“Veggies and chocolate” - Newmarket care home centenarian reveals her special diet

A Newmarket care home resident has credited her longevity to “eating veggies and chocolate!” as she celebrated a very special milestone. 

Elizabeth Milner, a resident at Care UK’s Kentford Manor on Jeddah Way, shared her very special diet as she toasted her 104^th birthday. 

To honour Elizabeth’s centenarian birthday, the team at Kentford Manor invited her friends and family for a special party, with a delicious birthday cake prepared by the home’s Sous Chef, Kieran Lister.

Elizabeth was born on 27^th December 1921 in Dundee, Scotland, but later moved to North Yorkshire where she lived most of her life. During the Second World War, Elizabeth worked in the Land Army, and recalls sneaking out to meet her future husband, Alfred, who she wed in 1944. 

Together they had two children, David and Susan, who went on to bring two grandchildren, Mark and Tim, into the family; and they often visit Elizabeth at Kentford Manor. 

After the war, Elizabeth spent her time as a housewife before working at a local store. In her spare time, she was fond of knitting, baking and tapestry making, which she still enjoys to this day at Kentford Manor. 

When asked for her thoughts on turning 104, Elizabeth said that “eating veggies and chocolate” was the way to a fulfilling and long life, adding: “Spending the day with my whole family and enjoying a lovely afternoon tea party with plenty of bubbles made it especially memorable.”

Hannah Nurse, Home Manager at Kentford Manor, added: “We were so excited to celebrate such a joyous day with Elizabeth. As a much-loved resident at Kentford Manor, it was wonderful to mark this tremendous milestone with her and her family. 

“Here at Kentford Manor, everything we do centres around our ethos of ensuring residents live active and fulfilling lives – and Elizabeth’s 104^th birthday celebration was no exception. It was lovely to see how happy she was to be surrounded by those closest to her on her special day.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Kentford Manor incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured into a number of suites to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents, and the home has its own cinema, café and hair and beauty salon.