‘Cake, biscuits and trust in people’ – Orpington resident reveals the secret to a long life on 101st

Home news

Jul 19, 2021

A resident at a care home in Orpington has shared her secret for living a long and happy life on her 101^st birthday.

A very special birthday celebration took place at Care UK’s Foxbridge House, on Sevenoaks Road, when resident Doreen Glover turned 101 years ‘young’ on 10^th July.

To mark the occasion, Doreen revealed the secret to a long and happy life is trusting people and having a good selection of cakes and biscuits, especially Battenburg Cake and chocolate biscuits, which she has enjoyed since childhood.

For Doreen’s birthday this year, the home team organised an afternoon tea party, surrounded by her friends and niece and complete with music from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s and an old-fashioned sing-along, which got everyone in the party spirit.

Stella Barnes, Home Manager at Foxbridge House, said: “Doreen is a well-loved and popular resident at Foxbridge House, and it was fantastic to help her celebrate this incredible milestone with her friends and family here at the care home. Doreen has always been an energetic lady, enjoying many of the activities organised by the lifestyle team including exercising, sing-alongs, entertainment and shows, so it was great to have an old-fashion tea party to celebrate her big day. 

“Here at Foxbridge House, everything we do is focused around our ethos of ensuring residents live active and fulfilling lives, so we always like to celebrate important milestones – and Doreen’s 101st birthday was no exception. It was lovely to raise a glass to Doreen on her special day.”

Doreen was born on 10^th July 1920 in Orpington. After finishing school, Doreen joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 with her sister, where they both worked as telephonists, communicating essential messages to various operations throughout World War Two. This role saw Doreen stationed at Biggin Hill which would go on to become the most important airfield in the Battle of Britain. 

Doreen lived in Orpington until she met Fred, they married in 1970 and lived together in

South Woodford. The couple spent 20 happy years together, before Fred sadly died and Doreen moved back to her home town. 

Doreen moved to Foxbridge House in 2019, and continues to enjoy hobbies including knitting, listening to classical music and spending time outdoors. She also likes spending time with animals, particularly Foxbridge House’s recently appointed Canine Relations Manager, Reggie, who Doreen has saved a slice of cake for when he next visits.

Foxbridge House 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, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.  

For more information about Foxbridge House, please call Customer Relations Manager, Dorothy Ayonmike, on 01689 769 229, or email dorothy.ayonmike@careuk.com

For more general information on Foxbridge House, please visit careuk.com/foxbridge-house