Summer Bows Out With A Flourish At The Orchard’s Celebratory Barbecue

With this year’s glorious summer finally bowing out, the team and residents at The Orchard held a party to say farewell to the sunshine season with great food and the very best company.

Guests from the local community, including St Albans Mayor, Matt Fisher, were invited to join residents, families, friends and the team at The Orchard Nursing Home's ‘End of Summer’ barbecue.

A Fitting Feast for Fantastic Afternoon

When the day of the event arrived, everyone was suitably excited and the home’s beautiful garden made the perfect setting. The kitchen team sprang into action, led by Head Chef, Rodney, who pulled out all the stops to prepare a delicious barbecue feast, including hot dogs, burgers, teriyaki chicken, coleslaw, potato salad and rice.

By popular demand, Home Manager, Dumitru, also treated everyone to a selection of his much-loved homemade dishes, including his famous salad - adored by residents and staff - as well as barbecued liver and traditional Romanian sausages. There was certainly no shortage of food and in true summer party style, the Pimm’s and Prosecco were flowing, which meant there was a wonderful atmosphere throughout the home and garden!

A Special Visit from the Mayor

Mayor Matt Fisher made himself very much at home, bringing warmth, humour and conversation to the afternoon. He was welcomed as he made his way around the garden and spent time chatting with staff and residents, including Sheila whose son, Christopher was formerly involved in local civic life in St Albans. Matt also took the opportunity to have a tour around The Orchard with members of the team. Care homes are particularly close to Matt’s heart, as his own parents have lived in a care home, and he asked lots of insightful questions about how the home operates and the care provided at The Orchard.

Music, Dancing and an Emotional Goodbye

No party is complete without music and talented entertainer Nick Denney performed popular songs from the 1950s. Everyone was singing along, dancing and tapping their feet in the garden and residents Jean, Anne and Gill were particularly enthusiastic. The three ladies danced throughout Nick’s performance, then grabbed Dumitru’s hands for a cheeky dance! It was wonderful to see residents, families, staff and guests enjoying the afternoon together.

There was a particularly memorable and emotional moment when the team took the opportunity to say goodbye Home Manager, Dumitru, who was leaving The Orchard to take up a new role as the manager of sister home, Broadridge Park. In recognition of everything Dumitru had contributed to The Orchard, staff and residents presented him with special leaving gift. There were more than a few tears shed as he said, “This home is a special home. We have done so much as a team. This is one of the best homes I have worked in, and I will be very sad to leave.”

“We Are Spoilt Here!”

Another memorable moment came out of the blue when one of the residents, Gonny, stood and spontaneously addressed everyone, saying, “I just want to say, I know I was told we were having a barbecue, but nothing like this! We are spoilt here by everyone and everything going on. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself while being here, and I just want to thank everybody for their hard work in looking after every single person.”

The ‘End of Summer’ barbecue felt like the perfect combination of everything that makes The Orchard so special – great food, music, laughter and most importantly, people. It was a celebration of the home’s wonderful community - residents, families, friends and neighbours – and although summer has taken its final bow, it certainly went out in style at The Orchard!

Welcome to The Orchard Nursing Home in St Albans

Welcome to The Orchard Nursing Care Home in St Albans, Hertfordshire, where we offer high-quality residential, nursing and dementia care in a calm and welcoming setting. Nestled in a peaceful residential area, our purpose-built care home features bright and modern interiors, beautifully landscaped gardens and a range of thoughtfully designed spaces for comfort and relaxation.

From cosy lounges and a hair salon to rooms with private terrace access, every detail is designed with our residents’ wellbeing in mind. Our dedicated care team is here around the clock to support residents with their everyday needs. At The Orchard, we’re proud to provide compassionate, person-centred care in a warm and friendly environment.