The sound of bagpipes and smell of haggis filled the air at Royal Star & Garter as residents celebrated Burns Night on Monday, January 25.

The veterans tucked into a traditional Burns Supper – including haggis, neeps, tatties and a dram or two of whisky – at each of the charity’s three Homes, in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

Despite the absence of visitors at the Homes this year because of the pandemic, residents still enjoyed the traditional sounds of the bagpipes played through speakers.

In High Wycombe, Scottish resident Duncan read out the famous Robert Burns poem ‘Address to a Haggis’, before residents tucked into their meal.

In Solihull, staff donned kilts and pretended to play the bagpipes, while in Surbiton healthcare assistant and singer Jodie performed for residents.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, and celebrates special days in the calendar such as Burns Night, Valentine’s Day, and UK patron saints days.

The charity is welcoming new residents to all of its Homes. For more information on this, and life in the Homes, please visit: www.starandgarter.org

Our work with music and residents living with dementia has been supported by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust through their Positive Pathways programme.