Member Article

Marchwood care home honours resident’s service with special badge ceremony

A heartwarming badge ceremony was held at a Marchwood care home to celebrate the remarkable service of their residents.

The ceremony showcased a display of photos from the residents’ years of dedicated service with special badges and certificates presented to those who had served their country.

With a combined age of 188 years, John Adams’ and Jean Gilroy’s stories exemplify the sense of duty and devotion shared by the residents at the 29 bed home on Veals Lane.

John Adams, now 91, served with the Royal Navy for 25 years, starting out aged 18 after World War II.

Rising through the ranks to become a chief, John holds fond memories of his adventures at sea aboard five different ships including HMS Vanguard, the last Royal Navy Battleship.

“I’ve travelled all across the globe with the Navy aboard lots of different ships and I couldn’t be more proud of my time in service,” John said.

“I have wonderful memories of my time at the shore establishment, HMS Diligence in Hythe and have had so many amazing experiences.

“The ceremony was a very emotional experience, with all those memories coming flooding back and I’m so grateful to the home for organising it.”

Jean Gilroy embarked on her service journey as part of the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) at the age of 17.

The 97-year-old was an only child who found love with James, an RAF member, during her service in Scotland with the pair tying the knot in Hendon.

The pair married in Hendon, and Jean’s eyes gleamed with happiness as she recollected post-war celebrations outside Buckingham Palace.

“It was such a touching ceremony which took me back to all those cherished memories of my time in service. It was such a lovely thing for the home to organise,” Jean said.

“Having my family with me made it all the more special and I look back on my time with the WRAF with a lot of pride.”

The ceremony started with a tea and coffee morning, where residents and their families shared their stories before head of maintenance Dave presented the badges to five residents.

Dave also brought in his treasured military memorabilia to create a special display of badges, certificates and photos.

Care home manager Nicola Ray added: “We felt it was essential to honour and celebrate our resident’s remarkable contributions to our country and the stories and memories they have of their time in service.

“It was an emotional occasion which saw tears of joy as families witnessed the recognition of their loved ones’ dedication.

“As a home that values the lives and experiences of our residents, we are committed to providing a loving and nurturing environment for each resident’s unique journey.”

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