Flower power – the secret to a long life according to a Hailsham resident

Home news

Feb 20, 2020

A resident at a Hailsham care home celebrated her 100^th birthday and revealed the secret to living a long life.

Birthday celebrations were in full swing at Care UK’s Bowes House, on Battle Road, when resident Jean Marley turned 100 years ‘young’. She revealed the secret to living to this impressive age is gardening – alongside a daily glass of Sherry.

Jean was born on 10^th February 1920 in Manchester, but also lived in London, Devon and Sussex. A lifelong gardening enthusiast, Jean loves flowers and visiting gardens with her daughter Susan and granddaughter Heather. She also enjoys pub lunches and countryside walks.

Jean worked as a shorthand typist for a company that supplied food for the British troops. She married her husband Colin in 1947 and has two daughters, one of whom lives locally in Sussex and the other in South Africa, where Jean travelled often. Part of a twinning society, she also spent several holidays in Normandy, France, in her younger years. 

To celebrate, the team at Bowes House hosted a small birthday party at the home and invited Jean’s family and friends to toast the special milestone. Jean was thrilled to receive a card from the Queen to mark her special day

Home manager at Bowes House, Helena Barrow, said: “Here at Bowes House, we always like to make an occasion of birthdays – particularly when it’s such an important milestone.

“Jean brings such a lovely energy to the home. Her gardening knowledge is second to none, and she always has plenty of tips to share to help our flowers grow stronger. It was clear from the smile on Jean’s face that she had a lovely time – as we all did celebrating her big day. We’re looking forward to celebrating many more milestones!”

Bowes House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.  Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has it very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation. The home has a comprehensive activity programme, offering a mix of themed events, group activities and days out.

For further information on Bowes House, please call customer relations manager, Karen Milligan, on 01323 888 611 or email karen.milligan@careuk.com

For general information please visit careuk.com/bowes-house