Cotman House Care Home Marks Veteran Laurence’s 100th Birthday
The team at Cotman House recently celebrated their newly achieved Veteran Friendly status and significantly, this coincided with a milestone birthday for veteran resident, Laurence.
As part of a group-wide mission by Caring Homes to attain Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) accreditation, Cotman House Care Home in Felixstowe began their journey by identifying veterans at the care home and listening to their stories. Laurence Peachy had a stirring tale to tell.
A 17-Year Old Volunteer Trained for War
Born in Thurston, a village in Suffolk, Laurence was conscripted into the navy and was happy to join to play his part in the war effort. He underwent training on the HMS Ganges, a former naval training school based in Shotley, Suffolk, which was used during World War 2 as a base for training and preparing seamen for combat. Laurence was sent to commence his duties as a gunner on HMS Kelvin, a destroyer which escorted convoys in the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea and participated in numerous wartime engagements. As part of D-Day preparations, HMS Kelvin was assigned to Task Force D and was instructed to bombard the German positions in the area of Sword Beach on 6 June 1944. Laurence was just 18 years old.
D-Day Itself – and a Ride for Winston Churchill
As HMS Kelvin left port on that auspicious day, Laurence vividly remembers the captain’s words, “This is the big one, no turning back”. The ship was one of the first to arrive at Sword Beach and Laurence said, “Our first orders were to blow up the mines on the beach to enable the troops to land safely. BOOM! I’ve never heard a bang like it -there are no words to describe it, it was horrendous”.
Once their part in the operation was complete, HMS Kelvin returned to England, with the honour of collecting Prime Minister Winston Churchill and on June 12th, taking him back to Normandy to participate in meetings of the Chiefs of Staff.
Laurence recalled that voyage, "Churchill did most of the talking. One of the guys finished off one of his cigar ends! He’d probably had one or two – he liked his booze! He was nothing out of the ordinary, seemed like a nice guy.”
When Laurence’s 100th birthday was marked at Cotman House, guests from the HMS Ganges Museum were invited to join the celebrations with friends and family. They presented him with a very special bottle of rum – a fitting gift for a former seaman – although a personalised shirt signed by the players from his beloved Ipswich Town football team was possibly his favourite birthday present!
Looking Back and Remembering Those Left Behind
Last year, Felixstowe Museum invited Laurence to the opening of their new D-Day exhibition and to be recognised as one of those who participated in D-Day. When their wartime actions were described as heroic, Laurence asked never to be called a hero. "I am no hero”, he said, “Heroes were those left behind. We must never forget. We will never forget".
Welcome to Cotman House Care Home
Choosing a care home for your loved one is never easy, especially when you're seeking more than just support with day-to-day needs. At Cotman House Care Home in Felixstowe, we understand that you're looking for a place where your loved one will feel respected, valued and truly at home.
We provide residential, dementia and end-of-life care, but we offer more than professional support, we offer a compassionate home. Accredited in specialist palliative care, our team is here to support both residents and families during emotional and often overwhelming times.
We work hand-in-hand with local healthcare professionals, offering personalised care that promotes dignity, independence and connection.
