‘Keeeeep dancing!’ – Sidcup resident reveals the secret to a long life on her 102nd birthday

A resident at a care home in Sidcup has shared the secret for living a long and happy life on her 102^nd birthday.

A very special birthday celebration took place at Care UK’s Smyth Lodge, on Frognal Avenue, when resident Katie Anderson, known as Kitty, turned 102 years ‘young’. To mark the occasion, Kitty revealed her secret was to ‘keep dancing’ as well as drink lots of water. 

 

To celebrate, the home decorated Kitty’s room with balloons and banners, and the home’s talented head chef baked a special birthday cake for residents to enjoy. 

Kitty was born on 12^th October 1919 in Bickley. She worked as a switch board operator during the war, and later as a school secretary, which she thoroughly enjoyed. An avid reader, Daschund lover, and dancer, Kitty taught children to dance in her younger years, as well as performing as a Scottish dancer herself. 

Kitty met her husband, Ian, on a blind date, and they went on to be married for 60 years. Together, they have a son, Murray Anderson, who Kitty loves dearly. 

Tracey Cheeseman, Home Manager at Smyth Lodge, said: “Kitty is a much-loved resident at Smyth Lodge, and it was fantastic to help her celebrate this incredible milestone with her friends here at the care home."

“Here at Smyth Lodge, 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 Kitty’s 102^nd birthday was no exception. It was lovely to raise a glass together on her special day.”

Smyth Lodge has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The state-of-the-art care home, which opened in 2019, provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, and features a cinema, hair salon and activities room.

For more information about Smyth Lodge, please call Customer Relations Manager, Francois Erwee, on 0333 3053 474 or email francois.erwee@careuk.com.