100-year-old Sidcup resident reveals the secret to a long life

Home news

Jan 15, 2020

A resident at a care home in Sidcup celebrated his 100^th birthday and revealed the simple secret to a long and happy life.

Birthday celebrations were in full swing at Care UK’s Smyth Lodge, on Frognal Avenue, when resident, Frank Kyle, celebrated his birthday. Frank turned 100 years ‘young’ in December and believes the secret to a long life is a simple one – “to love and be loved”.

To celebrate his milestone birthday, Frank was joined by family, friends and residents for a party at the care home. Everyone toasted Frank’s good health with a glass of wine and tucked into a slice of birthday cake.

Frank was born in 1919 in London, where he pursued a career in welding – and worked in notable buildings such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. Frank met his wife Rose and spent 69 happy years married. Together they had two daughters and one son.

Now Frank lives at Smyth Lodge, where his jokes make the care team laugh on a daily basis, and where he spends much of his time carrying out his favourite hobby, gardening.

Lorraine Eastmead, home manager at Smyth Lodge, said: “We love to celebrate the residents here at Smyth Lodge, especially on their birthdays, so it was terrific to be able to commemorate an occasion as special as Frank’s 100^th birthday.

“His advice for living a long life is something we can all learn from – to give love and not take it for granted.

“It was fantastic to see Frank enjoying this incredible milestone with his family and friends. He is quite a character, and has built lovely friendships with residents and the team since moving here, so it was wonderful to raise a glass to him on this special occasion.”

Smyth Lodge has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential dementia and nursing care, as well as respite care.

To find out more about Smyth Lodge, please call customer relations manager, Maxim Davys, on 0333 3053 474 or email maxim.davys@careuk.com

For more general information about Smyth Lodge, please visit careuk.com/smyth-lodge