RESIDENTS at two Bridgwater care homes have been enjoying ice creams courtesy of contractors at Hinkley C and the Marketeers Carnival Club.

Last week, as part of a longer term partnership with Somerset Care, the Balfour Beatty Marine Works team from Hinkley C attended the Stockmoor Lodge care home in Bridgwater to deliver a specially designed and much anticipated new ice-cream cart.

The inspiration for the novel idea came as the residents of the home were left without their regular arrival of ice creams from the local ice cream van that had previously provided a moment of joy for all. With the new ‘Stockmoor Lodge Creamery’, the carers at the facility will now have a dedicated way to put a smile on the residents’ faces throughout the year.

Custom-designed and built by the Balfour Beatty team, the cart is fitted with a speaker so that the nostalgic sound of a traditional ice cream van is played as the cart makes its way around the home.

Lorraine Luck, head of procurement at Balfour Beatty, said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in this wonderful ice-cream cart activity which has provided a fantastic opportunity to leave a lasting positive impact on the community in Bridgwater during a particularly uncertain period of time."

Inspired by the work Balfour Beatty carried out with Stockmoor Lodge, a similar miniature ice cream truck was also designed and built by Bridgwater’s Marketeers Carnival Club to support the nearby Oaktrees care home.

Alan Windsor, Club Captain for Marketeers CC who also works on the Hinkley Point C supply chain project for the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said: “As with many people in Bridgwater, some members of our club have had friends and family who have been looked after in our local care homes, and Somerset Care recently looked after Mike Williams, a life member of the club, as he battled a long illness, and we wanted to do our bit during these difficult times.

"By dedicating this gift to Mike's memory, it is hoped his name lives on for many years and the truck brings joy to both the faces of fellow Somerset Care residents and the staff who took great care of him.

“To ensure the graphics were in keeping with the vehicle, we modified the club badge to show Guy Fawkes eating an ice cream.

"While the graphics used on the vehicle were designed in house, the club would like to thank ARC Document Solutions for printing the graphics which were applied to the vehicle and club members Rob Williams and Kenny Rogers for their hard work creating the miniature masterpiece.”

Elsewhere volunteers from across the HPC project have been supporting the two care homes during the pandemic, helping with mowing, weeding, planting and painting in the gardens.

Penny Hammond, one of the care home managers, said: “I cannot tell you how much the staff, and particularly, our residents appreciate what the volunteers have done."

Along with this treat, the team from Hinkley Point C also delivered more than 60 large wooden painted flowers made by operatives of Kilnbridge, a subcontractor for Balfour Beatty at Hinkley Point C.

These flowers will be used to cover the fencing of the care home providing a bright and cheerful display as well as giving required privacy to the garden.