Care home's 1940s day celebrated Dad's Army release

Staff and residents at Hunters Creek care home celebrated the release of a new Dads Army film with a special 1940s themed celebration day.

Former Bomber Command flight engineer Syd Marshall, 92, visited Hunters Creek Care Home, on London Road, and displayed his wartime memorabilia.

The staff also donned land girls’ costumes and Richard Wilson arrived in his 1934 Morris 8 dressed as a spiv to entertain the residents.

The home’s inhabitants also enjoyed a 1940s WI- themed lunch, sang songs with staff and watched episodes of the original Dad’s Army TV show to bring back memories of their own war-time experiences.

Syd had been a member of the Home Guard before he joined 103 squadron in 1943 and flew 36 missions during the war.

His wife Monica, a nurse at the A&E in Pilgrim Hospital for many years before her retirement, was a resident at Hunters Creek before she passed away two years ago.

Syd said the displays, food and decoration brought back fond memories of his time as an agricultural engineer in Boston and then stationed at Elsham Woods after training in Hemswell during the 40s.

“The staff have done an amazing job with the decorating and the food. It does feel very 1940s and helps bring back the memories,” he said.

Resident Mavis Powell, 85, who has been living at the London Road home for nearly two years, said her dad had been a member of the Home Guard.

Her parents had run the Bull and Dog pub in Freiston.

“The music and decorations do bring back memories, though I was only a young girl at the time. I do remember a plane crashing in a local farmer’s field and all the local children were very excited,” she said.

“It’s been a really good day and I’ve really enjoyed myself.”

Hunters Creek is one of five homes owned and run by Tanglewood Care Homes which provides 24-hour nursing, dementia, respite and residential care across five sites in Horncastle, Coningsby, Alford and Spalding, as well as Boston – providing care for 320 residents.

Simon Minnican, manager at Hunters Creek, said: “The food, the music, the costumes and the decorations – not to mention our special guests – all really brought that period to life and sparked some reminiscing for lots of the residents.

“The residents and the staff enjoyed it together.”