A former World War II RAF servicewoman has celebrated her 102nd birthday by singing and dancing with family, friends and care home staff at a party in her honour.
Centenarian Ronnie Taxis reached her latest milestone at Colten Care’s Poole dementia care home The Aldbury where she has lived for more than two years.
The fun featured a singalong to pop hits from yesteryear performed by visiting entertainer Elizabeth Campagnano.
Ronnie also revealed her secret of longevity, telling team members: “Keep moving and keep talking to people. If you set yourself away from people that’s a big mistake as I am sure that will affect your mobility. I am very lucky I can walk. You must also keep your brain active. My mum was also a centenarian so it runs in the genes.”
Joining Ronnie on the dance floor and in song were friends and fellow residents including Terry Pattison and Brian Davies.
Terry said: “It was such a pleasure to see Ronnie thoroughly enjoying her birthday.”
His sentiments were echoed by Brian who told Ronnie: “You are still looking great. You can sing and dance!”
Elizabeth said: “It was a real joy to lead a singalong for Ronnie’s birthday with her Aldbury family. I loved witnessing the interaction between staff and residents and to see the joy on their faces as we sang songs from the 50s, 60s and wartime. The highlight was seeing Ronnie jiving to Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock with other residents and staff keeping up with the fast hand jive during the instrumental breaks.”
Colten Care Companion Melissa Siat it was Ronnie’s wish to have dancing and singing on her 102nd, adding: “It was a great privilege to enable Ronnie to do what she likes most on her birthday. The celebration was great fun and enjoyed by all.”
Still a teenager when war broke out, Ronnie went on to serve in the air force and was based for a time at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, in No. 540 Squadron, a photoreconnaissance and aerial survey unit active from 1942.
She later worked as a secretary for both the Foreign Office and the secret intelligence service MI6.
Thanking The Aldbury team for hosting the birthday party, Ronnie’s son Mark Taxis said it sounded like his mother was enjoying herself and added: “She is a very different person to the one who checked in over two years ago. She is now healthy and more outgoing. And it’s true, her mother lived to be 103 years old.”
