A cool idea helps mark long-service achievements of nursing home staff

Usually when such significant milestones are marked in the home, staff, residents and relatives are invited for afternoon tea and the catering staff provide the eats. For this occasion, however, the directors, Tom and MArgaret Boyle and their daughter Liz Rowan, wanted the cooks to be able to be on the receiving end of the hospitality.

And so, in honour of Jenny and Margaret, an ice-cream van was booked to pay a visit to the home.

All present - staff, residents, friends and relatives - enjoyed the novelty of the sound of the mobile ice-cream van in the grounds of Gillaroo Lodge and, of course, the taste of delicious freshly-whipped ice-cream on a rare summer’s day.

As a lasting acknowledgement of the service the two members have given, Margaret received a pair of gold and sapphire earrings and Jenny received a hald-crafted necklace from local jewellers, Steenson’s of Glenarm.

Jenny is the sixth member of staff in Gillaroo Lodge to achieve 20 years of service and Margaret is the 15th to achieve 10 years.