A night to remember for Cheddar retirement home team after they scoop national award

The staff at a retirement home in Cheddar have had a night to remember with a host of celebrities after scooping a national award.

Court House Retirement Home won Best Team at the Sun and NHS Who Cares Wins awards, which took place at the Camden Roundhouse in London and was shown on Channel 4 on Sunday.

Court House was nominated after staff dropped everything to move in to their retirement home as Covid-19 spread across the country last April.

For 12 weeks they lived apart from their families and locked down to protect their elderly and vulnerable residents. Thanks to the huge personal sacrifice the care home did not lose one resident to the virus.

The team that went to the awards were Chris Dando (manager/proprietor), Julie White (home manager), Donna Marke (clinical manager), Tina Brook (care manager) and Paulina Pupka (care worker).

Not all of the locked in team were able to attend - those not there were Anne-Marie Walker, Gary Watts, Lynn Whittaker, Kaycie Keen and Jane Pike.

The team that went said they had a wonderful night at the black tie event and mingled with the stars such as David Beckham, Rod Stewart, Piers Morgan, Tyrone Mings and Chris Evans. The event was also attended by Prince William and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The team were presented with the award on stage by Gary Lineker. Chris had to make a speech and took the opportunity to thank all of the team at Court House, their own families for their support, the support of the residents who had to put up with the staff and all of their bad habits living within the home for three months.

He also thanked the residents' families who gave great support especially when he and his team had to make difficult decisions which often resulted in them not being able to see their loved ones for long periods of time to keep them safe.

He also thanked the people of Cheddar for their support and all of the supplies that they left daily on the doorstep to help get them through the difficult days.

The speech was shortened for the television but Chris also went on to thank everybody who works in social care for the hard work that they have put in over the last difficult 18 months.

On Monday after the award ceremony was televised, Chris and his team had a celebratory reception with the residents at Court House and they watched the presentation in the lounge with a couple of glasses of bubbly.

Chris told Cheddar Nub News: "I am extremely proud of the whole of the Court House team for the work they have done day in, day out to protect the residents from the pandemic.

"The team that locked in went above and beyond the call of duty and although when setting out on this adventure there was never any thought of awards, I am so glad that they have been recognised for this.

"It was quite surreal standing on the stage making a speech while Prince William, Boris Johnson, David Beckham and such high-profile people were looking back up at me hanging on my every word. It will definitely be a night that the team will remember for the rest of their lives."