Gorseway Nursing Home is honoured by a visit from the Mayor of Havant!
At Gorseway Nursing Home on Hayling Island, we welcome everyone who sets foot in our grounds with friendliness and dignity. It’s not every day, however, that the visiting dignitary is The Worshipful Mayor of Havant herself!
To celebrate the renaming of two care units, Gorseway Park was honoured by the presence of Mayor, Rosy Raines, who kindly agreed to perform the ceremony.
Welcoming The Mayor!
Rosy cut the ribbons for Gorseway’s newly retitled Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales units, which find their namesakes in the majestic aircraft carriers which have recently joined our naval fleet in Portsmouth. Janice West, the Registered Manager at Gorseway Park, says:
“One of the units used to be called Memory Lane, which I had always thought labelled people. These new names are also in keeping with Agincare’s military history theme!” – Janice West
A connection to Gorseway Nursing Home
The Mayor is no stranger to Gorseway Park. Following her own nurse training at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Rosy held various nursing positions. Nearly 32 years ago, these included working during nights at Gorseway Park! Rosy also worked as a Practice Nurse for 34 years.
In 1999 Rosy became a community first responder, and she would continue to volunteer for 20 years, during which time she took on a 3-year stint as the first female Co-ordinator for the responders.
Rosy is also Dementia Friends Champion for the Alzheimer’s Society, and on the Hayling Island Steering Committee for Dementia. This is a cause and a topic that she is deeply passionate about, more so after taking early retirement just 3 years ago in order to support her father, who has dementia.
Rosy’s life has been defined by looking after others. To say her ties are personal with both care and Gorseway itself is a big understatement. When Rosy became a councillor 3 years ago, she saw this as simply an extension of her caring role and willingness to support people.
A colleague had suggested putting Rosy forward for the position of Mayor, and the rest is history. Rosy says of her auspicious appointment:
“It is a position I relish; meeting new people, helping where I can, drinking tea and eating cake, something I am also good at! It is such an honour to be able to represent Havant Borough council.” – Rosy Raines
The team at Gorseway were appropriately humbled and excited to host such a prestigious figure of the community, and we thank the Mayor for kindly making time to revisit a hub of care from her own past, too.
Janice West said about the visit:
“It was a really lovely afternoon, residents were provided with celebratory cream teas and it was so nice for staff to meet and greet the Mayor.” – Janice West
During her visit to Gorseway Park, Rosy was able to meet one of our residents, Mrs Ann Smith, a former mechanic for the RAF, who had just recently celebrated her 101st birthday with us. Finally, of course, there was time to chat with staff and family members from the Nursing Home – and enjoy a cream tea.
Why choose an Agincare care home?
- Agincare is a family-owned business that has been providing reliable and professional care since 1986
- We are one of the largest care groups in England with over 3,500 staff providing a range of care services
- 90% of our customers rate us ‘excellent’ or ‘great’
- All our care home services are fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission for your total reassurance
- Our care home staff have nationally recognised qualifications and are enhanced DBS checked
- We have a unique ‘Person First’ approach to dementia care that means we fully understand the needs of each individual
