 |
Surrey
Heath Borough Council Surrey Police Woking Area
Primary Care Trust Surrey County
Council |
NEWS
RELEASE |
Mary Clocks Up A Century
One of
the Ian Goodchild Centre's most popular members celebrated her 100th
birthday with a party at the centre on Wednesday. |
 |
Mary said: "I love coming to the centre because there is such a lovely
atmosphere and I have made so many friends here. As soon as you walk through
the doors you feel very relaxed. It really is a wonderful place."
Centre Care Officer Heloise Thorneycroft who helped organise the celebrations
said: "Most nursing homes usually have quite a few residents who
turn 100 but in most centres you don't get it that often. Mary is a terrific
lady and is still so sprightly we thought she deserved to celebrate her
day in a special way."
Mary was born in Louise Margaret Hospital in Aldershot on July 28th 1906
and attended the Yorktown School in Camberley. After leaving school she
moved to Herefordshire where she worked as a nanny for 13 years. During
this time she spent two-and-a-half years in Hong Kong with the family
and celebrated her 21st birthday there. Mary then married her husband
Roy and the couple moved to Southampton where they ran a tobacco and confectionary
shop.
The couple moved back to Camberley in 1941 and owned Ann's Pantry café
in Princess Street which they ran together for seven years before Roy
died. Mary continued to run the café for a further 16 years until
she retired.
Mary has one daughter, three grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
"Having lots of children around me has kept me going. I love them
and they have been so good to me," said Mary.
She said her secret to living so long was keeping an active mind and doing
what you can for people. "What you reap you sow," she added.
Surrey Heath Mayor Cllr Keith Bush said: "Congratulations to Mary.
The centre must help keep her young as the average age of members is 78
years old. The centre is a great way to enable retired people of all ages
to meet others and enjoy lunch and refreshments. It encourages its members
to participate in new hobbies as the centre provides opportunities to
take part in relaxation, dancing, painting, history and crafts, surfing
the internet, hairdressing, chiropody, manicures and reflexology. Currently
around 160 people make use of the centre each week"
The Ian Goodchild Centre in Knoll Road, Camberley, is open from 8.30am
to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and on Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm.
The centre is named after a former councillor, who was Mayor of the Borough
between 1977 and 1978. It was opened on November 25, 1987.
For more information about the centre contact the staff on 01276 707672
or visit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community/CommunityServices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ref: News=303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------