Alice, a resident at Flowers Manor Care Home, celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by loved ones and enjoyed a day filled with activities.
The centenarian began her day with a pampering hairdressing appointment, followed by lively dancing with musical entertainment provided by Marcus Davies and a delicious slice of birthday cake.
To mark the special occasion, the care home received an overwhelming response to their community appeal, presenting Alice with a collection of 200 birthday cards, double the number they were appealing for!
Alice received cards from local schools, family, and people across Wiltshire and the local community.
Adding to the celebration, local gardener Rebecca and her team from Wild Thyme Designs created a beautiful flower bed in Alice’s honour at the care home.
Born in Failsworth near Manchester, Alice started her career at the Failsworth Cotton Mill, a job she loved. In 1939, she transitioned to working at the Ferranti Electrical Company, where she met her late husband, Joe, while making small components for airplanes. Their love story began with a first date at the Manchester Ritz ballroom, a shared passion for dancing leading them down the aisle in 1945 before starting a family.
Alice then embarked on a 13-year career as a physiotherapist assistant at Ancoats Hospital in Manchester, where she was beloved by her colleagues, many of whom she remains in touch with today. After her well-deserved retirement in 1984, Alice and Joe embarked on adventures, traveling the world together.
Reflecting on her extraordinary life, Alice offers heartfelt advice: “Work hard, be thankful and definitely not greedy. Always try to help others as there’s always someone worse off.”
Rachel Gittins, Head of Lifestyle at Elmfield Care said: “We love to celebrate our residents’ birthdays and make them as special as possible. Alice has lived such a remarkable life, and we wanted her birthday to reflect that. The birthday card appeal was met with incredible support from the local community, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day’s festivities.”