A VE Day to Remember in Epping Forest
On the 14th May, the Theydon Bois Village Hall was filled with smiles, laughter and the sound of clinking teacups as we hosted a very special Memory Lane Café to mark VE Day. It was a heart-warming afternoon, open to our clients, their families, and local residents from across Epping Forest.
A Wonderful Turnout and a Touch of Vintage Charm
Around 70 people joined us for the event, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere. Our very own Vicky (Registered Manager) and Debbie (Head of Care Professional Experience) embraced the vintage spirit, turning heads in their red 1940s-style dresses. The room was brought to life with colourful VE Day decorations, flags, and party hats – thank you to Stylex Party in Harlow for those!
Stories That Touched Our Hearts
One of the most memorable moments of the afternoon came from Grant, who shared his experience of being just eight years old on the original VE Day. He remembered seeing the searchlights across Epping Forest and surrounding areas join together to form a star above London, an image that’s hard to forget.
Dorothy also moved us all with a stirring reading of a poem written by King George after the war, thanking schoolchildren for their bravery and sacrifice. And of course, we played Churchill’s iconic speech declaring the end of the war in Europe, bringing a real sense of history into the room.
Music, Dancing and Special Guests
Professional dancers Martin and Emma from Steps Ahead Dance Academy brought the room to life with music and dancing, getting everyone’s toes tapping. Our guests of all ages enjoyed the energy and fun they brought to the afternoon.
We were also honoured to welcome the new Mayor of Epping, Councillor Janet Whitehouse, who took a moment to introduce herself and speak about her mission to raise dementia awareness in our community.
Family, Memories and a Special Birthday
Our franchise owner, Victoria, brought along her whole family for the occasion. Her three-year-old daughter, who helps paint birthday cards for our clients, joined in the fun alongside Victoria’s mum, Jennifer and grandmother Barbara, who celebrated her 91st birthday that very day – Happy Birthday Barbara!
It was also a lovely tribute to Victoria’s grandfather John, who inspired her to start Home Instead Epping Forest.
Thanks to Our Amazing Team
We couldn’t have done it without our fantastic team. A big thank you goes to Maureen, our Community Relations Manager, for organising everything so beautifully. And hats off to Max and the rest of the Home Instead crew for keeping the teas flowing and staying behind to tidy up – every detail was taken care of with care and pride.
Kind Words from Our Guests
We were touched by the messages we received afterwards. Here are just a couple that warmed our hearts:
“All thanks are due to you for making the VE Day tea such a great afternoon – you are all stars … I think you make a lot of difference to a lot of people.”
— Bruce, son of a former client
“Thank you for yesterday. It was a very happy occasion, and you must have been working so hard to get it all together. We just wanted to say how much we enjoyed it.”
— Lana and Grant
Here’s to the Next One!
We’re so proud to be part of a community that honours its history, celebrates together, and supports one another as one big family.
Thank you to everyone who came and helped make this VE Day celebration one to remember. We’re already looking forward to the next Memory Lane Café and organising lots of exciting events for the summer months.
If you or someone you love needs a little help getting out and about and connecting with the local community, we’re here to help. We are specialists in home care, companionship and dementia care. Call us on 01992 666777 or pop into the office for a chat anytime.
