“Don’t worry about it” – the secret to a long life according to 100-year-old St Ives care home resident

A 100-year-old St Ives care home resident has revealed her secret to living a long and happy life.

Muriel Bunkhall, from Care UK’s Field Lodge, on London Road, marked her 100^th birthday on 22^nd October. Reflecting on her many happy years, Muriel shared that her motto for life is “don’t worry about it”.

To mark the big day, Muriel’s family joined her friends at the home for a special celebration, and the team decorated the home with balloons and banners. The home’s talented Head Chef also baked Muriel a birthday cake.

Commenting on the occasion, Muriel said: “I had a lovely day and felt very privileged to receive a card from King Charles!”

Linda Martinez, Home Manager at Field Lodge, said: “Muriel is a much-loved resident here at Field Lodge and we all had a wonderful time celebrating her special day.

“We work hard to support residents to lead fulfilling lives, and marking special occasions and birthdays plays a huge part in this. We love any excuse to celebrate the amazing people living here at Field Lodge and Muriel’s birthday was no exception. Everyone had a wonderful time toasting Muriel’s birthday and listening to her share memories from her long, happy life.

“We’re all incredibly privileged to have Muriel as part of the Field Lodge family – happy birthday!”

Muriel was born in North Cheam, London. In 1939, when Muriel was 16, she was evacuated to Scotland as a result of World War Two. Here, Muriel lived in a castle for two years with a group of other girls who had also been relocated due to the war. Keen to do her part, Muriel joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) when she turned 18, where she met another new starter who would go on to become one of her closest lifelong friends.

While spending time in Gloucestershire where her mother ran a hotel, Muriel met her late husband, Edward ‘Ted’ Bunkhall, an RAF navigator based at the nearby airfield. The couple were married in 1949 and spent 30 years moving arounds the world for Ted’s career. 

Over the years, Muriel and Ted lived in the Isle of Man, Canada and Cyprus, before settling in Hemingford Grey when Ted retired. The couple had three children, all of whom were born during the couple’s travels. In Hemingford Grey, Muriel volunteered at the Huntingdon Citizens Advice Bureau for many years, before moving to Field Lodge in 2015.

Field Lodge is a modern, purpose-built care home providing 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 a choice of lounges and dining rooms, along with facilities such as an activity room, cinema and hair salon.