Abbeyfield Resident Bunty Celebrates Milestone Birthday
May “Bunty” Pitman, a resident at Speedwell Court residential care home in Southampton, recently celebrated her 104th birthday.
In her long life, Bunty has been blessed with two daughters, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and enjoyed a happy marriage to John “Jack” Pitman.
Born May Foster in Hampton, Middlesex, she quickly acquired the name Bunty by her sisters, after the nursery rhyme “Bye Baby Bunting”. The family home was in Woodford Green, Essex. When Bunty left school she attended a secretarial course before working in her father’s architects office. She became engaged to John, a dentist, in 1938 at the age of 20, and they were married in July 1940.
Having already had a big party for her 100th birthday with all her family, Bunty celebrated her 104th birthday in typical low-key style at Speedwell Court, a care home managed by The Abbeyfield Society. The home is the third Abbeyfield property in which she has lived, having previously been a resident at Roundhay and Castle Gate sheltered housing schemes in Guilford, where she was supported to live a full life for many years before moving to Speedwell Court in 2019.
Bunty enjoys many of the activities at Speedwell Court, especially those involving exercise, and is a regular user of the home’s Motitech bike, which enables her to visit familiar places without leaving the lounge.
When asked about the secret to her long life, Bunty said, “Remaining independent, keeping active and excercising to the best of your ability ever day if possible.”
