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I have led Team Wren Hall for 35 years and 6 months following my parents building Wren Hall in their back garden in 1989. Back then, my Dad tasked me with ensuring that Wren Hall provided the highest quality care in a place that felt like home and like being among family. I am proud that Wren Hall has a longstanding reputation for its person-centred, relationship-focused care; for promoting independence; for empowering our family members to make choices, have control and a sense of fulfilment throughout their daily lives.

Friday 4th April 2025, marked the end of the most inspirational journey of my life and the beginning of a new lease of life for Wren Hall Nursing Home and Little Wrens Nursery and Preschool . My siblings and I made the deeply emotional decision to sell our family care home and nursery and entrust it to my friends Patrick and Lucy Atkinson, Owners of Church Farm Care Ltd.

I am delighted to be remaining at Wren Hall Nursing Home as Registered Manager for the immediate future.

In 1989, I was a Burns and Plastic Surgery Nurse Specialist when my Dad asked me to be the Matron of Wren Hall on a temporary basis. I reluctantly agreed stating I knew nothing about care homes or older people. Over the next 35 years, I have learned so much and I have had the privilege of supporting the most amazing individuals. These 35 years have been filled with tears of sadness and tears of laughter. Most of all they have been filled with love and friendships.

I am immensely proud of Team Wren Hall and its achievements over almost 4 decades. I find it incredible that a small family-owned care home in a little rural village, has a global reputation for its outstanding dementia care and end of life care. Many years ago Wren Hall gained a national reputation for its dementia care through working with Skills for Care and the Department of Health and Social Care. Since 2010, Wren Hall has gained global recognition for its outstanding person-centred care across the Netherlands, Canada and Australia and across Brazil and parts of China for our research with Professor Adam Gordon from Nottingham University.

 Wren Hall received full Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission to national accolades like Care Home of the Year and Small Care Provider of the Year not once, but 3 times and every achievement has been a testament to the dedication, compassion, and excellence of our extraordinary Team Wren Hall.

Beyond the awards, it is the everyday moments of kindness, dignity, and connection that truly define Wren Hall. That’s what made it so special.

Together, we built more than a care home — we built a community. A place where every role mattered — from housekeeping to nursing, from the kitchen to the management team — and every person played a vital part in creating a home filled with warmth and love. Through offering respite, short and long-term care we have supported hundreds of people.

I am endlessly grateful to the people who made this possible — Team Wren Hall who showed up every day with passion and heart, our Family Members who trusted us with their care, and the families who became part of our extended family. Together we formed Wren Hall and made it the beacon of excellence it is today.

Passing the torch was one of the most difficult decisions of my life. And it’s the right decision! I have taken Wren Hall as far as I could with my limited resources. Wren Hall needs reinvigorating and transforming like we remodelled it in 2010.  I am confident that Patrick and Lucy share Wren Hall’s vision and values. Their commitment to maintaining Wren Hall as a leader of nursing care and innovation aligns perfectly with the culture we’ve built, and I know they will continue to nurture and support this extraordinary home and Team Wren Hall.

As I reflect on this journey, my heart is full of pride and gratitude. Wren Hall is more than a care home — it’s a family, a community, and a shining example of what’s possible when care is delivered with love and purpose. Thank you — from the bottom of my heart — to every person who has been part of this journey. I will cherish it always.

The future is bright, and I can’t wait to see Wren Hall continue to thrive and touch even more lives. I know I have made the right decision in choosing Patrick and Lucy Atkinson to take Wren Hall on its next journey.