It’s My Life


Each and every care home resident has a story to tell. Here, we discover more about the lives of residents Val Dewey, James and Beryl Bonham, and Rita Upchurch MBE.


ALL FOR ARNOLD


Val Dewey, a resident at Sunrise of Cardiff, is utilising her lifelong passion for art and poetry for a good cause, creating boxes filled with handmade cards for all occasions to raise money for charity.


So far, Val’s venture has raised just over £50,


which is all going toward the Alzheimer’s Society’s research into dementia. Val also has a book of poetry and artwork coming out soon, and


Arnold and Val on their wedding day.


the proceeds from this will also be donated to Alzheimer’s research


Val’s endeavour started simply as a hobby


and a way to be creative and has become increasingly popular with the residents and families of Sunrise of Cardiff. Therefore, Val decided to start collecting donations for the cards to put towards the charity that aims to find a cure for a condition that affects so many people in later life.


Val moved into Sunrise of Cardiff in March of last year with her husband Arnold. However, Arnold sadly passed away at the start of this year. The couple were married for almost 59 years and Val has plenty of stories about their time together and their family, which she regularly shares with staff and fellow residents.


As a young couple, Val and Arnold had children and Val would write poetry for them, based on the past, present and thoughts of the future. When Arnold was 21, he was posted to Hong Kong for two years and nine months as a member of the


army. Val would write to him daily and Val with her handmade cards. www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


would sometimes make up poems to send to him.


Once Val moved into Sunrise of Cardiff, she joined their poetry group and wrote pieces to read out to the group each week. On talking to Diane McCracken, Sunrise of Cardiff’s Activities Co-Ordinator, Val decided to put together a book full of her poetry and illustrations to accompany them. Sunrise of Cardiff are in the throes of publishing this book and the final version of this will be coming out soon. Val will be dedicating this book to Arnold.


www.sunrise-care.co.uk


LONDON CALLING A veteran charity worker, who lives in an independent living apartment at RMBI Care Co.’s Farnfield Court, South Croydon, has been given the Freedom of the City of London.


Rita Upchurch MBE, 85, was recognised for the outstanding contribution she has made to society. Among her many achievements has been her work improving the lives of those with facial disfigurement caused by burns and medical conditions.


Rita attended a special ceremony at London’s Guildhall, accompanied by her daughter Sally Page and other family members and friends, where she was presented with a framed certificate - a confirmation of her being granted the Freedom of the City.


Born in 1932 in Hampstead, Rita spent her early childhood in North London and, aſter being evacuated during the war, the family settled in South London.


Rita has contributed to society through her work in education and with various well-known charities, including the British Red Cross. She developed a new camouflage make-up technique which continues to help people with different forms of disfigurement in hospitals across the UK.


In 2016, Rita received an MBE and her work has also been recognised by the London British Design Centre, where she won a medical award for creating a make-up range providing coverage for scars.


In 2002, Rita founded the AZOOR Society, a charity which funds research into a rare genetic eye disease called Azoor, a condition which can lead to total blindness. Rita was motivated to set up the charity when her daughter developed the disease. At the time, no research was being carried


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