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Birthday Greetings Bring Joy To Salisbury Resident Ruth, 103

One of the south’s oldest people has celebrated her 103rd birthday with a party in Salisbury.

Ruth Dicksee, who served in World War Two as a Sergeant in the Women’s Royal Air Force, was naturally the centre of attention as family and friends joined staff at Braemar Lodge care home to help her mark the big day.

It began with presents, cards and a giant balloon bearing the number 103 in gold letters being brought to her room.

“It’s big, isn’t it!” was former secretary Ruth’s comment as the balloon floated in the air above her and she welcomed her party guests.

The centenarian is currently the oldest resident at the Colten Care home in Stratford Road.

Companionship Team Leader Graham Ballard said:
“Ruth absolutely loved the balloon and her eyes were wide with excitement as a beautiful cake was brought in with family and staff singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. The fun was completed with a nice glass of chilled champagne.”

When Ruth was born in Hampstead, London, in early January 1922, Britain was still recovering from the havoc of the First World War and the aftermath of the Spanish flu global pandemic.

Women had only been able to vote for four years, cinemas showed silent films and horsedrawn carts were still a common sight on the road.

It was well before the dawn of black and white television and the most popular children’s games tended to be spinning tops, marbles and tiddlywinks.

Ruth was four years old at the time of the General Strike in 1926 and a teenager when World War Two broke out in 1939.

During the war, she spent four years in the Women’s Royal Air Force. She rose to the rank of Sergeant and served in the operations room at North Weald Airfield in Essex, one of the main fighter bases used for the Battle of Britain.

She has told carers at Braemar Lodge of her personal memories of seeing the funeral procession of King George VI in London in February 1952 and the Coronation parade for Queen Elizabeth II the following year.

Graham added: “When asked for her secret of a long life, Ruth pointed to her daily glass of sherry on the table. Perhaps that’s a clue!”