Care home residents name new pub in honour of Barbara Windsor

Care home residents at a care home near Taunton have voted to name their new pub 'The Windsor Arms' in memory of actress Dame Barbara Windsor who died recently.

The Windsor Arms in Camelot House and Lodge had only just been completed when Dame Barbara Windsor died on 10 December. It was originally to be named 'The Welcome Inn' but residents voted to remember the actress by naming the bar after the "bubbly star" instead.

The Windsor Arms was designed by the home’s maintenance man Wally Perlik and local businesses have made generous donations to help create an authentic atmosphere, including Sheppy Cider and the home’s local pub Blackbird Inn, which donated glasses, table runners, beer mats and cider.

Richard Dempslake, activities co-ordinator for Camelot House and Lodge, said: “Our residents loved Barbara as the bubbly star of Carry On films and the outspoken Eastenders lady at The Queen Vic, and were really enthusiastic about memorialising her in this way.”

The 83-year-old had been diagnosed with dementia in 2014 and moved into the care home in London earlier this year after her Alzheimer’s worsened during lockdown.

Scott Mitchell paid tribute to the star of stage and screen saying he had lost his wife, best friend and soulmate. He said she would be remembered for the "love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives".

The BBC Eastenders programme also paid tribute saying: "We are all deeply saddened that we’ve lost our Dame. Barbara created an icon in Peggy Mitchell, our formidable Landlady. To all of us at EastEnders, she was our dearest friend, truly loved and adored by everyone. Our thoughts go out to Scott and Barbara’s family."

Dame Barbara was awarded a Damehood in 2016 for services to showbusiness and charity. In 2019, she and her husband became the faces of Dementia Revolution – a joint campaign between Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society – as Charity of the Year for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon. The year-long campaign raised a record-breaking £4 million.

Scott Mitchell has called for greater government funding for research into Alzheimer’s and dementia, and care for those with the conditions.

click here for more details or to contact Camelot Care