On Tuesday the 18th of May, residents at Hazel Ends enjoyed a right good cockney extravaganza. With a large majority of the residents at the home coming from London and particularly the East End, it was a brilliant way to embrace and celebrate cockney culture in all its glory.

Pie, mash and liquor has been a traditional working-class food that dates back to the 19th Century. This poor man’s delicacy originated in the East End of London and many pie and mash shops still run in London, part of Kent and Essex. Many residents at Hazel End have fond memories of eating pie and mash growing up. One resident told us her memories of it, ‘we used to have it all the time! I always remember sitting in the shop with my mum and dad, but then of course after the War, we all had to ration, and the pies took a big hit. I remember we used to have it as a special treat. That, and jellied eels, they came from the Thames of course. They were lovely, something I grew up with, you just had to spit out the bone.’

In true cockney style, residents enjoyed an authentic pie and mash lunch, delivered by F. Cooke, who have been specialising in pie, mash and eels for over 150 years, where their first shop originated just off of Brick Lane, in 1862. One resident said, ‘I had forgotten the taste of it completely, just the look of it reminds me of being young.’ Emily, Lifestyle Coordinator said, ‘it was so nice hearing the stories and fond memories of residents who grew up in the East End and reminiscing with them throughout the day.’

Residents had a laugh over plenty of East End trivia, facts and cockney rhyming slang. Rhyming slag is said to have started back in the mid-19th Century, in the East End of London predominantly (around 1840).

In the afternoon, Hazel End has a special guest performance from CJ Barton from the Cockney Sparrows, who gave a brilliant show, jam packed with old classics such as ‘Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner’ and ‘Roll out the Barrell’, which got every resident singing along. Residents even took to the floor to do the Lambeth Walk and make giant conga train too! One resident said, ‘I had the best afternoon, it really did brighten my day.’ Another said, ‘It was so much fun, I didn’t think I could still dance like that, well done girls for laying it on for us.’

Hazel End are focused on delivering high quality, person-centred care. Our varied and engaging activity programme is structured around resident interest and history, ensuing every person living with us has a meaningful lifestyle. Hazel End is welcoming new residents, to book your socially distanced visit or for more information please contact 01279 925388 or email info@halcyoncarehomes.co.uk.