100-year-old St Ives care home resident shares the secret to a long life is a ‘tipple before bed’

A 100-year-old St Ives care home resident, and former England hockey player, has revealed the secret to living a long and happy life.   

Hilda Moore, from Care UK’s Field Lodge, on London Road, marked her 100^th birthday on 10^th   May when she celebrated becoming a centenarian. Reflecting on her many happy years, she revealed the secrets to a long life include ‘loving a good joke, keeping fit and active, and always having a tipple before bed!’.

To celebrate the occasion, the team at Field Lodge enjoyed watching Hilda open her presents and cards, including her official correspondence from the Queen, and sang her a special happy birthday before Hilda’s daughters came to take her out for a family celebration.

Hilda said: “I had a wonderful day and spending time with my family was my favourite part. I was also thrilled with my card from the Queen – it was very special.”

Linda Martinez, Home Manager at Field Lodge, added: “We had a wonderful time celebrating Hilda’s milestone birthday with her family and friends at Field Lodge.

“We always strive to support residents to lead fulfilling lives and celebrating milestone birthdays plays a huge part in this. We love nothing more than an excuse for a party, and a reason to celebrate the wonderful people we have living here at Field Lodge.

“Hilda is a much-loved resident at the home, known for her brilliant sense of humour, and we were thrilled to raise a glass to her incredible life so far. She has achieved so much, and we are so proud to have her as part of our Field Lodge family.” 

Hilda, who was born in Bradford, attended St Leonards School before moving to Fife, Scotland, as a boarder at St Andrews. From a young age, Hilda enjoyed sports, and throughout her life played lacrosse, hockey, tennis, cricket, golf and bridge, as well as swimming and diving. 

In her early twenties, Hilda’s sporting career continued to flourish, and she began to play hockey for the England team. As well as this, she trained as a PE teacher, and was a member of the Bedford College of Physical Education. 

Hilda met Darrell who she later married in 1947, before moving to Wennington Lodge Farm in Cambridgeshire. She learnt to become a farmer as she went along, rearing chickens for meat and eggs. Hilda and Darrell had three children together, Tom, Sally, and Mary, who also enjoyed living among the animals. 

In 1977, Hilda and Darrell retired to Hemingford Grey, and enjoyed spending time in the garden, baking and walking her dog. In 2019, Hilda made the decision to move into Field Lodge, where she enjoys taking part in exercise classes and many activities including ,art and crafts as well as keeping in touch with her four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

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. 

To find out more about the home, contact Customer Relations Manager at Field Lodge, Jo Molloy-Cruden on johan.molloy-cruden@careuk.com, call 01480 877638, or visit careuk.com/field-lodge.