The co-founder of one of the south’s best loved ice cream brands shared the story of her award-winning business with fellow residents at the care home where she lives.
Sue Jenman gave her presentation at Colten Care’s Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, as residents there and across the group’s 21 care homes joined millions worldwide to celebrate the annual ‘Ice Cream Month’ of July.
As well as the opportunity to sample tasty treats in a variety of flavours, residents at Colten Care homes in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex enjoyed pop-up retro ice cream parlours, visits from ice cream vans, minibus trips to the seaside and opportunities to make their own sweet creations with fresh ingredients and toppings.
For Sue, the celebration was a chance to discuss how she and her late husband Lawrie founded New Forest Ice Cream in 1983.
The business, now led by the couple’s two daughters, has just been named the south of England’s Family Business of the Year 2026 at awards run by the organisation Family Business United.
In her Kingfishers talk, Sue recalled the early days of the business, the challenges she and Lawrie overcame and the ongoing commitment to quality and growth which has lasted more than four decades.
As she ended her speech and prepared to hand out samples with help from her daughters, Sue said: “Thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy the ice cream.”
Among the audience was fellow resident Kay Maytum who said: “Sue’s story was fascinating. I loved hearing how the business started. And the ice cream was absolutely delicious, especially the blackcurrant clotted cream. It brought back wonderful memories and made for a very happy afternoon with friends.”
Rose Arcellana, Companionship Team Leader at Kingfishers, said: “It was a privilege to hear Sue share the story behind New Forest Ice Cream. To have someone in our Kingfishers ‘family’ who has created such a successful and much-loved local business is really inspiring. It was wonderful to see our residents so engaged, reminiscing together and enjoying the ice cream tasting. It sparked conversations, fond memories of summer holidays and plenty of smiles as everyone enjoyed a refreshing treat together. We’re so grateful to Sue and her family for what was a very special occasion for us.”
Among other Colten Care homes, Court Lodge in Lymington welcomed a visit by a traditional ‘ice cream bike’ courtesy of local firm Brock Ice.
Home Manager Rebecca Hannam rode the bike into the garden, giving residents the chance to delve into the onboard freezer box and choose from flavours such as chocolate, blueberry, toffee, coffee, coconut and banoffee.
Elsewhere, there were similar deliveries of cones, lollies, tubs, banana splits, knickerbocker glories and other ice cream-related favourites.
After a visit by Mickey’s Ice Cream to Bourne View in Poole, residents June Kempton and Janet Smyth spoke of their joy.
June said: “I had such a lovely time. Everyone was enjoying their ice creams. What a lovely surprise.”
Janet said: “I haven’t had a 99 flake in so long. It reminded me of the seaside when I was young.”
At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, residents made their own creations using an ice cream machine while at Abbey View in Sherborne the dining room was transformed into a retro ice cream parlour with sprinkles, flakes and sauces adorning the various flavour options on offer.
Muriel Martin said the fun had helped her ‘break the ice’ with fellow residents she hadn’t conversed with before, adding: “I so enjoyed choosing my favourite flavours and getting to know residents I had seen but not spoken to. It was so lovely.”
Enjoying her raspberry ripple at Avon Cliff, Pat Berryman said: “All in all, a lovely afternoon. We should do this more often.”
At Whitecliffe House in Blandford, Dorset, Noreen Breadmore praised team members for organising and touring an ice cream cart to the lounge and residents’ bedrooms. “The ice cream was heaven and it was a very kind thing to do,” said Noreen.
An ‘ice cream parlour’ in the garden at Abbotts Barton in Winchester gave residents the chance to sample favourite flavours, decorate them with toppings of their choice and accompany the treat with a homemade lemonade float.
“What a perfect way to spend the afternoon,” said Joan Jacomb. “It reminded me of summers with my children.”
July was named National Ice Cream Month in the USA in 1984 by the then President Ronald Reagan. Global recognition followed soon after with the third Sunday of July chosen as National Ice Cream Day in countries including the UK.
