Northfleet hospice celebrates her Majesty's zest for life

The ellenor hospice in Northfleet, Kent is gearing up for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Submitted for publication by ellenor

The ellenor charity is pulling out all the stops to ensure patients, carers and staff celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style at their hospice in Northfleet, Kent.

Festivities during the week leading up to the Jubilee include a tea party with music, garden games, and a tree planting ceremony. There will also be a preview of a special song being written by professional musicians in collaboration with patients. Hospice supporters are being encouraged to turn their own gardens and street parties into fundraisers.

Operational wellbeing lead Andy Lowden said: “The Queen has shown us how to live life to the fullest and how to make a difference. We are acknowledging this huge event, her Platinum Jubilee, with our own celebrations here.”

ellenor will be one of a select number of organisations to be featured in the official Platinum Jubilee Pageant commemorative album published by St James’s House.

Andy said everyone involved with the hospice felt honoured that ellenor would be part of the album.

A jubilee party will be held on Wednesday, June 1 for patients, carers and people who attend their open access groups. There will be a sit-down lunch, 50s songs performed live by Gravesend Theatre Guild, dancing, skittles and croquet on the hospice lawn. For classic car enthusiasts, there will be a display of Morris Minors.

Andy said: “It will be a bit like a traditional fete, all provided free of charge by ellenor. We are encouraging people to wear red, white and blue or anything 50s style. The tables will be decorated with Union flags and there will be bunting. We are compiling a 50s music playlist and there will be a coconut shy, hook a duck and popcorn.

“We are inviting our Living Well patients and people on the hospice ward – including carers. We also want to welcome people who attend our open access classes like seated exercise and gardening. They will all receive their own box of food from the catering team."

One of the highlights of the party will be the first public performance of ellenor’s own song. Thanks to funding from the British Arts Council, the hospice has been working with Live Music Now. Professional musicians have been helping patients create a song that reflects The Queen’s long reign but also celebrates life itself. The song will also be recorded later, and a professional video created.

Fundraisers are encouraging corporate sponsors to send their staff along to help as volunteers on the day and ellenor’s own staff are welcome to join in the festivities in the afternoon. Everyone will be encouraged to dress for the occasion, and hospice nurses are hoping to convert their uniforms into something a bit more traditional for the occasion.

A plaque in honour of the Jubilee will also be presented by Dartford firm Stanbridge Ltd, who are providing a Cherry Blossom tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

Senior supporter engagement officer Jemma Kemp said: “The party has turned into a team event for ellenor. We have been able to help the wellbeing department by using our relationships with local businesses to source items such as tables and chairs. We have also been able to advise on the planning of the event – as that’s what we do."

Supporters who would like to use their own celebrations to raise vital funds for the charity are able to register for a Jubilee fundraising pack with downloadable materials like bunting and cake toppers from the ellenor website. Events can be anything from a street party or big jubilee lunch to a barbecue in the garden for family and friends.

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