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Festive joy for residents of Fenland care home




Residents at a Fenland retirement home have a winter wonderland in their gardens thanks to the generosity of the local town council.

Thousands of lights festoon the trees, shrubs and even the grass at Edina Court in Harecroft Road,Wisbech and it is all thanks to the town council and their contractors Total Solutions.

The retirement apartments, which are run by Methodist Homes Association (MHA), are home to residents aged from 60 to 105, and it was staff that came up with the idea of decorating the garden.

Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics. (43225363)
Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics. (43225363)

Shelley Vail, housing care manager, explained: "It has been a very gloomy year for a lot of our residents and Christmas is set to be very different too, so we decided we wanted to do something to bring a bit of festive cheer and we came up with the winter wonderland idea.

"We started to buy bits and bobs and were preparing to do it ourselves but it soon became clear it was going to be a really big job and something outside our capabilities.

"A member of staff came up with the idea of approaching the town council to see if they had any spare lights and decorations we could borrow and the town clerk Terry Jordan was only too happy to help.

Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics. (43225370)
Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics. (43225370)

"It really took off from there, not only did they lend us some lights but also their contractors Total Solutions, and Michael and Tristan South came along on Saturday to put the lights up for us - and they did it all in their own time, free of charge which is wonderful."

Terry said: "When Edina Court got in touch and explained what they wanted to do, we were really happy to help, so we asked Total Solutions if we had any spare lights as they are in charge of the town's decorations and they came up with some we could lend.

"And then Tristan said he was happy to put the lights up free of charge and even gave up his plans to put his own family's lights up to decorate the grounds of Edina Court."

Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics..Dorothy Ashcroft and Pat Tuthill. (43225366)
Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics..Dorothy Ashcroft and Pat Tuthill. (43225366)

Late on Saturday afternoon, Wisbech mayor Aigars Balsevics went along to perform the official switch-on and set the thousands of lights, including those in the grass to create the illusion of glittering frost, twinkling.

Residents watched with delight, some in the gardens at a safe social distance, and others from the windows as the garden was lit up.

Coun Sam Hoy, the council's leader, said: "It is a lovely thing for the council to be involved in. We like to do things to help the community wherever possible, and this was a great opportunity to do just that.

Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics. (43225362)
Christmas Lights Switch on at Edina Court in Wisbech by Wisbech Mayor Aigars Balsevics. (43225362)

"Total Solutions did a great job putting the lights up and we are grateful to them for their expertise, we now hope the residents enjoy their winter wonderland as we draw closer to Christmas."



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