A Hampshire woman has become the longest-staying resident in Colten Care’s cluster of six New Forest care homes.
Maureen Marks, known as Mo, celebrated her 15th anniversary of moving to Belmore Lodge in Lymington with an afternoon cocktail party in the home’s Botanical Lounge.
Guests included family members, friends, current and former staff, Colten co-founder John Colwell and his son and fellow Director George.
Mo, 85, has a strong personal connection to the exact spot where Belmore Lodge was built.
It was opened in 2003 following the demolition of two houses originally on the Milford Road site.
One of them, number 20, was the four-bedroom family home, from 1978 to 2001, of Mo’s in-laws Adrienne and Ted and niece Sandra.
Mo and her late husband Bill were regular visitors, enjoying family gatherings including barbecues in the back garden.
She also lived there for several weeks in 1994 when she was between house moves herself.
Number 20 and the next-door property were sold in 2001, after which they were demolished to make way for the construction of Belmore Lodge.
Mo, whose family ran the old Lymington bakers’ business Marks Bakery from 1972 to 1996, moved to Belmore Lodge with Bill in 2011.
Companionship Team Leader Sharon Semple said: “Bill passed away a few years ago sadly but Mo remains a huge part of our home life. She’s a lovely resident and we were only too pleased to help her celebrate 15 years of living here. We invited some members of staff who were with her when she moved in. We presented Mo with a photobook and a crystal tree ornament that was her birth stone, both of which she loved. She had flowers from the Directors and we even prepared a special cocktail for her, a ‘Mo-lini’, which contained her favourite ingredients of raspberries, bubbly and vodka. Toasting Mo with this cocktail went down very well with everyone.”
Speaking after the party, Mo said: “I am over the moon with all the presents. What an effort was made to make the celebration so special. It was lovely to see everyone there.”
Colten Care owns and runs six care homes in its New Forest cluster. As well as Belmore Lodge, these are Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Kingfishers in New Milton, Avon Reach in Mudeford and Lymington homes Court Lodge and Linden House.
