A MALVERN care home has earned a spot on the podium in this year’s Malvern Water and Well Dressing Festival.
Friends of the Elderly Malvern have been awarded silver for their hard work in transforming the hsitoric Davenham St John’s Well into an enchanted, mystical fairytale vista.
The organisation operates three Malvern-based residential care homes – Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court.
“In keeping with this year’s Festival theme of Folklore and Fairytales, we decided to honour C.S. Lewis’ world famous book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in our Well display,” said Jo
Bennett, the General Manager at Friends of the Elderly Malvern.
“C.S. Lewis, who was, evidently, known as ‘Jack’, had a strong link to Malvern as he attended Cherbourg House Preparatory School and then Malvern College.”
“Legend has it that the Victorian gas lamps in Malvern, especially those in Great Malvern, are what inspired the famous lamp post references in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’,” added Jo.
“So we thought it only fitting that our display this year should make reference to his world famous 1950 fantasy novel.”
Friends of the Elderly’s Activity Coordinators, Tina Ellenton, Laura Smith and Selena Whittaker, kept their creative green fingers busy with this year’s display and also revitalised last year’s stunning Lady Davenham floral statue who features in the Well showcase.
“Given this year’s link to Narnia, we called Lady Davenham ‘The White Witch’ as she fits so well with our overall fairytale display,” said Tina Ellenton, the Activity Coordinator at Davenham.
The home’s gates will be open from May 3 to May 11 for visitors to see the beautiful grounds and the beautifully decorated famous Davenham Well, which is also known as St. John’s Well
This is the fifth time Friends of the Elderly Malvern has entered the Festival and, in the past, the decorated Well has won Silver and Bronze awards.
“It’s wonderful to receive a Silver award as it’s a lovely thank you and ‘Well’ done to everyone for all that they have done and achieved,” added Joe.
