Avalon Nursing Home - Celebrating Those Who Have Gone Before

Residents, families, friends and staff of Avalon Nursing Home in Bridgwater have come together to celebrate the lives of loved ones at the home’s yearly memorial service. 

In preparation for the occasion, those planning to attend were invited to write names, and memories or quotes on wooden doves in memory of loved ones, to hang on a tree in the garden of the home. 

Sarah Biffen from H Biffens & Sons funeral directors, opened the service with a poem before inviting everyone outside into the garden. 

In warm autumn sunshine, the doves were then placed in the branches of a tree, and Sarah led a touching service in the open air before bringing proceedings to a close with another poem.  

Emma Hill, activities co-ordinator for Avalon said: “We hold our yearly memorial service to remember those we love and the relationship that we have with them, so it’s an ideal time to acknowledge the stories, memories, and moments that we shared with those people.  

“It’s a time to recognize that death may have taken away a person's physical presence, but they will continue to live on in our memories and stories. 

“So we regard our memorial service as a true celebration, and it was lovely to see so many familiar faces at our gathering, and to have the opportunity to share fond memories of past loved ones together.” 

Avalon Nursing Home is run by specialist dementia care home group Camelot Care www.camelotcare.co.uk who have further homes in Wellington, Plymouth and Yeovil.