A Taste of Jamaica Brings Two Homes Together: From Our Wishing Tree to the Dining Table

A shared Jamaican heritage, a table filled with traditional food and plenty of memories created a very special occasion for residents from Devonshire and Threeways Nursing Homes.

Pat, Pat’s Grandson Leo, and Dave

The idea began with a wish from Pat, a resident at Threeways. When colleagues realised that Pat and Dave, who lives at Devonshire, shared Jamaican heritage, it seemed only natural to bring them together. We hoped the occasion would give them an opportunity to celebrate their culture, exchange memories and perhaps begin a new friendship. 

Threeways’ dining space was transformed into a private Jamaican-themed dining room, decorated with tributes to the country and prepared especially for our guests. Dave travelled from Devonshire accompanied by Gabby from the Activities Team and was welcomed by Pat and colleagues at Threeways. 

Pat’s grandson also joined the gathering and shared the meal with his grandmother. Remarkably, it was his first-ever taste of curried goat - making it a small but meaningful family and cultural milestone that we were proud to host.

The menu included curried goat, rice and peas, jerk chicken, fried plantain, fried dumplings and callaloo. The meal was prepared by Operations Consultant Jon Flynne, with colleagues from both homes working together to arrange the day.

However, the occasion was about far more than food.

Around the table, Pat and Dave reminisced about their lives in Jamaica and their experiences of coming to Britain. Dave spoke warmly about growing up as a “country boy”, when preparing a meal could begin with collecting firewood and lighting a fire before any cooking could take place.

Pat shared stories of leaving Jamaica for the United Kingdom as a nurse, pursuing new professional opportunities and building a life and career here. Her memories offered a fascinating insight into the courage, ambition and contribution of those who travelled from Jamaica to support Britain’s health and care services.

Sharon, Home Manager at Threeways, and Gabby from Devonshire’s Activities Team joined the conversation, together with Pat’s grandson and other colleagues. The result was a relaxed table filled with laughter, stories and genuine interest in one another’s lives. 

Another resident, who lived in South Africa for more than 30 years, also enjoyed the food and was full of praise, describing it as one of the most enjoyable meals she had eaten in a long time.

When opinions were canvassed at the end of the meal, the guests awarded the experience a very respectable 8 out of 10. Staff and other residents also sampled and enjoyed the dishes.

Dave was initially concerned about how much the occasion might cost him, but he was quickly reassured that special experiences such as this are part of life within our homes and came at no additional cost. He returned to Devonshire with takeaway portions of curried goat, carefully packed so they could be frozen and enjoyed again over the coming weeks.

The event was a genuine team effort involving residents, relatives, the homes’ managers, Activities Teams, Threeways’ kitchen team and the Operations Consultant. Most importantly, it grew from something Pat had placed on our Wishing Tree and became an experience shaped around the people we support.

This gathering showed how food can open the door to memories, conversation and companionship. It also gave us an opportunity to recognise the individual histories and cultural identities that form such an important part of life within our homes.

Following the success of our Jamaican meal, we will now begin planning our next cultural food event - continuing to celebrate the remarkable diversity, life experiences and heritage of the people who live and work with us.