The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society

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The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society – providing dedicated care and housing for former seafarers and their dependants in the heart of Woodmansterne.

Follow us for news, stories, events, and a behind-the-scenes look at life at Belvedere House. The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society is a registered charity, established in 1865. It is incorporated under a Royal Charter, with HRH the Princess Royal as its patron. It provides retired seafarers from all over the UK with a full range of nursing care, residential care, including sheltered flats, and specialised dementia care, available all on one site. For a short period, The Royal Alfred Seafarer’s Society is also extending its services to non-seafarers too. Respite care is also possible.

31/10/2026

🎃👻 Halloween Has Arrived at Royal Alfred! 👻🎃

There's a wonderfully spooky atmosphere around as residents, tenants and staff embrace the Halloween spirit! 🧡

From our fantastic carved pumpkins welcoming visitors at the front door to the colourful decorations brightening our communal spaces, the Home has been transformed with plenty of creativity and seasonal fun.

We have loved seeing everyone's artistic talents shine through, and it's been wonderful to watch residents and tenants take pride in decorations they helped create themselves. 🎃✨

Adding to the fun, some of our colleagues joined in by dressing up for the occasion, bringing plenty of smiles and laughter throughout the day. 👻🕸️

While Halloween is a chance to enjoy a little mischief and imagination, it's also a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, share happy moments and create lasting memories.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make Royal Alfred look so festive. We think the results are simply boo-tiful! 🎃💙

30/10/2026

💙 Welcoming Visitors from Across Health and Social Care

We were delighted to welcome a distinguished group of guests to this week and share a glimpse of life within our community.

Joining us were representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care, including the Deputy Director for Adult Social Care Workforce, a Policy Advisor for Adult Social Care Resilience, a Policy Advisor for Health and Social Care Integration, as well as the CEO of the National Care Forum.

Our Chairman, the Chair of our Safeguarding, Care & Welfare Committee, and CEO were pleased to welcome our visitors, while Home Manager Alice Mitroi and Executive Assistant to the CEO Maria Jobson guided them on a tour of our care home and sheltered housing communities.

During the visit, our guests joined residents and tenants for our popular Exercise with Jo session, met members of our dedicated team, and spent time chatting with residents, tenants and their loved ones.

These conversations are always the highlight of any visit. They provide an opportunity to hear first-hand about the friendships, support and sense of belonging that make Royal Alfred such a special place to live and work.

We are proud to have shared our community with our guests and grateful that they took the time to learn more about the work we do to support older veterans, seafarers and their families.

Thank you for visiting us. 💙

28/10/2026

🧸 Celebrating Plush Animal Lover’s Day 🧸

Today, on Plush Animal Lover’s Day, we've been taking a little tour around and meeting some very special companions.

Tucked away on bedside tables, perched on armchairs, sitting proudly on shelves and keeping watch from cosy corners, our residents' beloved bears, rabbits, dogs and other soft friends are never too far away.

Each one has its own story. Some have been treasured for many years, some were gifts from loved ones, and others simply bring comfort, familiarity and a smile whenever they're spotted in the room. 🐻

These cuddly companions are a lovely reminder that no matter our age, we all appreciate the things that bring us joy, comfort and a sense of home. Sometimes it's the smallest things, a favourite toy, a cherished photograph or a familiar keepsake, that mean the most.

At Royal Alfred, we love celebrating the little touches that make every resident's room uniquely their own and reflect the person who lives there. 🐰

After all, growing older doesn't mean losing your sense of fun. 🐶 In a busy world, perhaps there's something we can all learn from a favourite teddy bear: the importance of comfort, self-care and holding on to the things that make us feel safe, happy and loved.

Here's to the bears, bunnies, puppies and all the other faithful friends who brighten our residents' days.

🧸✨ Do you still have a treasured teddy or childhood keepsake?

________________________________________

27/10/2026

🎃🍂 A Creative Day at Royal Alfred 🍂🎃

Halloween preparations are well underway at , and today our residents enjoyed a day filled with creativity, laughter and teamwork.

The morning was spent decorating the Home, adding plenty of autumn colour and Halloween cheer to our surroundings. In the afternoon, it was time for the much-anticipated pumpkin carving session, with residents putting their artistic talents to work and creating some wonderful designs. 🎃✨

Beyond the decorations themselves, days like these are all about coming together, sharing ideas, learning new skills and enjoying each other's company. Whether carefully carving a pumpkin or helping transform a room for the season, everyone played a part in making the day special. 🎃👻

We're looking forward to seeing the finished displays and celebrating Halloween together later this week!

23/10/2026

☕ Coffee, Conversation and Community

Today, tenants from across our sheltered housing community came together for a relaxed Coffee Morning with the CEO.

Over coffee, pastries and friendly conversation, tenants had the opportunity to hear updates about , learn about current projects and plans, and ask questions in an informal setting.

The morning also provided a valuable chance for tenants to share their thoughts, ideas and feedback directly with the leadership team. These conversations help us better understand what matters most to our community and ensure that tenants continue to play an important role in shaping life at .

At Royal Alfred, we believe that communication works best when it's a two-way conversation. Events like these provide an opportunity not only to share information, but also to listen, learn and strengthen the sense of community that makes Royal Alfred such a special place to live.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us this morning and contributed to the discussion. 💙

21/10/2026

⚓ Trafalgar Day: Honouring Those Who Served at Sea ⚓

Today, on Trafalgar Day, we remember Admiral Lord Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar, and the generations of sailors whose courage, service and sacrifice helped shape Britain's maritime history.

For us at Royal Alfred, this day is about much more than a historic naval victory. It is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the seafarers, veterans and families whose stories remain at the heart of our community.

Many of our residents and tenants have their own connections to life at sea, whether through service in the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy, or supporting loved ones throughout their maritime careers. Their experiences, resilience and camaraderie continue to inspire us every day.

As we reflect on the legacy of Trafalgar, we also honour all those who have dedicated their lives to serving at sea, past and present, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the seafaring community for generations to come.

⚓ Here's to the sailors who came before us, the veterans among us today, and the enduring maritime spirit that unites us all.

💙 Lest we forget.

20/10/2026

👨‍🍳 Celebrating International Chefs Day 👩‍🍳

Today, we're saying a huge thank you to the wonderful Catering Team at , led by our Catering Manager, Matt Goodman.

From hearty home-cooked meals and delicious desserts to beautifully decorated birthday cakes and special themed dining events, our catering team helps create moments that residents look forward to every day.

Food is about so much more than nutrition. It brings people together, sparks conversations, evokes treasured memories and turns everyday moments into special occasions. Whether it's a favourite family recipe, a celebratory afternoon tea or a freshly baked birthday cake, our team puts care and thought into every meal they serve.

The smiles around the dining tables, the compliments from residents and the happy birthday celebrations are all made possible by the dedication, creativity and hard work of our catering colleagues.

A heartfelt thank you to Matt and the entire team for everything you do. Your passion and commitment help make Royal Alfred feel like home. 💙

🍰👏 Happy International Chefs Day!

15/10/2026

⚓ Reflecting on Our Maritime Heritage ⚓

Yesterday, members of the Royal Alfred team were honoured to attend the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St Paul's Cathedral.

The service brought together people from across the maritime community to recognise the dedication, resilience and contribution of seafarers, past and present. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the important role they have played in shaping our nation's history and to celebrate the enduring spirit of those who serve at sea.

As an organisation founded to support seafarers, veterans and their families, occasions such as these hold special significance for us. They provide a chance to honour those who came before us and to remember the values of service, courage and community that remain at the heart of Royal Alfred today.

We are grateful to The Seafarers' Charity for organising such a memorable and inspiring event, and to everyone involved in making the evening so special.

Proud of our past. Committed to our future. 💙

14/10/2026

📌 A Wall Full of Wisdom 📝

Over recent weeks, residents and staff at Royal Alfred have been contributing to our Words of Wisdom Wall, sharing life lessons, favourite sayings and reflections gathered through years of experience.

What started as a simple idea soon became a collection of thoughtful, inspiring and often heart-warming messages.

During Sunday's visit, our young guests from the Sea Cadets spent time exploring the display alongside residents and colleagues. The wall sparked plenty of conversations, with people sharing their thoughts on the messages and discussing the stories and experiences behind them.

Some messages encouraged reflection, some prompted smiles, and others reminded us that a few well-chosen words can stay with us for a lifetime.

It's been wonderful to see how this project has helped connect people of different ages and backgrounds through shared experiences and timeless advice.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the display and helped make it such a meaningful part of life at Royal Alfred. 💙

12/10/2026

⚓ Bridging Generations at Royal Alfred ⚓

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome some special young visitors to Royal Alfred as part of National Cadet Week.

Residents and Croydon Sea Cadets spent the morning together over coffee, cake and conversation, sharing stories, experiences and plenty of smiles along the way.

From memories of school days and first jobs to tales of military service, travel and family life, there was no shortage of topics to discuss. It was wonderful to see friendships forming across generations and to hear both residents and cadets learning from one another.

At Royal Alfred, we believe that everyone has a story worth sharing. Bringing different generations together creates meaningful connections, encourages understanding and reminds us that, whatever our age, we can still learn something new from each other.

A heartfelt thank you to our visitors for spending the morning with us and helping to make it such an enjoyable occasion for everyone involved. 💙

Address

Weston Acres, Woodmansterne Lane
Banstead
SM73HB

Telephone

01737 353763

Website

https://royalalfredseafarers.co.uk/our-care-home/

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