Doncaster care home finds great new use for a '99' ice cream

But one of the residents at a Doncaster care home may just have started a new tradition with her special way of marking her 99th birthday this month!

Staff at the Ernelesthorp care home, on Cow Lane, in Armthorpe started what they reckon could become a new tradition at the home by handing birthday girl Irene Pass a 99 ice cream to mark the big day – against the odds.

They had originally hoped to get in an ice cream van for the job of brining her the traditional cone with a flake in it.

But when that proved impossible, they instead turned to staff member Mark Nadonaly, dressed up in white and wearing a white hat, standing behind a specially assembled ice cream stall.

Activities coordinator Justine Green said Irene, a retired childcare worker, was a popular resident in the home and everyone had wanted to do something special for her.

"She’s been with us quite a few years, and she’s a lovely person. Unfortunately we couldn’t have the ice cream van coming out, so we went down to the shops and got what we needed to do our own, and Mark dressed up as an ice cream man.“It was a little chilly but it didn’t put her off enjoying her special birthday. We had a singer Sarah Bradley who is studying musical theatre in London who came along to perform outside for the birthday celebrations singing classics like ‘Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend’ and the ‘Trolley Song’.

"She had a truly stunning voice.

“The idea of the 99 ice cream was something we just thought about – it had not been something that we’d done before and I don’t know if others have done it in the past.

"Perhaps that could now become a tradition?”

Residents later went back inside for cake and to sing happy birthday to their follow resident.

Irene’s daughter came along in the car to watch the proceedings from the car, due to Covid 19 related restrictions.

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