Residents at Edensor Care Centre in Clacton-on-Sea, part of the Diagrama Foundation, have been deeply honoured to play a small but meaningful role in this year’s D-Day commemorations in Normandy after creating a beautiful poppy wreath that was taken across the Channel by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
The handcrafted wreath was specially requested by the charity to accompany a group of Second World War veterans on their commemorative visit marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. During the visit, the wreath was photographed being cast into the waters off Sword Beach as part of a moving act of remembrance. Later that day, it was laid at Ranville Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery by Normandy veteran Paul Terry, aged 100, following the D-Day memorial service.
The poignant moment when Paul cast the wreath into the sea was captured by a photographer from the Daily Express and featured on the newspaper’s front page on 6 June, bringing the residents’ tribute to a national audience.
Residents and staff at Edensor Care Centre were moved to see images of the wreath being used during the commemorations.
Ewa Ruskowiak, Care Coordinator at Edensor Care Home said: “It was an absolute privilege for our residents to create this wreath for the Taxi Charity and the veterans travelling to Normandy. We were incredibly moved to see the photographs from Normandy and especially to see one hundred year old Paul Terry, a remarkable veteran who was there during the D Day landings, with the wreath. To know that something created by our residents became part of such a significant act of remembrance is very special for everyone at Edensor.”
Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “These trips are incredibly important for our veterans. For many, returning to Normandy gives them the opportunity to remember friends who never came home and to pay their respects at the places where history was made. We are grateful to the residents of Edensor Care Centre for creating such a beautiful wreath, which became a fitting tribute during this year’s commemorations. It meant a great deal to the veterans and everyone involved.”
The partnership between Edensor Care Centre and the Taxi Charity highlights the power of remembrance across generations, connecting residents with those who served and ensuring the legacy of D-Day continues to be honoured for years to come.
For more information Edensor Care centre visit www.diagramafoundation.org.uk/senior-dementia-care/edensorcarehomeclacton
About Edensor Care Centre
Edensor Care Centre in Clacton-on-Sea, is a 48-bed nursing and dementia care home. The team of carers and nurses provides exceptional, compassionate care fortified by Montessori values, enabling residents to, where possible, retain their independence, pursue interests and maximise social opportunities to live a fulfilling life in a homely and warm environment.
About Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama Foundation is a Kent based charity that supports vulnerable children, young people, and adults to live their best life.
Diagrama has a Supported Living Service across Bromley and Mid Sussex, three homes for adults with learning disabilities in Orpington, an eight-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities in West Sussex with a Community Services Programme a fifty-bed care home for the elderly with nursing and dementia needs in Essex, and a fostering and adoption service in the southeast. Plus, a 100 acre property offering farm and craft day Services cross West Sussex.
- The Supported Living Service, cares for 33 adults with learning disabilities, in seven schemes across Bromley and one scheme in Mid Sussex, helping them to develop skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others.
- At Cabrini House in Orpington the charity promotes the development of core skills for 23 adults with learning disabilities so that they can lead independent lives integrated within their community.
- Diagrama Care Home at Duckyls Farm, is a residential care home in West Sussex on a 100-acre farm for residents with learning disabilities, which allows the charity to explore the physical, mental and social skills and benefits that working with animals and in nature can offer to people with a learning disability.
- Diagrama Community Services at Duckyls Farm is a day care provision for people with a learning disability, physical and sensory impairment, acquired brain injury and/or autism.
- The team at their nursing and dementia care home, Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, support vulnerable residents to live life to the full.
- Diagrama’s voluntary adoption agency and not-for-profit fostering service cares for children who wait the longest for homes in London, Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
Many vulnerable children and adults don’t get the support they need to develop their true potential, but the Diagrama team know that when someone has time and belief invested in them, they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
