Chichester care home marks Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day with special tributes

Residents, relatives, staff and visitors at Marriott House and Lodge in Chichester have come together to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, paying tribute to all those who have served and sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

The home held a special Remembrance Sunday church service, led by its wonderful volunteer, Jean Collyer. Some residents delivered readings, while many others joined together to pay their respects.

Jean says, “On Sunday 8th November we held our usual Service of Remembrance at Marriott House, a very important event that residents never miss. Alan Simpson movingly read the Kohima Epitaph and John Daymond read the first lesson, both very proud to contribute”.

Jean added “Residents provided well-worn photographs of loved ones who served their country with such pride. As they reminisced there were tears and smiles. We here at Marriott House always revere in hearing their stories. As we pray for the departed, we also pray for world peace. We will remember them”.

The service provided an opportunity for everyone to come together as a community to reflect, remember and honour all those who lost their lives in service, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.

The commemorations continued on Armistice Day, when residents, visitors and staff gathered together at the home to observe the two-minute silence. It was wonderful to see so many people come together in a shared moment of reflection and respect.

As part of this year's commemorations, Marriott’s activities team have also been working hard over recent weeks to create a special Veterans Wall, celebrating and honouring those who have served our country.

The project has been a particularly meaningful experience, providing opportunities for the team to sit with residents, hear their stories and learn more about their family histories and personal connections to those who served. Through these conversations, the team discovered how military service had shaped the lives of so many families across generations.

Using the stories and photographs shared by residents, the team brought together a display that pays tribute to veterans and ensures their stories and sacrifices are remembered.

A beloved member of the activities department, Melanie Orton who led this project says “I have found it a truly humbling and emotional experience to be trusted with so many personal stories. It was a privilege to be included with their memories”.