Basildon centenarian resident shares secret to longevity

A Basildon care home resident has credited her longevity to “ballroom dancing” as she celebrated a very special milestone.

Joan Hoggs, a resident at Care UK’s Brook Lodge, on Ghyll Grove, celebrated her new centenarian status with an intimate party, surrounded by family and friends. 

To mark the milestone, team members decorated the home with balloons and banners before surprising Joan with her birthday message from the king. The new centenarian was also treated to a special cake prepared by the home’s Head Chef. 

Joan said: “I was so surprised by the party! It was lovely to see everyone wish me a happy birthday.”

Joan was born on 7th May 1926 in Greenfield, London, where she spent her early years. During the Second World War, she worked as a typist within the Auxiliary Territorial Services.

She met her husband Reginald, with whom she shares a passion for dancing, in London when she was 16. They later married and together had three sons. 

When asked about her secret to living a long and happy life, Joan replied: “Always staying active and ballroom dancing with my husband!”

Tracy Shipp Hubbard, Deputy Manager at Brook Lodge, said: “It was an absolute joy to celebrate Joan’s birthday and to see her surrounded by the love of her family and friends.

“We love a good party, and marking residents’ special milestones is really important to us here at Brook Lodge. Joan is also a real inspiration to us all, and always impresses us with her dancing skills, so we wanted to organise a 100th birthday to remember.

“On behalf of the whole team, I’d like to wish Joan a happy birthday once again; we’re already looking forward to our next big celebration.” 

Brook Lodge is a state-of-the-art care home that provides residential and dementia care on a permanent and respite basis. Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, the care home also offers its very own café, cinema room and hair salon as well as plenty of space for relaxation and recreation.