Forget Hollywood, Oscars-style glitz was all the rage in a Dorset town as care home residents honoured each other and the staff who look after them every day.
Team members at Colten Care’s Whitecliffe House in Blandford staged a fun awards ceremony coupled with a tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes courtesy of top Frank Sinatra tribute artist Scott Free.
The award nominees and winners were a mix of residents and staff representing home departments including clinical care, catering, administration and housekeeping.
Family, friends and community visitors joined residents and team members in dressing up for the occasion.
Guests gathered in the home’s lounge amid sparkling Oscars-themed decorations, with canapes and fizz adding a further touch of glamour.
Ahead of the ceremony itself, Bournemouth-based Scott performed hit songs from his Swingin’ Sinatra show, wowing audience members.
Trophies were then awarded to residents and staff for categories such as Best Dressed, Best Activity Participation, Most Likely to Make a Speech and Most Likely To Say Something Funny.
“It was wonderful, one of the best afternoons I’ve had,” said Margaret Oliver.
Fellow resident June Pitman agreed, adding: “A fantastic afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Companion Beccy Wareham said: “It was a fabulous event and everyone involved, from the catering team to the hairdresser, put in a massive effort to ensure its success. Residents, staff and visitors alike all had a fantastic time.”
Reflecting on his visit, singer Scott said: “We couldn’t take the residents to Hollywood, so we brought Hollywood to them. This was a lovely, stylish audience for a swinging Sinatra afternoon. The staff did fantastically well and were beautifully dressed.
“The residents in the audience know the music from their youth. I always try to get people moving to the music and here, they definitely were. Everyone got into it. I’m too young to have seen Sinatra himself but one or two of the audience members said they had seen him sing live at the London Palladium. I was only too pleased to perform a special request for My Way among the old favourites.”
A raffle held on the afternoon raised £190 for Whitecliffe House residents’ charity of the year, the Blandford foodbank and larder, Nourish.
