Stroud 100-year-old reveals secret to long life

Home news

Jan 31, 2017

Scarlet House has celebrated the 100^th birthday of a popular resident who has attributed her long life to a happy upbringing.

Phyllis Gwilliam, a resident at Scarlet House, celebrated the impressive milestone with family members, friends and residents at the care home on 17^th December.

The home organised a special birthday lunch, and guests tucked into birthday cake and toasted Phyllis’ life with a glass of prosecco.

Revealing the secret to living to 100, Phyllis Gwilliam said: “There is no secret really, but a happy upbringing certainly makes a difference. I had a wonderful childhood, my mother and father were fair but always happy, and that’s how I’ve lived each day of my life.”

Pyela Mwale, home manager at Scarlet House, said: “We always like to make an occasion of birthdays, and Phyllis’ 100^th is no exception. We made sure that she had a great day, and our head chef, Claire Taylor prepared a special birthday cake to mark the occasion. It was lovely to be joined by Phyllis’ family and friends to celebrate the special milestone.”

Phyllis Gwilliam was born on 17^th December 1916 in Broughton in Furness, Lancashire. A twin, she was the first child of her mother’s second marriage, and had two older half-sisters, one older half-brother and a younger sister and brother.

Phyllis’ twin brother, Robin, introduced her to her husband Bill Gwilliam, after they served together in India and Burma during the Second World War.

During the war, Phyllis joined the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and served in Italy, working with the military hospitals that followed the Allied advance. She developed a deep affection for Italy and regularly visited the country, making her last visit to Taormina in Sicily when she was 93.

Phyllis also accompanied Bill on military tours in post-World War II Germany and Cyprus. After Bills death in 1980, Phyllis travelled all over the world, visiting Australia, America and all over Europe, before eventually settled in Cirencester.

The couple were married for 33 years, and had a son together, Chris.

Phyllis continued to live at her home in Cirencester until she moved into Scarlet House in December 2014.