Stowmarket centenarian gives her advice for a long and glamorous life

 

A resident at a care home in Stowmarket gave valuable life advice as she toasted a special milestone.  

Marjorie O’Hanlon celebrated her 100^th birthday in style at Care UK’s Cedrus House, on Bittern Crescent and shared her secret to living a glamorous life – “stilettoes, colour coordinated clothing, and never leaving home without red lipstick.”

Marjorie added “good health, a busy and active life, shopping, eating cake and a whiskey at night” have helped her live a long life.

Born in Blackpool on 7^th October 1924, Marjorie grew up with two brothers, Dick and Peter, and enjoyed ice skating, swimming and horse riding. Marjorie attended secretarial college and when World War Two broke out she wanted to join the Land Army, but her father wouldn’t allow this.

Marjorie worked a part time job in gown shops and then trained as an auxiliary nurse at a nursing home. In her free time, Marjorie enjoyed attended dances at the Winter Gardens and met celebrities Diana Doors and Josef Locke who performed at the Blackpool shows.

Marjorie and her husband Bernard, known as Paddy, met while working in the offices at Vickers Aircraft Factory. The happy couple married in 1944 and moved to Southsea in Hampshire, until they returned to Blackpool in 1948 and then later moved to St Annes on Sea. In the late 1980’s, they moved to Boughrood, a small village in mid Wales, and Marjorie enjoyed colour coordinating each room in her house always including gold accents.

Marjorie and Paddy had two children together, Martin and Susan, and now have two grandchildren, Emma and Rebecca, five great grandchildren, Ayesha, Bradley, Ella, Araminta and Benedict, and two great great grandchildren, Millie and Frederick.

Never leaving her home without her red lipstick, Marjorie loves shopping in antique shops and going out for afternoon tea with her family. 

The team at Cedrus House adorned the home with balloons and banners and welcomed Marjorie’s family and friends for the celebrations. Head Chef, Ian Hetzel specially prepared her a birthday cake. 

Marjorie said: “I had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends.”

Deepa Reju, Home Manager at Cedrus House, said: “It was an honour to celebrate Marjorie’s birthday with her. She is a beloved resident at Cedrus House, and we all had a lovely time marking this tremendous milestone.

“Everything we do centres around supporting residents to live fulfilling lives, which is why we are always eager to mark special occasions. Marjorie’s 100^th birthday was no exception, and it was a delight to hear her sound advice for living a long and glamorous life.”