MP opens care home’s Easter coffee morning

The home is run by Care South and was a formerly a Royal Air Force Association home providing care to former service personnel and families. Today the home welcomes anyone who requires specialist residential care including dementia care.

The Friends of Sussexdown, who ran the coffee morning, is a charity group dedicated to raising funds for the home’s Quality of Life Fund. Many of them are members of the Shoreham Royal Air Forces Association branch and became involved because many of the residents were former RAF and military personnel.

The money that the Friends raise through events, including the Easter Coffee Morning which raised £364, enables the residents to be provided with additional treats such as daytrips and celebration gifts.

The coffee morning raised the money with a tombola and raffle, and by selling cakes and local produce. An Easter egg hunt in the gardens of Sussexdown entertained the younger visitors.

Mr Herbert, whose late grandfather commanded an RAF squadron that flew in the Battle of Britain from Tangmere, chatted with staff, RAF cadets and residents of the home including one 94-year old who served in the RAF during the Second World War.

Nick Herbert said: “I enjoyed returning to Sussexdown on Saturday morning and meeting the staff, RAF cadets and residents. It was a happy morning and I was pleased to support the Friends who work so hard to fundraise for the residents.”

Report contributed by The Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP.