Knutsford care home resident shares surprising secret to long life

A resident at a care home in Knutsford celebrating a special milestone has shared her refreshingly straightforward advice for leading a long and happy life.

Joyce Forbes, who lives at Care UK’s Cranford Grange on Hall Lane in Mobberley, marked her 102nd birthday surrounded by friends and family.

The big day started off with Joyce unwrapping gifts from her loved ones before heading off to her favourite pub, The Church Inn for steak and chips alongside a glass of white wine. 

She ended the day on a high note, celebrating with the team at Cranford Grange with a cake made by the home’s head chef, and even shared some words of wisdom.

When asked for her secret to a long and healthy life, Joyce replied: “Chicken and wine! And probably wine being the most important!”

Born in Bolton, Joyce’s early years were spent in Haslingden, where she worked at a local greengrocer’s from the age of 14.

At 28, she married Alec after meeting through her brother Albert. The couple were together for nearly 60 years before Alec passed away in 2011.

Joyce’s life has been full of adventure. She and Alec, along with their youngest son Andrew, moved to Montreal in the 1950s before embarking on a world tour with Joyce’s father. She kept a diary of the trip, which she treasures to this day.

The family later settled back in Canada, where Joyce gave birth to two more children, Brent and Alex, before returning to the UK and residing in Burnley. 

Joyce now has seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and her family is spread across the world – with Andrew in Los Angeles, Brent in Mobberley and Alex in Arundel.

Daniel Cole, Home Manager at Cranford Grange, said: “Joyce’s 102nd birthday was a true celebration of her remarkable life. She is a very interesting lady who always has so many wonderful stories to share – she is truly much loved here. She even recently appeared on BBC Breakfast, making her long‑held wish to be on television come true.

“At Cranford Grange, we aim to ensure residents continue to lead fulfilling and exciting lives. Helping Joyce’s family organise a day full of excitement and then celebrating with her in the evening in our own special way was a real pleasure. Cheers to Joyce!”

Cranford Grange provides residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. The home incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, including its own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage interaction among the residents.