St Benedicts Nursing Home Ltd

11/11/2025

Thank you to St. Benedict's C of E VA Junior School for inviting us to your Remebrance Service. And thank you for our gift which we have displayed in our Home to help others remember those who have lost their lives in war.

11/11/2025

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween from all of us at St. Ben's!

20/10/2025

We are so lucky to have a team that comes from an amazing mix of cultures, including parts of the world where multi-generational households are the norm, nurturing in them a deep-rooted respect and love for elderly which shows every day in the fantastic care they give our residents.

Our recent staff ‘bring and share’ meals celebrated everyone’s family favourites, with everyone contributing a dish for colleagues to try. Such joyful events! And a happy team helps ensures a happy homeful of residents, so everybody benefits 😊

14/10/2025

Yesterday's Bring & Share Lunch was a huge success and we shall definitely plan more! Many of our staff arrived on shift with their traditional home cooked fayre and some even came in specifically to share their dishes.
The considerable spread included chilli pork, banana fry, tripe and kale stew, biryani, coconut fried rice and soft chicken, smoked meats, jollof rice, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam and lots lots more!
The food was inspired by our staff's cultural links to the UK and further afield including India, Romania, Philippines, Zimbabwe & Nigeria.

30/09/2025

Our resident who served her country during WW2, has celebrated her 101st birthday.

Surrounded by family, friends, and staff, Joan Hawken enjoyed her favourite lemon drizzle cake, decorations, and celebrations, with banners and balloons in her honour.

“It was a joy to celebrate Joan’s 101st birthday,” said Peter Hansraj, deputy home manager for White Care Group, which runs St Benedicts.

“Joan is a remarkable lady and a treasured member of our St Benedicts family. Reaching 101 is a wonderful achievement.

“Seeing her enjoy the day with her family and staff was wonderful.”

From 1941-1944 Joan contributed to the war effort through her work at the Admiralty, commuting daily by train to Bath, and as a volunteer with the Red Cross.

The mother of three daughters, seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, she moved to St Benedicts from sheltered accommodation earlier this year.

"Turning 101 is a remarkable milestone. She loved sharing her special day and reflecting on her life surrounded by people who mean so much to her,” said Joan’s daughter Rachel Kuzemka.

Born Edna Joan Bailey in 1924, Joan married David Sheppard in 1949, raising their three daughters in Chilcompton in Somerset, their home until she returned to Wells in 1982, four years after she was widowed. In 1983 she married second husband Don Hawken who passed away in 2013.

11/09/2025

We were honoured to be invited to celebrate the life of, and say goodbye to one of our residents, Nancy Joan Gifford, this week. Joan lived in the same Glastonbury family home for 102 years, until spending the last three years of her life with us, at St. Benedicts Nursing Home, within which she found another loving and caring home. We weren’t the only friends invited to Our Lady St. Mary’s Church. Regular visitors to St. Ben’s, Owl Obsession UK, were also in attendance with Joan’s’ favourite owl “Gizmo”. Joan always looked forward to stroking these fascinating birds and having a chat with them during their regular visits to the home. Joan had seen so much change throughout her long life, (with the exception of where she lived!) monarchs, prime ministers, telephone and communication, cars, moon landings, the internet, all of which she took in her stride taking strength from her catholic faith. She never lost her love of the natural world, that had changed so much around her in the last 106 years. Feeling close to nature is why she so enjoyed “Gizmo’s” visits and being able to get so close to this beautiful, gentle bird.

RIP Joan.

29/07/2025

What a pleasure to take 100-year-old great grandmother Joan Hawken to join in the end-of-term celebrations at our neighbouring school where her 10 and 8-year-old great grandsons are pupils!

Joan, who has been living with us at St Ben's since June, said: “It was such a treat to be in the school hall and watch the brilliant end-of-term shows. It made me very happy to be there and feel a part of things.”

We loved seeing how much she enjoyed herself! St Benedicts CofE Juniors is a much-loved neighbour whose pupils visit us regularly throughout the year, and we look forward to meeting more new children in September.