Stoke’s most famous daughter, Anthea Turner, returned to her home city to open the region’s newest residential dementia care home.  The ex Blue Peter and GMTV star who was born in the nearby village of Nortorn, travelled from her home in Surrey to open Park Hall of Ubberley Road.

The brand new facility offers a home to 60 people living with dementia and boasts a stunning glass atrium, nail bar, hair salon and a cinema room, in addition to landscaped sensory gardens and first rate dementia facilities.  The self-styled domestic goddess was on hand to officially declare the home open with an official ‘cutting of the ribbon’ and also unveiled a plaque bearing her name. She went on to mingle with residents and took time to talk to home manager Mandy Jackson’s team of carers.

Anthea said of her visit: “Its been a joy to return to Stoke and see the wonderful facilities on offer at Park Hall. The home really blows away all preconceptions of what a care home is like – I particularly love the cinema room with its film star posters! I’ve no doubt that people in the surrounding area will benefit from having such a first rate facility in their community and its so important that the issue of dementia care is addressed not just in Stoke, but all across the UK."  Park Hall is the sixth home to be opened by Ideal Care Homes. It was built by sister company LNT Construction, both part of the Leeds-based LNT Group owned by Yorkshire entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson.