Residents at Arplemere care home in Great Sankey have been opening a window into festive traditions of the past as four residents reminisce on the Christmases that defined their early lives and the traditions they still cherish today.
Iris Crozier (97)
For Iris, Christmas was filled with fond memories. Iris said, “Christmas in my childhood home was wonderful, so magical, so exciting we could hardly sleep. We used to go to church every Christmas Eve and sing the traditional hymns. I used to belt them out!”
A treasured family gravy recipe played a starring role at Christmas dinner, something Iris “loved making and watching everyone enjoy.”
One memory that still makes her smile is how the excitement of Christmas morning often delayed breakfast. Iris said, “We’d be playing with our toys, and when Mum called us down, we always said ‘in a minute,’ so she’d tell us the cat was on the table just to make me rush down!”
Jean Ellis (89)
In Jean’s family home, early Christmases were shaped by the war, but that didn’t stop them from celebrating the holidays. Jean said, “We didn’t have much at Christmas because of the war, but we always made paper snowflakes and played games in the snow.”
Jean’s most cherished gift came from an aunt in Manchester — a small handbag that she “thought the world of.”
Nowadays, Jean enjoys good food, a festive tipple and the familiar sound of Christmas hymns. Her wish for others this Christmas is “peace, happiness, and to enjoy every moment as much as you can.”
Sheila Roberts (76)
As one of eight children, Christmas for Sheila was a busy one. Sheila said, “Money and gifts were tight, but family made Christmas as exciting as possible.
Our family decorated the house with snowflakes and paper chains made from old newspapers, and the community would come together at church even in the difficult years just after the war.”
Sheila still treasures her mother’s stuffing recipes and says the best part of Christmas remains spending time with family. Pulling crackers together on Christmas Day is a tradition she’s kept all her life.
Edna Farrell (96)
Edna vividly remembers the smells, sounds, and surprises of festive mornings, saying, “Christmas was wonderful, full of surprises like the nuts and tangerine at the bottom of the stairs and the smell of food cooking in the kitchen.”
Having a religious mother, Edna and her family attended three church services on Christmas Day and would often return home to find their dog chewing the Christmas tree.
Edna believes the best gift a person can ever receive is love. Her message to others over the holidays is, “May you all be blessed with love and happiness.”
You can meet the residents at Arplemere care home in Warrington during the home’s Christmas Fayre on Saturday 13th December from 13:00, where guests can enjoy market stalls, like entertainment, festive refreshments and more.
Call 01925 202778, email [email protected], or visit the home on Fortress Boulevard, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3ZT to find out more.
Arplemere is designed to make a positive impact on everyone who lives in and visits the home. With 66 ensuite bedrooms, extensive communal spaces, and landscaped gardens, Arplemere offers an all-inclusive, ‘Crystal Clear’ care package – no hidden extras and no surprise bills.
