CELEBRATIONS were in order as a veterans charity marked its 108th birthday.
Residents at the Royal Star and Garter Home in Solihull enjoyed live music and dancing, and ate cake, as they celebrated the special anniversary.
Pianist Louise Potter played for residents at the Tudor Coppice home while her daughter sang.
The charity was established in January 1916 to care for severely injured men returning from First World War battlegrounds, following concern expressed by Queen Mary.
She charged the British Red Cross Society with finding a ‘permanent haven’ for severely disabled young men returning from war.
Today, the Royal Star and Garter care for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia from its three homes, and has new services reaching out into the community.
The charity’s director of care and wellbeing, Shirley Hall, said: “Over a century after we started, we are still caring for our nation’s Armed Forces community, and in the past year we have extended our new services to reach even more veterans.
“I love seeing the homes filled with such happiness and celebration.
“Staff are always finding ways to create fun and joy, and I think they enjoyed the birthday parties as much as the residents.”
