Jacqui Longden

Home Manager, Blackpool

As a child growing up in Blackpool, Jacqui was well aware that the large building on Lytham Road was the BLESMA Home. She remembers the summer garden parties, the marquee, the bands and the uniforms, none of which being a common site in her seaside hometown. Jacqui remembers hundreds of people in the grounds all with a common purpose; to support deserving British limbless ex-service men and women.

At that time many of the men were First World War casualties, but the younger ones had received their injuries during the more recent Second World War. Jacqui used to visit the Home with her father and grandfather, bringing magazines and books and, at Christmas, the bottle of scotch for ‘the old soldiers’. As a sailor in the Russian convoys, this was something her grandfather took a great deal of pride in, he would say ‘Jacqui, always remember these old soldiers and what they have done for us all’.

Jacqui recalls ‘Each year my grandmother would sit in front of the television with tears in her eyes cheering and clapping as she watched the veterans march by The Cenotaph. These are memories which will never fade.’

Years later Jacqui began a career in nursing, she married a soldier and worked as a civilian nurse in military medical centres on various postings. Following discharge from the army they returned together to Blackpool and Jacqui continued with her nursing career.

A position became available at the Home on Lytham Road that Jacqui had come to know so well and she was appointed as Manager. Jacqui has always been popular amongst those she helps at the Home, everyone ‘pulls together’ she says. ‘The past eight years have given me a wealth of knowledge and experiences, I’ve realised that the camaraderie amongst BLESMA members is unique, it is an extended family with friendships of many years’.

Jacqui says ‘next year we will celebrate the Home’s 60th anniversary and I am so very proud to be part of it. Those who I once new as the young men of the 60’s are now part of our ageing population, they gave their lives and limbs to give us, as my grandfather told me, the freedom we have today’. She says ‘It remains a privilege to ensure the best quality of nursing and residential care is given to those who so deserve.’

Jacqui is known among the Members for her humour but it is perhaps her dedication that stands out most. A good example of where the two meet is on her car number plate, which reads B13SMA. As if she could ever forget why she gets out of bed each day.