‘A sherry every lunchtime!’ Two Newmarket care home residents reveal the secret to longevity on their 100th birthdays

Two residents at a care home in Newmarket celebrated their 100^th birthdays with surprise parties with family and friends. 

Two very special birthday celebrations took place at Care UK’s Kentford Manor on Jeddah Way, when residents Edna Simpkins and Hilda Tonkins, turned 100 years ‘young’. 

To celebrate, the care home team decorated the lounge with balloons and banners, and the home’s talented head chef baked each resident a special birthday cake for everyone to enjoy at a surprise tea party. 

Hilda was born on 16^th July 1922 in Southeast London. Passionate about dressmaking, Hilda spent her career making dresses in London – which included stitching an outfit for Prince Charles when he was a child. Despite training as a Stockbroker at Business School and seeing her sisters progressing in their careers in office related jobs, Hilda never wanted to stop making things and still enjoys stitching and knitting today. 

Fellow recent centurion, Edna Simpkins, was born on 7^th July 1922 in Luton. As a child, Edna lived in a pub, The Brewery JW Greens, which was managed by her parents. Also a keen dressmaker, Edna attended needlework classes because she always wanted to make her daughter’s wedding dress – only for her husband, Robert, to sew the dress in the end. 

Edna has two children, Valerie and Brian, and ten grandchildren, including extended family in Australia and New Zealand. 

Commenting on the secret to reaching 100 years old, they both agreed: “Have a sherry every lunchtime!”

 

Lijo Varghese, General Manager at Kentford Manor, said: “Here at Kentford Manor, we always like to throw a party for special milestones – especially when two come along at once! 

“It was fantastic to help Edna and Hilda celebrate their incredible milestones with their family and friends here at Kentford Manor, and to raise a glass to them both on a fabulous 100 years – cheers to them both!”  

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Kentford Manor, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.

For more information on Kentford Manor, please contact Home Admissions Advisor at Kentford Manor, Denis Green, on 01638 779594, email Dennis.Green@careuk.com.

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/kentford-manor.