The Encore Care Homes teams organised special Covid-safe activities for residents to participate and indulge in during the annual festivities of Shrove Tuesday.

At Great Oaks in Bournemouth, the residents had pancakes for their afternoon tea, which were accompanied by a generous choice of toppings including lemon and sugar, chocolate sauce, golden syrup and whipped cream. They also hosted a pancake flipping competition to see who could flip their pancake the highest.

Great Oaks resident, Andre Mauger, enjoyed taking part in the competition, having formerly worked as a patisserie chef in Bournemouth, the Chef de Cuisine at the Pavilion for 20 years, and then coming out of retirement to work at the BIC for five years.

Meanwhile in Christchurch, Fairmile Grange residents tucked into their stack of pancakes at dinner time, and over at Hamble Heights in Fareham, the residents also took part in a pancake flipping contest, and savoured fresh pancakes which were cooked to order.

Strict Covid-19 protocols are in place at Encore with all care home residents being tested on a weekly basis, with staff accessing twice-weekly Lateral Flow rapid testing.