FORMER British tennis champion and TV presenter Annabel Croft was on hand to give young sports stars in Partington a much-needed boost at the official opening of a new care home this week.

The tennis pro, who was special guest for the ceremony at Four Oaks nursing home, in Wood Lane, presented a £350 cheque on behalf of Kingsley Healthcare to Manchester Sport Taekwondo on Tuesday April 18.

The donation, part of Kingsley’s commitment to community projects, will enable organiser Daley Richardson to invest in new equipment, including kick pads, for his gym in Partington.

A group of his young athletes gave a martial arts demonstration in front of guests at the opening, including the Mayor of Trafford, Judith Lloyd.

Annabel, who said she was a “passionate believer in sport for all having started playing tennis at the age of nine”, was impressed by her tour of the state of the art 62-bedroom home.

She said: “It really is stunning. I have met some of the staff and residents and I am so impressed by the warm, homely atmosphere.

“My aunt has worked in care homes so I am only too aware what a demanding job it is and how hard staff work. I have so much admiration for carers, they are very much the unsung heroes of the health sector.”

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Annabel Croft attends the opening of the Four Oaks nursing home, in Partington

After a blessing of the home, conducted by Father Bernard McDermott, of Lady of Lourdes Church in Partington, Kingsley CEO Daya Thayan addressed guests and thanked the people who had been key to delivering the project, including Ian Oriel and Martin Smyth, directors of Coutts Bank, and Patricia Seddon, from Seddon Construction.

He paid tribute to Patricia’s late husband Christopher for his role in introducing Kingsley to projects in the North West.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Patricia, Ian and Martin.

Patricia said: “It’s an honour to attend the opening of Four Oaks, a fantastic care home for elderly residents in Greater Manchester and beyond. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this important space to the local area.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work Seddon has done in building a home that offers the very best care in a modern and comfortable environment. It’s testament to Seddon’s specialism in the healthcare sector and a fitting way to carry on my late husband Christopher Seddon’s legacy.”