Residents party as care home celebrates fifth anniversary

Home Manager Reggie (second left) with long-serving staff members (l-r) Suzie, Karen and Tracy. (Image supplied by Royal Star & Garter)

A High Wycombe care home has celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Royal Star & Garter held a party on Wednesday 17th April 2025, which also saw recognition for staff who have worked there since it opened.

The Home welcomed its first resident in April 2019.

The afternoon party included live music from Elvis impersonator Gary Roman. Long-serving staff also received a framed certificate in recognition and thanks for their five years of service.

Since it opened, Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe has received many plaudits and accolades. The 74-bedroom Home was rated Outstanding and the best in Buckinghamshire by inspectors from health watchdogs Care Quality Commission (CQC). Exceptional dementia care was also recognised when the charity won the Alzheimer Society’s Dementia Hero Awards for Professional Excellence. The Home has also been awarded for its compassionate end-of-life care.

The Home is also a firm favourite within the local community, receiving regular visits from personnel at RAF High Wycombe and pupils from local schools.

Home Manager Reggie Ballos is among the staff who has worked at Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe since it opened. She said: ‘It’s wonderful to share this special anniversary with the residents and staff, and recognise those people who have worked with us for five years. All staff are dedicated to providing the very best care to residents. We look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries together.‘

There was also praise from relatives. Melody, whose mother is a resident at High Wycombe, said: ‘My sister and I cannot praise Royal Star & Garter enough, and we can’t imagine Mother anywhere else. She’s looking wonderful, she’s very well looked after, and she’s happy. We have been incredibly blessed to find Royal Star & Garter.‘

Among those also at the party were Royal Star & Garter Chief Executive Andy Cole and Director of Care & Wellbeing Shirley Hall.

Suzie is one of the staff who received a long-service certificate. She joined Royal Star & Garter as a Healthcare Assistant and is now Day Care Coordinator. She said: ‘It’s been an eventful five years, and it’s been a privilege and an honour to help care for all the residents that have been here. I feel very lucky to come to work every day, and to work with the people I do.‘

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. The charity has also launched several new services reaching out into the community, including Day Care and Lunch Clubs.

The Home in High Wycombe is welcoming new residents. Further information on the new services being provided or information on working at the Home can be found on the Royal Star & Garter website at www.starandgarter.org/hw.

*Source of information : Press release from Royal Star & Garter.