Friends of the Elderly’s Alton Care Home – Home to this year’s Community Extravaganza
The residents and team at The Lawn, the Alton-based residential care home run by charity, Friends of the Elderly – which is celebrating its 120th Anniversary this year – are proud to be supporting this year’s Holybourne Village Association’s (HVA) Summer Fete by being the venue for the annual, inclusive community festival of fun.
Speaking about the eagerly awaited event, Steve Swift, the Registered Manager at The Lawn said: “In keeping with our commitment to support our residents to engage with, and be part of, the local community, being able to support our neighbours and be the venue for this year’s Holybourne Village Association’s Summer Fete is a wonderful opportunity.”
Taking Place on Saturday 30th August, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., The HVA annual Summer Fete will have a family, festival feel with lots of fun activities, competitions and much more taking place. “We are very grateful to Steve and The Lawn Care Team for opening up their beautiful grounds and allowing us to host our annual summer community event at the care home,” said Megan-Beth Millar, the organiser of the event.
“We have lots of things planned for the day – it’s shaping up to be an event not to be missed. There will be a wide range of local artisan stalls selling a great range of products and gifts, delicious refreshments, entertainment and a fantastic line-up of activities taking place in the Fete’s arena – including the traditional Village Tug O’ War competition. There will be something for everyone to take part in and enjoy.”
“The residents thoroughly enjoy our community events and to be able to facilitate this year’s Summer Fete will be a lovely way for them to interact and socialise with old friends and make new connections with the great people of Holybourne,” added Steve.
Holybourne Village has a long history, dating back to the Roman era. It is located near the site of a Roman posting station which is believed to be at the crossing of two Roman roads – Winchester to London and Silchester to Chichester. During World War ll, the village was the base of a German Prisoner of War Camp named Fisher’s Camp, which was built on the site of a former brewery. The prisoners converted on of the Nissen Huts into a theatre, complete with a raised stage, for their own entertainment and now, the site is home to The Holybourne Theatre.
“The Lawn also has a fascinating history,” continued Steve. “Interestingly, The Lawn Care Home used to be home to the novelist, Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote a variety novels, short stories, and a biography. The most famous of her works being Mary Barton, North and South, Cranford, and Wives and Daughters and a biography of her friend, Charlotte Brontë, titled The Life of Charlotte Brontë.”
One of the events taking place at the Summer Fete will be The Lawn’s third annual dog show, affectionally called ‘The Scruffies’. “Due to the exceptionally hot weather earlier in the summer, we had to postpone ‘The Scruffies’ as it would not have been safe for the dogs to be out in the sun for too long,” continued Steve. “So, we all agreed that having a mini ‘Scruffies’ during the community event would be an ideal solution. We’ll have a range of award categories, with prizes and rosettes to be given to the winning pooches in each class.
“However, no dog will leave with empty paws, as every dog that enters will receive doggie bag of tasty doggie treats which the residents will also make for them.”
“Owners can enter their pups into ‘The Scruffies’ on the day for free and can enter as many categories as they’d like,” added Catalina Constantin, The Lawn’s Activities Coordinator.
“It’s not long to go now until The HVA Summer Fete and the residents are all looking forward to the day,” continued Steve. “They will have their own VIP area where they will be able to relax and watch all the festivities, as well as engage with the guests. They will have VIP rosettes and are taking active roles in the proceedings, acting as Judges for certain competitions. They have been busy in the Arts and Crafts sessions, creating handmade items to sell on The Lawn’s fete stall as well as putting on their ‘Baking Hats’ and making the doggie treats.
““We are all looking forward to celebrating the summer with our local community and supporting the HVA’s Summer Fete. It will be a great opportunity to meet and engage with our neighbours, friends and members of the local community. It also gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful care home and grounds and show just how compassionate and professional care team is in supporting those they care for, every hour of every day,” concluded Steve.
The Holybourne Village Association’s 2025 Summer Fete
Saturday 30th August 2025
1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
The Lawn Residential Care Home, 119 London Road, Holybourne, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 4ER
Telephone: 01420 84162
