They went to see Sleeping Beauty at the Assembly Hall theatre and were invited to meet the cast, including soap opera and West End star Claire Sweeney.
Hilary Taylor, the home’s registered manager and director of care, said: “Taking our residents out to enjoy a Christmas panto was the perfect ending to our 50th anniversary celebrations, rounding off a year of Golden Moments for our care home residents.
“Most of our residents come from the Rusthall, Langton Green and Tunbridge Wells areas, so the Assembly Hall has long been their local theatre; it was a real trip down memory lane for them and they had a great time.”
In October the theatre also hosted a photo exhibition of Rusthall Lodge’s residents, entitled On The Shoulders Of Giants, which captured their portraits in the style of the golden age of Hollywood.
“We were delighted to work with the team at the Assembly Hall theatre again, who have been so receptive to our ideas,” said Bill Blackford, facilities and marketing manager at Rusthall Lodge.
“It’s been great having their support in getting our care home involved in the local Tunbridge Wells community and making people think about the elderly in a new light,” he added.
The Lodge’s staff also arranged a variety of ‘Golden Moments’ for residents throughout last year to mark the independent care home’s half-century.
These included a first drumming lesson for Vera Lawson, who had to wait more than 90 years because her parents thought that drums were too loud.
A large garden party in August was attended by Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark and the town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, James and Jane Scholes.
