Local care home provider, Country Court, celebrated 40 years of caring with a party for staff and residents at Beech Lodge Care and Nursing Home near Holbeach.
Residents were joined by members of the Kachra family who opened the care home near Holbeach, Lincolnshire in 1983. The award-winning group now has thirty-six care homes across the UK, with three more planned to open in 2023.
The family-led ethos was demonstrated during the event to mark their 40th Anniversary, with a heartfelt speech by the current chairman and cake cutting by his sons Alykhan and Al-Karim who are now co-CEOs.
Speaking to guests at the party Abdul Kachra, chairman of Country Court, said: “Beech Lodge Care & Nursing Home is very close to our hearts. As the first care home we opened I am very proud of the care we have provided here for forty years. When we first came here my wife and I lived at Beech Lodge in a one-bedroom apartment and cared for nine residents.
“My sister-in-law was the manager, and my first child was born here too. It was one of the most wonderful times of my life, with beautiful million-dollar views. Beech Lodge is still my favourite care home, here we see our passion for care and how happy our residents are.”
Anu Bijoy, home manager, said: “We thank all the families and friends who joined us, to celebrate our fantastic Home and we are grateful for all the support they have given us, currently and in the past. We look forward to many more years of caring for our residents at Beech Lodge and giving them the quality of life they deserve.”
The day of celebrations started with residents enjoying an energetic series of song and dance routines performed by ‘Tap About Town’. This got everyone in the party spirit and people were singing and clapping along to the music.
In the afternoon friends and family were invited to join residents at the Home to celebrate with live music by Graham Travis. There was a silent auction, with some fabulous prizes, donated by some local businesses. Everyone enjoyed a delectable buffet, organised by the amazing catering team and a wonderfully decorated cake in the 40 years theme of purple and gold.
The activities and wellbeing coordinators, Jodie Clayton and Olivia Wallis, worked tirelessly to decorate the home and organise the entertainment, making sure everything was in place for the big day.
The Country Court story began in 1983 when Roshan was a nurse working for the NHS, while her sister Naila and husband Abdul Kachra were running a grocer’s in Wolverhampton, Birmingham. One morning, while Abdul was wrapping meat for a customer using a Dalton’s Weekly newspaper, he noticed an advert for an old farmhouse in a village he had never heard of. Looking closer, the old farmhouse was a care home which had been struggling financially.
When Roshan returned from her shift at the hospital, Abdul and Naila sat with her to discuss this new opportunity. All in agreement, they viewed the care home in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. It was a significant change from their current life, but with Roshan’s background in care, they fell in love with the idea of looking after elderly people in such a peaceful setting. They uprooted their lives to pursue a new passion, in a new location and in 1983 Beech Lodge became Country Court’s first care home.
Today, Country Court is both caring for and employing thousands of people across the UK, with every person part of their family. Despite a national presence their aim is to stay local. Individual communities are what matter, and they aspire to embody this notion.
For more information about Beech Lodge Care and Nursing Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact, Anu Bijoy home manager on 01406 423 396 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.
