Mousehold View care home in Sprowston unveils Siano Cafe

Mousehold View Care Home in Sprowston opened its doors to residents in October and hosted a charity naming competition for three suites.

Pat Siano, right, with the Mousehold Defenders in September 1989 (Image: Newsquest)

The Mousehold Lane complex has now revealed the Siano Cafe, named after Pat Siano, who died aged 89 in 2016 and was known as “Mrs Mousehold” locally.

Pat was a passionate member of the Mousehold Heath Defenders and cared deeply for preserving the area for future generations, playing a key role in getting the Mousehold bandstand rebuilt.

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Dan Amis, customer service manager for the home, heard about the “heartwarming” story.

Mousehold View manager Nigel Reeve with Pat Siano's daughter Teresa Grand, great-grandsons Reuben and Ethan Harvey and Roger Carr and Clare Cohen of the Mousehold Heath Defenders (Image: Avery Healthcare)

Mousehold View has named its cafe after Pat Siano (Image: Avery Healthcare)

He said: “The whole home team at Mousehold View were truly moved by Pat’s story and all the remarkable work that she did in the preservation of the heath and the rebuilding of the famous bandstand too.

“It only seemed right with the heath right on our doorstep that this amazing lady was honoured in some small way at Mousehold View too.

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“And so, we are delighted to officially name our home cafe the Siano Cafe.”

Pat Siano, right, with Clare Cohen, left, and Lisa Waterman from the Mousehold Defenders in 2007 (Image: Ian Burt/Newsquest)

The opening of the cafe saw a plaque put up in remembrance of Pat as well as a £100 donation presented to the Mousehold Heath Defenders.

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Pat’s life was intrinsically linked to Mousehold Heath, meeting her husband Giovanni on the field while walking her dogs during the Second World War.

Pat with Giovanni Siano in 1945 (Image: Submitted)Pat Siano and husband Giovanni in the 1990s (Image: Newsquest)

Despite Giovanni being an Italian prisoner of war and being deported during the war, the couple eventually gravitated back to one another and married in March 1948.

Pat was a resident of Mousehold Avenue for 81 years and considered herself “lucky” to look out onto the heath every day.

Mousehold View manager Nigel Reeve outside the new Mousehold Lane care home (Image: Avery Healthcare)

The new Avery Healthcare 77-bedroom home, built on the site of a former Start Rite shoe factory, will be hosting an Open Day this Saturday between 10am and 4pm.