Jubilee Day Centre brightened by Little Buttons’ visit
INCY Wincy Spider might not yet have made it into the Christmas charts, but it was certainly a big hit with the guests at Jubilee Day Centre when children from Little Buttons pre-school paid a festive visit.
It was one of several songs –the rest rather more seasonal – that youngsters from the nursery sang during their regular Christmas visit to the centre, home of the Women’s Voluntary Service.
Each day the centre plays host to elderly islanders, and on the day in question there were 24 present, many sporting Christmas headgear and enjoying catching up with their friends, having not seen them for several weeks.
The centre, in common with local nursing homes, had to close during the recent spike in Covid-19 cases but it has now reopened – just in time for the regulars to enjoy festive treats.
Day Centre manager Josie Breton said that already during the week clients were joined for a party by members of the Guernsey Blind Association, and earlier in the week there was musical entertainment.
Children from Little Buttons visit throughout the year, she said: ‘We have a really good relationship with the pre-school. They come and do crafts and activities.
‘The enjoyment on both sides is fantastic.’
Usually the visit would include lunch and activities, but this year it had to be shorter than usual.
A group of 22 youngsters aged from two to four arrived at the centre bearing bags of gifts donated by their relatives and the nursery itself.
Nursery manager Heidi de Mouilpied said that each bag contained items suitable to either a man or woman, and each one had a card which the children had made.
As well as cards there were biscuits, baubles, candles, tins of food, scarves and assorted ‘smellies’.
Jo Lawrence was delighted with her surprises, which included a golden bauble: ‘I’m going to make use of that,’ she said.
Three-year-old Raynna Le Poidevin had presented the gift bag, which also contained a tin of spaghetti hoops: ‘I’ve got my spaghetti at home,’ she said.
