Born 2 March 1919, centenarian, Joseph Winton celebrated his 105th Birthday surrounded by family, friends and the care team, who all adore him. Joseph has been a resident at Jewish Care’s Stella & Harry Freedman House care home at the Betty and Asher Loftus Centre since 2017 and holds the proud title of being the oldest man who is living at Jewish Care’s care homes, he is the oldest Cohen, and possibly even the oldest Jewish man in the United Kingdom.
Joseph has two children, Philip and Daniella, and three grandchildren, Gideon, Natalie and Benjamin and he enjoyed afternoon tea, celebrating his milestone with gifts, cake and a rendition of his favourite French song, La Vie En Rose to his guests.
Joseph was officially presented with a telegram from His Majesty King Charles and Queen Camilla and also received a message from the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis CBE.
Joseph’s daughter, Daniella Winton, spoke about his celebrations, “We feel truly blessed to be sharing another milestone birthday together, it was a fantastic celebration filled with love, warmth and inspiration which is something we all need during these very difficult times.”
“My dad’s life has been a masterclass in resilience and grace. I think of all the hardships he’s faced, the history he has lived, the love he has given, and the strength he has shown, it’s truly incredible.
“People ask me what’s the secret and well, I think it could all be down to his pure zest for life and living, despite all he has lived through and long may that last.”
Lillian Okotcha, Registered Manager at Jewish Care’s Stella & Harry Freedman House care home, was involved in setting up Joseph’s party and spoke about Joseph, saying, “He is a wonderful, loving, man who is adored by our entire team and always has a warm smile. We are all so pleased that Joseph had a special day celebrating his incredible milestone.”
Joseph was born after World War I and lived through World War II. His parents Yiska and Shlomo Weissberg, a tailor, escaped Lodz, Poland in 1920 with his sister Rosette and then had his brother Jacques three years later in Brussels. In World War II, when the Nazi’s invaded Belgium, Joseph’s sister joined the Underground. Joseph and Jacques fled the country, hiding on a train for nine days and nights arriving in Toulouse, France and then hid on a transatlantic ship helped by an officer in the Polish Army, boarding without knowing their destination.
They arrived in Plymouth travelling by train to London and were taken to Chelsea Barracks to be interviewed by Scotland Yard, Joseph and Jacques were then allowed to make their way to family in the East End. Joseph joined the Royal Army Ordinance Core, making the most of his multi-lingual skills in German, French and Flemish, to work in communications. Joseph’s brother, Jacques and his brother-in-law, also Joseph, joined the French Army and also survived the War.
After the War, Joseph began a business as an agent for French Ladies Designer Fashion house called Desarbre and then ran a business selling unique Trefousse leather gloves, which were supplied to Her Majesty the Queen.
He met Ann Ahuva Armon in 1957 and they married soon after they met on 20th March 1957. They were together for 59 years, living in St Johns Wood then moving in 1960 to Fitzalan Road in Finchley where they had Philip in 1961 and Daniella in 1965.
Many years later, Ann moved to Lady Sarah Cohen House, now Stella and Harry Freedman House, where he would visit her each day, as well as attending Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Community Centre in Golders Green to make new friends, dividing his time between his wife and his grandchildren, until Ann sadly passed away in February 2016.
