A NURSING home in Highcliffe helped celebrate the 101st birthday of one of their residents by making a unique cake for a special occasion.

Kathleen Hannam celebrated her 101st birthday at Highcliffe Nursing Home on Friday January 15 with a cake lovingly made by kitchen assistant Scott Smith and decorated by wellbeing coordinator Maddie Banica.

Staff at the Kingsley Healthcare run home in Stuart Road also sang Happy Birthday as she opened her cards and presents.

Lifestyle coach Maddie Banica said: “Kathleen was the fittest lady when she came to the home at the age of 99.

“She very soon celebrated her 100th Birthday, with a party and all her wonderful friends came to the home.

“She is always involved with activities and enjoys them with a big smile. I am very impressed with Kathleen's life and all the travelling that she did with husband Ken, Italy, France, Austria to name but a few.”

Born in Plaistow, East London, in 1920, Kathleen was the only child of a dock worker and a teacher. The family moved to Romford when she was 10 and it was there that she met Ken, her husband to be, whose family lived in the house at the bottom of the garden.

At the age of 16 she started working at Friends Provident in London. She and Ken married in 1946 and moved to Romford, where they lived until 1980.

During that time Kathleen worked for London Borough of Havering in their electoral registration department.

Kathleen and Ken spent many happy holidays together in Austria and Italy, and also enjoyed a flight on Concorde with her husband some 21 years ago.

Miss Banica added: “I was blown away when I realised that she had travelled on Concorde for her 80th Birthday with her husband Ken.

“She has friends all over in plentiful numbers who still keep in touch with Kathleen via post and also via Zoom or when they are able to visit the home. Gifts and flowers often arrive for Kathleen from her friends, as they are thinking of her with warmth and love.

“Kathleen is very well thought of in the home by all the staff and she is an amazing lady for her 101 years. Unfortunately, dementia has taken over, but Kath is still the sweetest, lovely lady and always smiling.”

After Ken’s death she decided she would like to revisit some of their favourite places. She had another four holidays in Austria, the last one at the age of 96.

When asked to share the secret of such a long life, Kathleen would undoubtedly say daily helpings of ice cream and generous quantities of chocolate.