Residents at Kingfisher Court care home, Sutton, worked with lifestyle manager Linda Harrison to create a memorial display of poppies, using the bottoms of pop bottles.

Fay, one of the residents, placed red tissue in them and painted black dots to form the poppies in a cascading display. Poppies on the ground were all made by residents along with Tommy silhouettes.

Residents paid their respects on Remembrance Sunday and on Armistice Day with a two-minutes’ silence.

Some residents, after the service, read poems. Sheila Haslam composed her own (below), which was inspired from a letter that another resident, Jessie, received from her father whilst he was serving in the war. Her father posted three letters on 12th May, 1944, with a heavy heart, not knowing if he would see his family again.

Thankfully he did. Jessie, her sister and mother all received a letter each and Jessie has cherished it ever since.

The Letter
‘See this letter, all tatty and creased?
It’s from my dad, now long deceased;
I’ve treasured it over countless years;
To read it now fills my eyes with tears.
’I’m off to war,’ it says, ‘with heavy heart,
From you and Mum I have to part,
To serve our country, fight the foe,
But how I wish I need not go.

‘Dear, keep in mind my love for you,
And with your mum stay strong and true.
Take care of her, she needs you so,
And I will think of how you’ll grow.
‘Whatever happens, be sure of this,
I want to hear of all I’ll miss,
So write me often and bear in mind,
I want you to be good and kind.
‘In spirit I’ll be there, no fear,
To keep you safe and bring you cheer.
Work hard, and then you’ll make your way,
And pray I will return one happy day.’
– Sheila Haslam
Thankfully, he did return.