Care home residents in Wrexham enjoyed a colourful seaside party with a parade, fish and chips and a six-foot Silver Surfer.<\/p>\n
The bumper beach-themed gala transformed Pendine Park\u2019s care homes into a holiday resort, with residents, relatives and staff joining in the fun.<\/p>\n
Deckchairs, buckets and spades, giant coastal backdrops, bunting and colourful outfits helped create a joyful atmosphere while music, dancing and karaoke kept the celebrations going.<\/p>\n
The fun day was part of Pendine Park\u2019s 40th-anniversary celebrations.<\/p>\n
Founded in Wrexham in 1985 Pendine has grown from a single care home to a network of nine homes with a total 440 beds and employing more than 860 people.<\/p>\n
The beach party themed gala took place at all five care homes in Summerhill Road and there wre also celebrations at Pendine\u2019s Gwern Alyn and Hillbury House care homes in Hillbury Road, Wrexham, and at Bryn Seiont Newydd in Caernarfon.<\/p>\n
Owner Mario Kreft MBE, who founded Pendine with his wife, Gill, said: \u201cIt was incredibly important to mark such a special milestone with a celebration that brought together all our residents, their relatives and our dedicated staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a truly joyful occasion, and seeing everyone joining in the fun and making memories together was a wonderful way to celebrate 40 years of Pendine Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fun days were part of a year-long celebration to mark our anniversary which have also included sponsoring the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition at Llangollen International Eisteddfod.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will also be a major highlight at the North Wales International Music Festival where, as well as being headline sponsors, we are backing the opening concert starring the incomparable Sir Bryn Terfel.\u201d<\/p>\n
The festivities began with a parade led by maintenance man Paul Morris, who visited each home in turn alongside head gardener Andrew Jones, maintenance team member George Woodward and consultant artist-in-residence Sarah Edwards.<\/p>\n
A highlight of the parade was a life-size wooden baby donkey on wheels, named Dolores, specially crafted by the maintenance team.<\/p>\n
There was also a giant Silver Surfer, a custom built six foot tall sculpture of the comic book character in purple trunks, designed and made by Paul Morris.<\/p>\n
Paul, a talented chain saw sculptor,\u00a0 has also made an array of other creatures including a giant, one ton gorilla an 8ft tall grizzly bear, a model lemur, a bear and a hedgehog.<\/p>\n
George Woodward had the task of steering the surfer around five homes \u2013 Bryn Bella, Highfield, Pen y Bryn, Cae Bryn and Bodlondeb.<\/p>\n
He laughed: \u201cIt\u2019s been a bit circuitous. We managed to squeeze him into a lift at one point and can just about get him through the doors but it\u2019s been worth the effort. All the residents love him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pendine Park\u2019s catering team joined in the party, cooking up a seaside classic for lunch \u2013 fish and chips, followed by doughnuts for dessert.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon residents were treated to a choice of ice-cream or ice lollies and seaside rock.<\/p>\n
Several members of Pendine Park\u2019s training academy also called into the homes to join the celebrations.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0 Sarah Edwards, the summer gala is one of the highlights of Pendine Park\u2019s calendar, looked forward to by all.<\/p>\n
She praised the maintenance and gardening teams for their part in helping create the jovial atmosphere.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cEach year our gardens and maintenance team go the extra mile to make sure we have a wonderfully uplifting parade and party.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe catering team also get into the mood with ever creative menus and our enrichment coordinators go to town organising other fun activities which are then held in each of our homes \u2013 a big thank you goes to them all!\u201d<\/p>\n