Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Councillor Hugh Patterson, has officially reopened a historic Greensleeves Care home.

Mount Ephraim House, which has features dating back to the 17^th century, was officially relaunched in an event attended by over 50 professionals in health, care, businesses and beyond, alongside the home’s residents and their relatives.

Greensleeves Care’s chief executive, Paul Newman, said: “This home, and this reopening today, is especially significant for all of us at Greensleeves Care. Mount Ephraim House was one of the founding homes of our charity. We’re delighted that this award-winning redesign and extensive work has allowed the home to increase capacity by 50% and return to doing what it does best: deliver Greensleeves Care’s unique brand of compassionate, highly-rated residential and dementia care to yet more people in the community.”

Home manager, Karen Cooper, who has been at the helm of Mount Ephraim House since 2007, said: “It gives me great joy to see that the home already feels like a true, thriving community of care, with its own personality showing through.

“The renovations and expansion have really brought out the beauty of the building and the space is the best it has ever been. Colleagues and residents have waited patiently for their return and it’s a testament to how much love there is for the home. We are all thrilled to be back.”

At the event, Mount Ephraim House residents Christine Stone and Angela Cook welcomed guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress, into their home.

Stone, 95, said: “Although Angela and I didn’t know each other before we moved into Mount Ephraim House earlier this year, we already feel that we have made friends for life. It’s a lovely home, all my visitors say they wish they could stay here!”