A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE AMAZING LOCAL NURSING HOME FOR STARS OF SCREEN AND STAGE
Duchess of Sussex Meghan, was moved by the Brinsworth story and visited in 2018
A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE NURSING HOME FOR STARS OF SCREEN AND STAGE
IT’S a big, eye-catching mansion house on a main road linking Teddington to Twickenham called Brinsworth House, a stunning and historic building in its own right but it’s the residents that make it so famous and so important.
A star-studded cast list of those who have entertained us on TV, cinema and the stage for over 100 years, household names who have broken all viewing records yet need care and support in the twilight years of their glittering careers are cared for and supported in this special place.
“Everyone here is top of the bill,” said the operations manager Peter Hinton. “We treat everyone in an equal way and try to offer them a quality of life they deserve at a later stage of their lives.”
The home is supported by the Royal Variety Charity and the annual funds generated by the Royal Variety Performance, attended by members of the Royal Family, dating back to King George V and Queen Mary back in 1911. His Majesty, The King has taken over from the late Queen Elizabeth as the current Patron of the charity.
The house, known affectionately as The Old Pro’s Paradise, can accommodate 32 residents with individual rooms with ensuite bathrooms, a first-class restaurant and a bar named after agent Peter Pritchard and a stage named after Ernie Wise of Morecambe and Wise fame. The new wing is named after current Chair Giles Cooper OBE.
The criteria for a place at Brinsworth is simple – you have to be connected or have ‘served the entertainment industries’ which includes those front of house – on screen or on stage – as well as those vital people behind the scenes such as the production manager of Gandhi, who is a current resident, writers, technicians, camera operators, makeup artists and carpenters.
An impressive wall of fame in the garden of Brinsworth House displays blue plaques commemorating the lives of stars including impressionist Mike Yarwood, DJ, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman, Sir Norman Wisdom, Danny La Rue, Eastenders actor Leslie Grantham, Charlie Drake, Dame Thora Hird and John Inman of Are You Being Served and Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson, Eurovision song contest runners up in 1959!
Families of each of the plaque recipients were invited to the unveiling of the ‘wall of fame,’ hosted by radio DJ Mike Read.
Just inside on the left of the entrance hall is a large wooden board known as the Nobel Board with 600 names of those who each contributed £2.10 in 1912 to help the purchase of Brinsworth House for the entertainment profession.
Hundreds of photographs adorn the walls of the supporters of the charity including legends like June Whitfield, Tommy Trinder, Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves, Barbara Windsor as well many who are still living like Bradley Walsh and comedian Jimmy Tarbuck.
Our visit to Brinsworth coincided with an afternoon performance of magic by the President of the Magic Circle assisted by activities co-ordinator Angelica on the Ernie Wise stage attracting a full crowd for the small theatre and its comfortable garden-facing conservatory with a chorus of ‘oohs and ahs’ as the master of magic mesmerised the lively group with his card tricks.
There is a spirit of life and energy flowing through the house with an occasional and unexpected outburst of singing or laughter and a dedicated group of staff including nurses and carers are on hand to help.
Brinsworth House has undergone a significant refurb over the last year with Farrow and Ball wallpaper adorning the open and airy dining room as well upgraded kitchens which are so important to keep the residents happy and healthy, the installation of broadband and an 8-person passenger lift connecting the three floors for the first time.
Chef Stuart Jones, who previously worked at five star hotel in central London, said; “Food is at the centre of the residents’ day. If it looks good it tastes good. We source all our food from local companies and we pride ourselves on the service we provide for these very special people.”
Stuart and his colleague Henry Sheerin with their catering team were recognised earlier this year when they won the “Independent Care Home Caterer of the Year” a prestigious award and much appreciated by the residents who can eat in the restaurant or their own rooms although ‘dining together’ is encouraged.
The corridors of the home are full of cabinets jam-packed with amazing memorabilia including photos of the Beatles appearing in the Royal Variety Performance at The Palace Theatre in 1963 with the Queen Mother and a programmed signed by the Fab Four and more recently Lady Gaga and Robbie Williams, who all give their time for free.
Photographs depict the late Queen Elizabeth with a galaxy of stars who have appeared at the Royal Variety Performance each year. The show attracts a worldwide audience of 152million as well as raising much-needed funds of over a £1million a year to support Brinsworth.
The King when he was the Prince of Wales opened a Conservatory at the home in 2001 and another plaque commemorates a rare Royal visit for Megan, The Duchess of Sussex to Brinsworth in 2018 after she expressed a personal to visit the residents because she was ‘so moved’ by their individual stories.
Between 2020 and 2023 Brinsworth has carried out a massive refurbishment programme with the installation of the five star kitchen and dining room as well as the newly-named Giles Cooper Wing and a complete overhaul of the upper floors.
The interior was designed by well-known designer Mikhail Pietranek to create the ambiance of a boutique hotel with a theatrical theme and including 9 nursing rooms, hoists above some beds to support those with mobility challenges and a full upgrade of the famous and much-loved hair salon.
After the work was completed, Chair Giles Cooper OBE said: “Our residents can at last enjoy a home fit for purpose for the next 100 years and the Royal Variety Charity would like to thank all those who made donations and took part in numerous fundraising efforts to enable such important work to be carried out.”
The history of the house dates back to 1911 when it was purchased for just £2.400 with £1000 cash and the remaining borrowed in the form of a mortgage. Extensive alterations were required including £500 for a new drainage system and furnishing the house cost £280 but all the work was completed in two months and the house was ready by November 1911.
Brinsworth faced the same daunting challenges as many other nursing homes during the COVID pandemic but took the decision to ‘lock down early’ to protect its residents from the infection and, amazingly, no lives were lost.
This year’s Royal Variety Performance at The Royal Albert Hall is on Friday November 22nd and tickets are already sold out but a small number are available for the star-studded after party at the nearby Natural History Museum.
The tickets are sold out within hours of being put on sale every year. It is not known which members of the Royal Family will be attending but the hosts will be Amanda Holden and Alan Carr and this year’s Britain’s Got Talent Winner Sydnie Christmas will be performing.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE HERE:
https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/brinsworth-house
https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-performance-home