ALL things German were celebrated during an event at two Dorset care homes.

Venues in Poole and New Milton run by Colten Care held Oktoberfest parties, breaking out the pretzels, sausages and pilsener.

At Kingfishers in New Milton, residents enjoyed a traditional Bavarian festival, transforming the lounge into a bierkeller, raising their glasses at a long table and enjoying ‘oompah’ brass band music, singalongs and bratwursts.

Among the partygoers was 97-year-old Alan Havelock, a fluent German speaker, who recalled being at three Oktoberfests when he lived in Munich in the 1950s.

The former RAF Flight Lieutenant and electrical engineer was working for the industrial manufacturer Siemens at the time.

Work colleagues invited him along to his first festival in 1951, dressing him up specially in Lederhosen.

“It was absolutely amazing,” he said. “When I stepped into the giant beer hall, I had a feeling of total surprise and wonderment.

“I didn’t know what I was going into. There were about 700 people there and you were expected to drink from two-litre Stein glasses, finishing each beer in one go.

“The beer consumption was phenomenal and I wondered if I would stand the pace.

Resident Alan Havelock, Companionship Team member Christina Holliday and resident Joyce Ponsonby

“It was really the best of times. Everybody mixes, linking arms together and having so much fun in their costumes and with the music going all the time.”

Fellow resident Joyce Ponsonby, who lived for four years in Dusseldorf, said: “We always have wonderful celebrations at this home.”

The party organisers were Companionship Team members Christina Holliday and Rose Arcellana.

Christina, who is German herself, said: “Our Oktoberfest was the ideal chance to sing, dance and raise a glass of Pilsener with friends.

“That’s what the festival is all about, having lots of fun in a carnival-style atmosphere. The fun is infectious.”

Kingfishers chef John Dunn and Companionship Team members Christina Holliday and Rose Arcellana

Meanwhile, residents at Colten Care’s Canford Chase in Poole also got into the Oktoberfest party mood, having fun as they sampled traditional sausages, sipped beer from a Stein glass and enjoyed German chocolate and almond cake.

Colten Companion Justin Corder with residents Edward Stone and Yvette Bone in Poole

Oktoberfest dates from 1810 and is the world’s largest beer festival and funfair, attracting millions of people to Munich each autumn and typically lasting up to 18 days.

Versions of the traditional Bavarian festival are held across Germany and in many other countries around the world.

Paul Roberts, whose mother Judy lives at the home, and Companionship Team leader, Rose Arcellana