100th birthday celebrations at Winchcombe Place care home

Company news

Mar 16, 2015

Birthday celebrations were in full swing at Care UK’s Winchcombe Place care home in Newbury last week, when the most senior resident – great grandfather John Lill – turned 100.

The Mayor of Newbury, Jo Day, joined John at Winchcombe Place on Sunday 8 March for a very special birthday party held in his honour. There were many highlights throughout the day, including visits from John’s family and friends, a personal birthday card from The Queen, and a 100^th birthday cake homemade by head chef Gary Shaw.

Sacha Liddiard, customer relations manager at Winchcombe Place, said: “It was a great privilege for the team to host John’s 100^th birthday party. We were thrilled the Mayor of Newbury dropped-by to join in the fun, and John spent his special day surrounded by family and friends. We believe it’s incredibly important to take the time to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries and to make all residents feel at home by keeping to any family traditions they have.”

John was born in Sheffield on 8 March 1915. He spent almost 80 years in the city, where he practiced as an architect, up until his retirement in 1980. He moved to Hermitage near Newbury in 1982. When John's wife, Eileen, passed away in 1990, he continued to live in their bungalow in Hermitage, latterly with some care assistance, until late 2014 when he moved to Winchcombe Place.

During the Second World War, John served with the Royal Engineers on the desert front and he has even written a book on his wartime experiences. A football fan and lifelong supporter of Sheffield United, John took up painting during his retirement and he also enjoyed fly fishing

John has two daughters, Mary Farr and Elizabeth Searby; three grandchildren, Alicia, Tom and Alex; and four great grandchildren, Anthony, Beatrice, Nina and Maya.

For more information about Winchcombe Place, contact customer relations manager Sacha Liddiard by email sacha.liddiard@careuk.com or call 01635 275401.