Happy and glorious – Daphne celebrates her 100th birthday at Cumberland care home

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Jul 04, 2017

Family and friends, a stunning cake and a card from Her Majesty the Queen made Daphne Crossley’s 100th birthday a day to remember on 28th May.

Daphne – known as Daph – is a resident at Care UK’s Cumberland care home in Mitcham, which is where her family came together to celebrate her big day.

On the day, the care home team unveiled a stunning square birthday cake made by the home’s chef, which had a centrepiece picture of Daph surrounded by beautiful gold and white icing.

However, the showstopper was Daph’s card from The Queen. So proud is she of her official card that she’s since resisted efforts by Rachel, the lifestyle coordinator, to get it framed for her – preferring to carry it with her wherever she goes! 

Daph was born, raised and spent her life in Fulham. As a young woman, she worked as a dressmaker before doing her bit for the war effort as an aeroplane valve tester during World War II. (Daph herself has never flown in an aeroplane, saying she’d be too scared to.)

A keen ballroom dancer, she would go dancing at the weekends, and she loved the outdoors. In fact, up until her late eighties, she was travelling around the country competing in – and winning – many bowls tournaments.

Today, Daph continues to keep busy: enjoying regular bingo sessions, catching up with the news (and the fortunes of Fulham FC), listening to music by her favourites, Tom Jones and Bing Crosby, and sitting out in the garden with friends enjoying a (strong) cup of tea.

Daph married her late husband Gordon in July 1947 and the couple have a son, Philip. Through him, Daph has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren – all of whom were on hand to help her celebrate her big day at Cumberland.

You can still have wishes when you’re 100. So, having blown out her candles, what did Daph wish for? “My wish is to lead a happy and peaceful life,” she said. Happy birthday Daph, from everyone at Cumberland and Care UK.