Chilstone are celebrating our 65th anniversary this year, so it was great to be able to mark a significant milestone of another well-known local organisation.’
As well as the beautiful sundial, Rusthall Lodge was able to use money donated to the Home by two past residents, Mrs M. Priestley and Mrs D. Coburn. The money was used to purchase two decorative urns and a second ornate stone bird bath for the garden. The donations had been made for the garden so it was fitting the relatives of the benefactors could attend to see what we had done.
Golden moments
The Summer Garden Party on 28th July is the highlight in a calendar of events across the year to celebrate Rusthall Lodge’s 50th anniversary as a care home. Formal celebrations have included a Morgan Day, in which a fleet of vintage cars took residents out for a spin in the spring sunshine, and a photoshoot capturing the residents’ likenesses in a vintage Hollywood style.
Staff are also arranging a series of ‘Golden Moments’ for residents across the year. These have included a first drumming lesson for resident Vera Lawson, after a wait of more than 90 years because her parents thought they were too loud, and the presentation of a signed photograph from the Royal Air Force display Team, The Red Arrows, presented to former engineer Nick Parker on the day of the RAF’s 100th Anniversary.
‘We’re looking to create many more Golden Moments for our residents across our anniversary year, so we’d love to hear from local companies and individuals who might be able to help create a memorable event for an individual or a group,’ explained Philip Osman. ‘Life doesn’t end when you enter a care home – as Rusthall Lodge demonstrates every day. We want people to live their life!’
Looking for a care home for you, or a loved one, to Live Your Life?
Call 01892 556 500 to arrange a visit to Rusthall Lodge Care Home
Serving Rusthall, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas in Kent and Sussex
Residential care, Nursing care, Respite care
Written on 31st July 2018