Elizabeth House care home in Benfleet, Essex, celebrated Violet Shipp’s 108th birthday on Friday the 3rd of March, making her the oldest resident in Essex.
A community celebration was held at Elizabeth House for Violet’s momentous milestone birthday, with King John School and Seevic College delivering cards to Violet, and a visit from Sandcastles, the local nursey in Hadleigh, Essex.
Entertainers performed a variety of cockney-style songs and Violet also received a visit from a miniature horse; a connection to many memories from one of her favourite horse racing programmes.
Born on the 3rd of March 1915 in Blackfriars, London, Violet was one of five children, before moving to the Peabody buildings in Herne Hill.
Violet worked for the civil service for many years at Elephant and Castle in Lambeth, as well as working for Phillips during the war to help make valves for planes.
Violet and her husband moved to Essex in 1978, spending their retirement in the suburbs of Benfleet.
At 100 years of age, Violet attended her local Benfleet clubs in the afternoons, enjoying a very active social life.
Violet shared one of her fondest memories. She said: “One of my great memories was family meals with my parents, 2 brothers and sister, where we all used to enjoy rabbit pie and cabbage at the dinner table.”
The celebrations took place on Friday the 3rd of March at 2pm, with a generous hamper donation provided by Morrisons, and lashings of Violet’s favourite beverage, Cinzano and lemonade.
Home Manager for Elizabeth House, Ade Makinde, said: “We are so happy to have celebrated such a momentous occasion at Elizabeth House care home and this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Violet. The team have worked incredibly hard to organise entertainers, food and decorations, as well as cards from the local schools, colleges, and nurseries. I cannot thank them enough for all their work and for giving Violet such a memorable experience at Elizabeth House.”
For more information on Elizabeth House, visit: https://www.runwoodhomes.co.uk/care-homes/care-homes-essex/elizabeth-house-care-home-hadleigh-essex
