Hadrian Park resident celebrates 101st birthday

Home news

Apr 02, 2019

Born in the same year that women were given the vote and World War One ended, a Hadrian Park resident has celebrated her 101st birthday.

Birthday celebrations were in full swing at Hadrian Park, when resident Bertha Martin turned 101 years ‘young’ on 23rd March.

To celebrate her milestone birthday, Bertha was joined by family, friends and residents for an afternoon tea party, complete with all her favourite cakes, hosted by the team at the care home. Everyone toasted Bertha’s good health with a glass of wine and tucked into a slice of birthday cake.

Bertha was born on 23rd March 1918, in Newcastle, and moved to Billingham as a child. Her first job was in a bakery, and Bertha’s love of baking continued throughout her life, with Thursdays being her ‘home baking days’, where she would make bread and tea cakes. 

In her younger days, Bertha also had a passion for dancing and won many awards and trophies, with her speciality being the quick step and modern sequence. She continues to exercise regularly, taking part in classes at the care home, including Mr Motivator, a chair-based exercise class.  

Marrying Harry in August 1940, the happy couple had four children; Lynda, Pat, Sheila and Clive, and now have thirteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Antony Gatley, home manager at Hadrian Park, said: “Residents are at the heart of everything we do here at Hadrian Park, and we always like to throw a party for special celebrations – and Bertha’s 101st birthday was no exception.

“It’s fantastic to see Bertha celebrating this incredible milestone with her family and friends at Hadrian Park. She is a very happy, lively person, and has built lovely friendships with residents and the team since moving here in 2015. So, it was wonderful to raise a glass to her on this special day.”