On the 11th November, Gibraltar Nursing Home will be joined by the rest of the country in remembering members of the Armed Forces who died whilst serving in the line of duty.

For Rose Mecklenburgh-Evens, Head Chef at Gibraltar Nursing Home, Armistice day carries particular significance.

Rose shares her time between Gibraltar Nursing Home and the Army Reserves, where she has been serving for 10 years and she currently holds the position of chef for the intelligence corps.

Inspired to join the Army by her father who is ex-forces, Rose underlines the importance of remembering all of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.

“Those who gave their lives for my freedom, for our freedom, for the freedom to be able to do the things we do daily, they made a sacrifice so that we can live as we do. Without that sacrifice, all the things we take for granted now would not be possible, if they hadn’t put our future first,” she says.

Serving in the Army has produced lots of fond memories for Rose, one that stands out for her was the privilege of being able to take part in the Normandy 75-year anniversary. What struck her most was the humility of those who had served as heroes.

“I was part of the team that helped commemorate those brave men and woman who laid down their lives for us. It was a pleasure to meet with one of the soldiers who steered the boat, he shared with us his memories of that day without any boast and complete modesty,” she says.

Rose is able to commit herself to both the Army and Gibraltar Nursing Home due to the flexibility of the working hours within the home. She has only positive experiences to share about working in the kitchen in the home. “I love my career at Gibraltar Nursing Home, it is an amazing place to work. Every day is different, and although working in any kitchen can be challenging, it’s the sense of family you have with those you work with and those who live here is where I gain the most enjoyment.”

Identity is a huge part of the core training at Gibraltar and Rose says, “I love the fact that we can express ourselves and really make a difference.”

Making a difference in the lives of those who live at the nursing home extends much further than just preparing meals. Rose welcomes the opportunity to spend time with those who she caters for.

“I find the time to spend with our family members, this is the part I love best, getting to know our family helps me to perform my role better and we all want to take care of our family members, and I do that through food,” she says.

Although serving in the Army and supporting the nursing home are two environments that couldn’t be farther apart from each other, Rosie believes there are similarities across both settings.

“The Army has instilled in me great values and standards; I actually find it’s not dissimilar to that of the team I work with at Gibraltar. I feel this is why I enjoy both careers as much as I do. The beliefs in Gibraltar’s core values, like leadership, teamwork and strong moral ethics are very similar to the Army. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Gibraltar or the Army,” Rosie says.

Rose will be joined her colleagues and family members at Gibraltar Nursing Home on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, to honour the sacrifice and special contribution made by all the Armed Forces over the past decades.

Lest We Forget.