Residents at Royal Star & Garter were shown how much they are loved on Valentine’s Day, Monday 14 February.

The charity’s Homes, in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe, were decorated with red hearts and flowers, and veterans were given gifts on the day.

Each Home has a married couple living there, and staff also helped make the day for them extra special.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

At Solihull, staff pampered resident and RAF veteran Doug, and his wife of nearly 50 years Pat, when she paid a Valentine’s Day visit. Elsewhere in the Home, tables were set with roses, red balloons, chocolates and Love Hearts.

In Surbiton, residents made Valentine’s Day cards ahead of the special day. On Monday, the Home’s Chef Rida Diab made heart-shaped biscuits with residents. There was a Valentine’s Day quiz and in the afternoon a tea-dance. Staff also organised a romantic meal for two for married couple Bob and Rosemary.

At High Wycombe, staff arranged for Neil to give flowers to his wife Betty, and for them to share a special Valentine’s meal. Residents also took part in a themed bingo event.

After seeing Doug at the Solihull Home, Pat said: “I love visiting my husband, and it was nice to see him on Valentine’s Day. The staff here are very special people. They not only look after my darling, they look after me. It’s been a horrible time with this dreadful pandemic, but the Home has been my family, they have treated me like family. They look after me as they look after Doug. When I go there I’m among friends.”

Royal Star & Garter is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, or to work for the charity, please visit www.starandgarter.org