ACTRESS Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary in the popular Downton Abbey television series, will be visiting Budleigh Salterton officially to open a care business.
Miss Dockery has been invited by her uncle, Mark McGlade, who opened a Home Instead Senior Care (HISC) branch in the town with his wife Vanessa in June.
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The official opening of the business, which serves Exeter and East Devon, will be on December 1, and it is hoped various local dignitaries will also attend.
"Michelle really believes in the ethos of Home Instead which is all about giving people the dignity and quality care they deserve," said Mark.
"Our emphasis is on consistency and giving people time to sit down and have a cup of tea.
"Downton Abbey has a huge following particularly by the age group we look after and we thought it would be a nice addition to our official opening event to have Michelle attend.
"Something that is dear to our hearts and Michelle's, is that in the face of all the negative publicity that elderly care has received in recent months, HISC has been winning national care quality awards because of the focus on traditional values of companionship and personalised care, dignity and respect.
"I think that this also resonates with the audience of Downton Abbey, many of whom yearn for a return of traditional values and an era of close families, friends, respect and dignity."
HISC is a national company. The branch in Budleigh Salterton is the only one in Devon.
