Eager care home residents flipped for victory when they joined in a community pancake race in Dorset.
An intrepid party from Colten Care’s dedicated dementia care home The Aldbury in Poole travelled to Wimborne for the town’s annual Shrove Tuesday fun.
Frying pan in hand and with cake on pan, residents joined fellow competitors, young and not so young, for the light-hearted competition involving a route round the famous Minster.
As participants raced, cheered on by well-wishers and town folk, the expectation was that they would flip their pancake as they passed each of the four corners of the iconic building.
Taking part in the wheelchair category, The Aldbury’s Valerie Sharp and fellow resident Cynthia Wood came in third and fourth respectively, with the pushing power supplied by Companion Pauline Gauden for Valerie and Minibus Driver Nick Meyers for Cynthia.
Valerie said of the spectacle: “An artist couldn’t paint this picture. It was such a memorable, fun day. This event gave everyone a lift.”
Cynthia said: “It was very good and I was so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.”
The Wimborne Minster race was a traditional feature of the town’s countdown to Lent in ages past and was revived 27 years ago to become popular once again. The start of the first race of the day is marked by the tolling of the ‘pancake bell’.
The Aldbury Companion Melissa Siat said: “This is a much-loved community tradition in Wimborne that guarantees plenty of fun and laughter, with a touch of friendly competition.
“Our Chef at The Aldbury made our pancakes specially and our residents were only too happy to pop them on the pan, flip them and race along.
“It was a lovely occasion that brought people in the community together for a day of friendship and fun.”
The Aldbury is one of 21 Colten Care homes in Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire.
Among the other Dorset homes, there was Shrove Tuesday fun at Castle View in Poundbury where a game of pancake tossing had the lounge filled with laughter.
Companion Hayley Legg said: “The pancakes went everywhere and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves and sharing in the fun.”
