100-year-old naval veteran Brian Brown cut the ribbon at Hazlemere Lodge Care Home in High Wycombe to celebrate the year anniversary of Buckinghamshire Council appointing family-owned care provider Agincare to operate four homes and three extra care schemes in the county.
Hazlemere Lodge is the first of the homes to complete a major refurbishment as part of a multimillion-pound investment programme being delivered in partnership by Buckinghamshire Council, Agincare and landlords Riverside. Further works are set to complete in coming weeks at The Chestnuts Care Home in Aylesbury, Swan House Care Home in Winslow and The Croft Care Home in Amersham.
Brian’s wife Edith and other residents, friends, relatives, care home workers and community partners joined the celebrations alongside dignitaries including Cllr Carol Heap, Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Buckinghamshire Council, Raina Summerson, Chief Executive Officer of Agincare, and Adam Luckhurst, Director and Shareholder of Agincare. Raina said:
We’re incredibly proud of what the team has achieved in just one year and look forward to continuing to work closely with Buckinghamshire Council, our community partners and everyone connected with the homes. Over 40 years, Agincare has built-up extensive experience of managing care service transfers from charities, local authorities and other providers, always with a focus on stability, continuity of care and high-quality support for those who draw on our services.
Brian’s military history made the occasion particularly poignant. On 8th May 1945, aged just 18, and serving as a wireless operator aboard ship in the South China Sea, he was among the very first to learn that the war in Europe had come to an end. He was then responsible for communicating the message to the fleet, playing an important part in spreading the news that peace had finally arrived in Europe. Eight decades later, Brian once again played a starring role heralding in a bright new era, this time for his newly refurbished home at Hazlemere Lodge.
Agincare was appointed to operate the services by Buckinghamshire Council following a competitive tender process in 2025, following the exit of the market by the incumbent provider. It operates four care homes in Buckinghamshire: The Chestnuts in Aylesbury, The Croft in Amersham, Hazlemere Lodge in High Wycombe and Swan House in Winslow; with three on-site extra care schemes: Willowmead Court at The Chestnuts, St James Court at Hazlemere Lodge and Swan Court at Swan House.
Agincare is one of England’s leading family-owned care providers, with circa 200 locations nationwide and a workforce of 6,000. Founded in 1986, Agincare celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026 and delivers high-quality personalised care and support through a broad range of services, including care and nursing homes, home care, live-in care, supported living, extra care, not-for-profit children’s services, and training.
Find more information about Agincare services in Buckinghamshire.