Attending the opening were special guests The Mayoress of Shrewsbury, Councillor Elisabeth Roberts, and Shrewsbury Rotarian Margaret Thrower, as well as Oxbow Manor’s first resident, Sheila Moffat, who cut the ribbon to officially open the new home.

Other celebrants included Milly Wheeler, fundraising and events manager for the Shrewsbury Town Foundation, Shrewsbury Town FC players Kade Craig and Josh Barlow, and the club’s mascot ‘Blue’.

At the ceremony, a £500 donation was made to local charity the Shrewsbury Town Foundation, which encourages locals to stay active through inclusive activities, including dementia-friendly football matches.

Oxbow Manor provides full-time residential, nursing, and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the home boasts a café, cinema, and hair salon.

Home manager Lindsey Quegan said: “Our grand launch party was a huge success and the perfect way to mark such an exciting milestone for Oxbow Manor. Our neighbours have been so warm and welcoming, and we loved meeting so many local people during the event; we feel like we are already part of the community. We were delighted to welcome Councillor Elisabeth Roberts, Milly and the team from Shrewsbury Town Foundation, as well as Margaret Thrower, to help us officially open the home. It was truly a day to remember – and we hope to welcome everyone again very soon.” 

Milly Wheeler added: “It was an honour to be a part of the official proceedings at Oxbow Manor – we had a fantastic time, and loved meeting the team and residents.

“On behalf of everyone, I’d also like to say a big thank you to the Oxbow Manor team for their generous donation. It’ll certainly go a long way towards supporting older people in the community and encouraging locals to get active.  We’re looking forward to building upon this relationship now that the home is officially open to residents.”