Carter House Care Home resident Eileen Flood fulfilled her wish to see how remembrance poppies are made by visiting The Poppy Factory in Richmond. Eileen (88) is well known to everyone at both Carter House and Link House Care Homes. She has lived at Carter House Care Home for three years, before that she volunteered for many years at their sister home Link House.
As part of Country Court Care’s ‘Make a Wish’ initiative, residents were given the opportunity to tell staff about somewhere they’d always wanted to go or a special activity they’d always wanted to do. Eileen was born in Merton Park, Wimbledon, one of four children. She was brought up and worked in the same area all her life. Aged just eleven years old, Eileen was evacuated to Newton-Le-Willows in Lancashire during World War Two and remained there for several years before returning to her family at the end of the war. Since that time, she has always been interested in the poppies and her wish was to see where and how they are made.
During the tour, Eileen heard all about the history of the Poppy Factory and even took a turn at making a poppy herself.
“Eileen thoroughly enjoyed her morning at the factory,” said Hilma Dunn, Home Manager at Carter House Care Home, “She told me she was treated like royalty from start to finish and would like to thank everyone that made her wish came true.”
Customer Relations Manager Paul Morris, who accompanied Eileen on the tour said: “I was amazed and moved by how the poppies came about and the fact that over 6 million are made by hand each year by injured servicemen and women who they support by helping them back into the workplace.”
The Poppy Factory was founded in 1922 to offer employment opportunities to wounded soldiers returning from the First World War, creating remembrance products for the Royal Family and The Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal. The Poppy Factory is a registered charity that provides employment for veterans with physical and mental health conditions, helping them back into work.
The ‘Make a wish’ initiative has seen residents from across the Country Court Care group enjoy special outings and activities; from scoring goals at Sheffield United Football Club to off-road driving and lots of family tea parties.
