Remembrance is being marked at a Surbiton care home with a campaign highlighting the benefits its care has on relationships between residents and their relatives. 

It features family members who have spoken of their relief when loved ones settle in at veteran care home and charity, Royal Star & Garter. 

Among those included in the Remembrance campaign is Oliver's granddad Peter is cared for at the charity's Surbiton Home.  

Peter engaged in face-to-face combat with Japanese troops during WWII and is a Burma Star recipient. He later lived in India for many years.    

Great granddaughter India, enjoying visiting Peter, and hearing tales from his remarkable life. (Photo: Royal Star & Garter)

Oliver said: "My granddad coming to Royal Star & Garter has been transformative for us as a family. It means a lot to me that I don't have to worry about my mum and the strain that trying to care for her dad was having." 

With residents' care and wellbeing needs being met by staff, families have the opportunity re-establish their relationships, free from caring responsibilities.  

It gives them back the time to enjoy simply being with their loved ones, sharing stories and reliving memories. 

"We no longer worry about the practical aspects of care or the anxiety of being far away if something happens to him," Oliver added. "It's also enabled our wider family to come together. It's lovely for the great-grandchildren to see him regularly and to develop a deeper relationship with him that they would not have had before." 

He said: "My granddad is very communicative. He's had an amazing life and he tells us amazing tales from his time in India. He's always been fascinating to be around and living with Royal Star & Garter has enabled us to enjoy that again." 

Derek says his dad Bob is telling stories from his time in the Army for the first time, since moving into the care home. (Photo: Royal Star & Garter)

Derek says his dad Bob started sharing military stories he had never heard before when he moved into the Surbiton Home. Bob had served in the Army Catering Corps during his National Service, and was stationed for a period in Korea. 

Derek said: "Before Dad came to Royal Star & Garter, I used to dread the phone ringing. Often it was carers telling me something had gone wrong. Now he's at Royal Star & Garter the difference is amazing.  

"I come in here and there's a big smile on his face – I never used to get that. I can spend quality time with Dad now, learning about his past rather than sorting the house and taking care of him. The military connections here spark off memories for him." 

To give money to Royal Star & Garter's Remembrance campaign, go to www.starandgarter.org/remembrance