A local care home is inviting the community to join a nationwide sing-along to celebrate Vera Lynn’s 100th birthday.

Ellesmere House care home on Nightingale Place is inviting people in Chelsea to join them on Monday 20th March, from 2.30pm-3.30pm, to strike a chord for the forces’ sweetheart’s milestone birthday.

Residents and the Care UK team will be ensuring visitors are pitch perfect for the rendition of the popular wartime song “We’ll Meet Again”, with lyrics available and tasty treats on hand for all.

The Care UK team is also hosting a competition between five local schools, Chelsea Community School at the Chelwest Hospital, Park Walk Primary School, Servite School, Ashburnham Primary school, and Chelsea Pre Prep and Nursery, to design a 100th birthday card in honour of Vera Lynn’s birthday, with the winner’s card being sent to the iconic singer.

Ellesmere House will be joined by Care UK care homes across the country for the nationwide sing-along to celebrate this special occasion.

Allison Jones, home manager at Ellesmere House, commented: “We are all looking forward to taking a walk down memory lane and having a good sing-along to celebrate Vera Lynn’s milestone birthday. Singing can be a powerful reminiscence activity, and Vera Lynn has written a number of iconic songs that many residents are likely to have grown up listening to.

“Even when memories become particularly hard to remember, often music can still be recalled, so a group sing-along can often be very calming for those living with dementia, and can encourage them to talk about memories from their childhood.

“We look forward to welcoming the people of Chelsea for this special occasion, and can’t wait to see what designs the school children come up with for Vera Lynn’s birthday card.”

To find out more about Ellesmere House care home please contact customer relations manager, Lorelei Shepherd, on 020 8600 0510 or email lorelei.shepherd@careuk.com.

For more information on which Care UK homes are taking part in We’ll Sing Again, please go to careuk.com/sing.

For more general information, please visit: careuk.com/ellesmere-house.

Submitted by Amy Lehal