THIS December 25 will be Leonard Butcher's 88th Christmas, but the first one he will spend living in a care home for the elderly.
The father-of-two moved into Orford House care home in Coulsdon in May, joining hundreds of people his age across the borough who will be spending their festive seasons likewise.
"I normally go to my sister's but we cannot do it this year," said Mr Butcher, one of only three men at the 29-resident home run by the charity Friends of the Elderly.
"I like it here," he added, over a Christmas lunch of turkey and chocolate pudding, one of the many festive events the home hosts.
"Ela [the activities co-ordinator] is always doing things to entertain us. We went down to London last week – to a church in Eton Place – we had wine and the singing was wonderful."
His surviving child, a son, comes to see him when he can for lunch. Mr Butcher joked: "I think that is why he likes to come here – because he gets fed and he brings me sweets and stuff."
Christmas over at the Sunrise Senior Living's home in Purley, meanwhile, is likewise stuffed with parties, meals and visits from singers, vicars and performers.
Long-time resident Elizabeth Snode ("I was born in August 1932," she says, asked her age) was playing bingo last Thursday with a group of friends at the Russell Hill Road home.
"I have been here roughly four years and it is very, very nice," said the Connecticut native, who moved to England as a six-year-old when her Irish-born father was deported from America.
"Someone said it had been four years the other day, but it seems longer than that," she added.
"They do try to keep us occupied – they all work very hard to keep us happy.
"The only thing about this place is we have got to pay, and of course we are looking for husbands – a rich one!"
Her son, former British Olympic diver Christopher Snode, now a TV diving pundit in America, visits when he is on this side of the Atlantic.
Elizabeth added: "I used to take my son diving. I lived near the diving pool at Crystal Palace – he is a brilliant diver."
The 81-year-old will be spending her Christmas Day alongside friends at the home, including fellow bingo fanatic June Apkin.
"I will be here," said the 76-year-old. "My husband died so there is nobody else.
"We have to be together otherwise we get lonely – they are good friends. We play bingo for fun and to pass the time away."
Activities on Christmas Day at Sunrise will start at 11am with singer Barry Stevens and some bucks fizz; Christmas lunch is at 12.30pm, and the Queens Speech tuned into at 3pm.
Sandy King, volunteer activities co-ordinator at the home, said around half of the home's residents will not go to their relatives' homes on Christmas Day, although many relatives come to visit.
"I suppose it depends for families how your house is equipped for their needs," she said. "It can be hard to take them home."
Back in Orford House, singers from the Croydon Male Voice Choir sang carols to a happy crowd after the Christmas lunch.
Mr Butcher recalled another set of singers who have been regular visitors this year.
He said: "I saw some parrots outside about one month ago. There are blue tits and all sorts of birds I see as well.
"And the thing is, they always go on the same branch when they land."
