“Exercise at a young age” – Knutsford care home resident celebrates 100th birthday

A Knutsford resident has shared her secret to living a long life as she celebrated her 100^th birthday.

Margaret (also known as Margot) Lewis, who lives at Care UK’s Cranford Grange on Hall Lane in Mobberley, celebrated her new centenarian status in style with a birthday party arranged by the team.

To make the day special, Cranford Grange team members decorated the home with colourful balloons and banners, and surprised Margot with a cake thoughtfully prepared by the home chef.

Margot, who was overjoyed to spend time with her close friends and family, shared her simple secret to living a long, fulfilling life: “Exercise from a young age and take everything one day at a time.’’ 

Born in Glasgow and raised in Gourock, Margot began her career as an almoner after achieving a diploma in Social Studies from the University of Glasgow in the late 1940s. She went on to become a medical social worker, which included a two-year period living and working in Vancouver, Canada, during the early 50s.

Margot later moved back to Glasgow, where she met her husband, Ben. They married in 1959 and moved to Knutsford, where they raised their two daughters. Today, Margot has four grandchildren. 

A keen traveller, Margot continued to enjoy exploring the world after she retired. She regularly flew to Canada to visit her friends, even well into her 90s, and embraced an active lifestyle. Some of her favourite hobbies included tennis, hiking, skiing, golf, bridge, dressmaking, embroidery, and cooking – some of which she still enjoys today. 

Reflecting on her birthday, Margot said: ‘’I was delighted to receive a card from the King, congratulating me on my 100th birthday. One of my fondest memories was meeting Prince Charles in 1986 when he visited Abbeyfield House in Knutsford. It’s an experience never to be forgotten, and a story I still share today.’’

Daniel Cole, Home Manager at Cranford Grange, said: "We love any excuse to celebrate, so it was a joy to mark Margot’s birthday in style with her friends and family.

“We all had an amazing time listening to Margot’s fascinating stories, celebrating her achievements and discovering her secret to living a happy life.

“Here at Cranford Grange, we’re committed to ensuring residents live active and fulfilling lives while celebrating special milestones – and Margot’s 100^th birthday was no exception. Happy birthday, Margot!’’

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Cranford Grange provides residential, dementia, nursing and respite care, and incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The home has its own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon, and has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage interaction among the residents.