A CARE home will pay tribute to a much-loved senior support worker today.

Highcliffe Nursing Home in Stuart Road will hold a winter wonderland party in memory of Denise Cracknell.

Denise, who had worked at the home since 2010, lost her battle against pancreatic cancer last month.

The winter wonderland party will culminate with councillor Lesley Dedman switching on the home’s Christmas lights at 4pm.

Visitors will be invited to donate to Macmillan Caring Locally.

Staff have also set up a GoFundMe page at justgiving.com/page/tracey-millar-1702640091434 to raise money for the charity in Denise’s memory.

Home manager Tracey Millar said: “Last week over 30 members of our team, past and present, celebrated the life of our colleague Denise Cracknell with her family and friends at her funeral.

“Denise was not only an amazingly caring senior carer who loved the residents she cared for, but was always laughing and joking with her colleagues and was at times outrageously funny.”

Denise was diagnosed with cancer at the end of the Covid lockdown in 2022 and had two rounds of chemotherapy, however, she did not respond to treatment.

Tracey added: “A little light has gone out in the nursing home but an even brighter light is shining above us right now.”