Special guest helps Newbury resident celebrate 104th birthday

A Newbury care home resident has celebrated her 104^th birthday, with the help of a special guest.

At Care UK’s Newbury Grove, on London Road, resident Phyllis turned 104 years ‘young’ and Councillor Andrew Moore, Deputy Mayor of Newbury, helped her celebrate the big day.

Enjoying the special day with a birthday cake made by the home’s Head Chef and surrounded by her family and friends, the team threw a party to ensure Phyllis had a celebration to remember.

Phyllis received many cards, presents and flowers and she thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations.

Councillor Andrew Moore congratulated Phyllis on reaching such a great age and said: “It was lovely to see Phyllis surrounded by some many loved ones.”

Phyllis was born on 4^th February 1920 in Brightwalton, West Berkshire, and is the eldest of her three sisters. As a young girl, Phyllis would help her father feed the chickens, pick fruit and make jam with it.

She attended St Andrews School in Chaddleworth until she was 14 and then worked as a housemaid., She left work when she married her first husband Douglas Davis, but sadly he was killed when returning on leave during World War Two.

On the 26^th June 1948, Phyllis married Franciszek Inglut. The couple loved to travel around the world together and their first holiday abroad together was in Rimini, Italy. When Phyllis was 88 years old, the pair cruised around the Mediterranean, visiting Sardinia, Italy, Vatican City and Gibraltar.

Together, Phyllis and Franciszek have seven children, Frank, Anthony, Julia, Edwin, Derek, Richard and Nigel. They also have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who all regularly visit Phyllis Newbury Grove.

Julia, Phyllis’s daughter, said: “Mum had a full-time job, a husband and seven children. I’m not sure how she did it and it amazes me. Neither of my parents drove and they didn’t have any of the luxuries we enjoy today”.

Phyllis’ hobbies also include knitting and reading, which she continues to do at Newbury Grove.

Adarsh Kurian, General Manager at Newbury Grove said: “Phyllis is a much-loved resident, and it was wonderful to help her celebrate her 104^th birthday with her family and friends.

“Here at Newbury Grove, we work hard to ensure residents lead fulfilling lives and celebrating special occasions and milestones play a huge part in this. We love any excuse for a party, and Phyllis’s birthday was no exception.

“We’d love to say a huge thank you to Councillor Andrew Moore for joining us to help celebrate Phyllis’ incredible milestone.”

Newbury Grove has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.