Grange Gazette December 2023 Edition
St. Giles Church Christmas Tree Festival
St Giles Church Sandiacre
Christmas Tree Festival
We are immensely proud of the Grange Christmas Tree displayed during the St Giles Christmas Tree Festival over the first weekend in December. We created our Memory Tree using thoughts of ‘Christmas Past’ and created personalised baubles with attached tags detailing stories from residents about their memories of Christmas time. We enjoyed reminiscence sessions while also creating beautiful poinsettia crafted from paper. When our decorations are eventually returned from St. Giles the individual baubles and poinsettia will be gifted to the associated families but in the meantime we hope you enjoy the photographs displayed in the main corridor. After receiving amazing compliments from the parishioners at St Giles we have arranged for our photographs to be printed in book form which will be available for residents, families and friends to enjoy. Shirley is super-proud of you all and thanks residents and families for their support.
December Happenings and Entertainment
We have a bumper month of entertainment to look forward to over the festive period with visits from your favourite singers and the return of our friends the Breaston Village Singers who have been visiting the Grange for many years. Pooches Therapy Dogs will also be calling in during the afternoon of Monday 11th and the 2nd Long Eaton St John’s Brownies will visit residents for a communal carol concert around the Christmas Tree on the evening of Thursday 14th. You may be aware of the Fisherman's Friends who achieved worldwide success with their sea shanties and Hollywood films. Surprisingly they are unavailable to entertain at the Grange! However, we are looking forward to a visit from the ‘Anglers Mates’ on the 19th December who will be singing shanties while we enjoy an afternoon ‘pirate party’.
Finally we would like to mention the incredible performance from North East Producers who visited the Grange during November and delighted everyone with their performance of Oliver. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon.
Father Christmas visits the Grange
On Saturday 9th December Father Christmas will be taking a well deserved break from his busy workshop when he visits the Grange at 10.30am to meet residents and children in the foyer. Visiting children will receive a certificate and gift from Father Christmas and Santa's Helper would appreciate families arriving from 10am when they can enjoy activities, treats and refreshments prior to the arrival of Father Christmas. While we have a list of visiting children the elves like to make sure they have packed the perfect presents on the sleigh. So if you would still like to add your child’s name to the list please have a word with Santa’s Helper (aka Shirley) no later than Wednesday 6th.
Later in the day the ‘Singing Santa’ will be calling in from 2pm to entertain residents with Christmas songs and music. We look forward to enjoying a day full of Christmas magic!
Family Christmas Party
Wednesday 13th December 2.30pm
We would like to extend a warm welcome to residents, families, friends and staff on the 13th with a complimentary buffet and refreshments served in the dining room and entertainment from our very own singing group The Elderberries. We will be running stalls and games and there will also be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for the Grand Raffle which will be drawn at the close of the party.
Team Lenney would like to extend their many thanks to the Grange for supporting their work in aid of Treetops and the Ward 2 Hospice at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital Derby. Over many years Shirley’s husband enjoyed running the Grange Raffle during the Christmas Fair. He will surely be watching and smiling down on everyone and thanking you for supporting this worthwhile cause.
Terry Hallam Quiz Trophy
Thank you to everyone who took part in the quiz last month with a special mention to Joyce, Margaret W and Margaret H who all achieved top marks. With the final quiz later this month the yearly winner will be announced in January. Happy quizzing to you all.
Helping Others Campaign
We are still accepting donations of tinned and dried foodstuff until Friday 8th December along with donations of unused adult and childrens hats and gloves, blankets and hot water bottles. These will enable the Grange to provide ‘warm packs’ for people in need. Thank you to everyone for supporting our campaign.
December Birthdays
This month we celebrate with Noreen on the 17th, Janet on the 18th and Pamela on the 26th. Everyone at the Grange wishes you every happiness on your special days.
Dates for Your December Diary
Tuesday 5th we welcome the return of Nick Golden in the main lounge from 2pm featuring vintage entertainment and humour.
Wednesday 6th Sandiacre Churches Together Carol Service in the main lounge from 2pm
Thursday 7th The Elderberries singing practice with PJ from 11am and in the afternoon a visit from The Breaston Village Singers. 2pm in the dining room.
Friday 8th join Jayne Darling in the main lounge from 2pm with her Christmas Show
Saturday 9th Father Christmas will arrive at the Grange at 10.30am with the Singing Santa entertaining everyone in the main lounge from 2pm
Monday 11th Dale will visit everyone with Bertie and Ruby the Pooches Therapy Dogs from 2pm
Wednesday 13th Family Christmas Party from 2.30pm Stalls and entertainment from The Elderberries. Complimentary buffet. and refreshments and the Grand Raffle draw.
Thursday 14th 2nd Long Eaton St. John’s Brownies visit the Grange from 6pm for carols around the Christmas tree
Friday 15th we welcome Russel Weaver when he returns with songs from the 50s and 60s in the main lounge from 2pm
Tuesday 19th extend a warm Grange welcome to the Angler’s Mates for our Pirate Party in the main lounge from 2pm
Wednesday 27th Shirleyoke sing along in the main lounge after lunch and finally we send Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year to everyone at the Grange.