The Arran Banner

Cooriedoon celebrates 30 years with garden party

- Colin Smeeton editor@arranbanne­r.co.uk

Private care home Cooriedoon in Whiting Bay marked its 30th birthday with an elegant garden party, where residents, visitors and staff enjoyed a host of activities and events on a sunny afternoon.

Original founder Celia Butler joined in the celebratio­ns and was presented with a bouquet of flowers from care manager Gwen Walker, while long-standing nurse Elaine Kelso was presented with a long-term service gift.

The celebratio­ns took place in the superbly manicured gardens of the impressive sandstone building which was built in 1900 and suitably started life as the Whiting Bay Hotel.

With a nod to the colourful mixture of nationalit­ies working at the residentia­l home, the garden was adorned with exotic Indian, Philippine, Israeli and Scottish ornaments in the cultural garden.

Elsewhere in the garden, visitors and residents enjoyed strawberri­es and cream, sandwiches and patisserie­s, and Coorie curry, while children were entertaine­d at the bouncy castle and with face painting.

Residents enjoyed holistic therapies and massages from Jill McKillop as everyone was entertaine­d by the harmonic sounds of Arran singer Mike Bailey.

Appropriat­e for the spring sunshine, a ‘most elegant hat’ competitio­n and a raffle added to the fun atmos- phere of the day. The afternoon’s celebratio­ns were rounded off with thank you speeches and a symbolic release of peace balloons by Gilbert Norris.

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 ?? 01_B21cooried­oon08 ?? Above, contenders for the most elegant hat competitio­n.
01_B21cooried­oon05; right, founder Celia Butler receives flowers by Gwen Walker and Greg Butler.
01_B21cooried­oon08 Above, contenders for the most elegant hat competitio­n. 01_B21cooried­oon05; right, founder Celia Butler receives flowers by Gwen Walker and Greg Butler.
 ?? 01_B21cooried­oon03 ?? Singer Mike Bailey entertaine­d the crowds while children put the bouncy castle to good use.
01_B21cooried­oon03 Singer Mike Bailey entertaine­d the crowds while children put the bouncy castle to good use.
 ?? 01_B21cooried­oon02 ?? Visitors were greeted at the entrance to the garden party with a champagne reception.
01_B21cooried­oon02 Visitors were greeted at the entrance to the garden party with a champagne reception.
 ?? 01_B21cooried­oon07 ?? Elaine Kelso enjoys a sample of the holistic therapies on offer from Jill McKillop.
01_B21cooried­oon07 Elaine Kelso enjoys a sample of the holistic therapies on offer from Jill McKillop.
 ?? 01_B21cooried­oon01 ?? Garden party visitors were treated to an array of savoury snacks during the afternoon.
01_B21cooried­oon01 Garden party visitors were treated to an array of savoury snacks during the afternoon.

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