Blackhall Library are having an Open Garden Day on Saturday 29 July from 10am to 1pm.
Pop along and join them for a day in the garden filled with fun activities for children, a book sale, knit and crochet, and there’ll be tea, coffee and cakes for sale too!
STRACHAN House resident Muriel Sinclair had always wanted to jump on board and relive her journeys she would take on a steam train, so staff at the home made her wish a reality with their Gone Fishing 23 project.
Muriel said some of her fondest memories was travelling around Scotland on days out with her children, and the fun they would have as a family.
Muriel has lived at Strachan House for many years and at 102 she is dearly loved by the staff and residents alike. Staff jumped on board when they heard of her memories travelling from Edinburgh to Dundee on the steam trains and worked in secret to ensure her surprise was kept on the right track.
Speaking with Boness Railway about Muriel the team organised for her to take a 70 minute steam train ride whilst enjoying a good old fashion afternoon tea.
What Muriel didn’t also know was when she reached the platform her daughter was there to surprise. And as if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day, the station master and guards then surprised her with a First class compartment to ensure she had a day to remember!
Mandy Head of Activities said “Our Gone Fishing 23 is all about making that meaningful moment happen and this like many others, was very special. To see Muriel’s face light up when she heard the steam train pull up was just magical!”
“I’m 102 and never ever thought I’d take another ride on a steam train. I can hardly see now, but the smell of smoke and the sounds reminded me instantly of the fun journeys I would take in my younger days. I can’t thank the team enough for an amazing day. The afternoon tea was just the cherry on the top of such a wonderful surprise.”
Gordon Philp General Manager at the home, said: “We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here at Strachan House.
“It was marvellous see how overwhelmed Muriel was – and how hard the team works behind the scenes to make sure our residents have such special moments like these.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Strachan House in Blackhall will be opening their doors to the local community for an afternoon of tea and entertainment on Saturday (8th July).
Taking place between 10am – 4pm guests will be able to enjoy a selection of home-made cakes prepared by the home’s Head Chef Paul, and will have the chance to meet the team and take a tour of the home.
Gordon Philp, General Manager at Strachan House, says: “I’m excited about welcoming new visitors and existing friends of the home to our open day.
“Looking for care can be a little bit daunting, but our team here at Strachan House will do all we can to provide all of our guests with the guidance and support they may need, and answer all of their questions, big or small.
“Our open day is a great chance to enjoy some delightful entertainment in a homely and friendly setting- hope to see you all there!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Residents from Strachan House care home in Blackhall hit the road and made some surprise visits to its local emergency service responders this week, armed with goodie boxes and letters of appreciation for everything they do.
It comes as the 999 emergency number reached its 86th birthday on the 30th June.
The care home staff and residents took to the roads and visited police, fire and ambulance in the Blackhall area to show their appreciation for everything our heroes do in our hour of need when the well-known number is dialled.
Drylaw police officers, Telford Road fire station and paramedics at the Western General were all very surprised when they received our hampers of thanks!
Mandy Burgen, Head of Wellbeing and Lifestyle for Strachan House, said: “Behind every emergency number dialled it’s important to know there is a team of people who respond without hesitation. It has been an honour for staff and residents to deliver these boxes of goodies to say thank you.
“Our local emergency services do so much, so to surprise them with a little gift of kindness was amazing. Our residents loved being able to say thank you, as well as meet and chat with local police, fire personnel and paramedics”
Louise Abraham, a resident at the home, said: “It was lovely to be able to meet so many of our emergency services and show our appreciation for all their hard work they do.”
Strachan House has built up excellent reputations within its local community, regularly holding community events and activities for residents and surrounding neighbours.
Gordon Philp, General Manager at Strachan House said: “We are always keen to show as much support as we can to our local services and 999 day was the perfect day to demonstrate how much appreciate all their hard work and dedication”.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
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Here’s what’s on in Blackhall Library for the week beginning 26th of June!
Please note registration for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge has now begun and will run until the 31st of August! 
For booking please go to our Eventbrite page for Friday craft tickets.
Tickets are available 1 hour after the current week’s event has ended –
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/664633926967
For tickets for Thursday activities, please contact the library via blackhall.library@edinburgh.gov.uk, call 0131 529 5595 or reserve a space at the library. 
Alex Laird, a resident at Strachan House, can always be heard telling his stories of his days in the military, so staff at the home made those memories come back to life with a trip to Edinburgh Castle.
Alex has lived at Strachan House for a short time. Staff and residents love his stories of his days gone by serving in the Army. Alex started his military career in 1944 when he joined the Royal Scots Regiment. Shortly after in 1945 he got to volunteer serving with the Indian army in the 15th Punjab Regiment and is often heard telling others about his wonderful adventures as well as his cheeky antics he got up to.
One story that he shares is of when the war ended: “I was protecting the Bay of Bengal when we heard news the war had ended. With no TV, radio or newspapers I learnt over our comms system that the Germans had surrender some 24 hours beforehand.
“I remember looking at my watch it said 7am and thinking: that’s it, the wars over and at least for my friends their fight has ended. That same evening as darkness fell upon us I have vivid memories of me and my comrades singing in celebration, only to wake up the next morning to the sound of shelling as we continued our mission to protect the bay.”
Staff at the home saw how Alex was passionate of all things military and how proud he was to of served in the war, so staff wanted to ensure his heroic past was recognised .
The Royal Scots Museum houses an array of paintings, artefacts and medals from the formation of the regiment to its present day. So for Alex it was a real walk down the castle cobbled memory lane as he immersed himself in all the history that surrounded him with his visit to the castle.
In response to this wonderful surprise Alex said: “It was so touching to know my efforts during the war were appreciated. It is such an amazing feeling to know that staff recognised what was so important to me and cared enough to spring this surprise on me.
“What an incredible afternoon I had. It truly meant a lot to me.“
Gordon Philp, General Manager at the home, said: “We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here at Strachan House
“It was so nice to see how happy Alex was – and to be able to say thank you for everything he done for his country all those years ago.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Residents at Strachan House in Blackhall enjoyed an Afternoon Tea and photoshoot with their loved ones on Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day.
With the lovely warm weather residents were able to enjoy meeting up with loved ones in the home’s garden over afternoon tea freshly prepared by the home’s talented chefs.
Throughout the afternoon the residents and their children were then offered a photo shoot session to capture the special moment with a keepsake photo of their day together.
Gordon Philp, General Manager of the home, said: “We’ve all had a wonderful day today welcoming friends and family into the home.
“Occasions like Father’s Day are so important, it was fantastic to have such a lovely gathering with our residents and their loved ones all together enjoying the sunshine.”
Gerry Smith, resident at Strachan House said: “I’ve had a great time celebrating with my daughter,it has been so lovely to see them and spend some quality time together.
“Father’s Day is such a special day, I’m so pleased we were all able to celebrate together.”
Strachan House Care Home’s varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
You better beer-lieve that residents at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh, were more than hoppy to raise a glass, and sample some top craft ales, bitters and lagers, in celebration of National Beer Day on Thursday (15 June)!
Staff at Strachan House set up a bar for a real pub experience and brought in a range of brew-tiful world ales for residents to sample. Residents and their visitors enjoyed a beer tasting in the garden as well as enjoying a fun game of beer pong with a difference.
Gordon Philp, General Manager at the home, said: “We love socialising and celebrating all kind of events, it is wonderful to be able to invite family and friends into our garden to join in events again.
“National Beer Day is a day that the residents really enjoy, who doesn’t love a cold beer on a hot summer’s day!”
David Leseuer, a resident at Strachan House, commented: “I didn’t realise we had so many lovely ales, it was fantastic to be able to enjoy a cold beer in the garden with my friends and family – you can’t really beat that now, can you?”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
