Centenarian Bill Celebrates His Landmark Birthday
At The Lawn, the Alton-based residential care home run by charity Friends of the Elderly, resident Frederick Bowpitt (known as Bill) marked his milestone 100th birthday. Celebrating his Centenarian Day, Bill enjoyed a packed day of celebrations that started with him receiving his commemorative telegram from the charity’s Royal Patron, HRH The Queen and a COVID-safe visit from his son, Graham.
The Lawn Care Home Team made sure Bill’s birthday was one to remember with cards, gifts and a special lunch of his favourite meal – roast lamb – that Bill specifically requested. This was followed by a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, topped off with a delicious birthday cake, handmade by the care home’s talented chef.
Bill’s son, Graham, visited his Dad on his special day in the visiting room at The Lawn. The room is COVID-safe and has a Perspex, floor to ceiling wall separating the residents from visitors. It is equipped with an intercom system so everyone was able to hear each other clearly and enjoy chatting and catching up.
Talking about his special 100th Birthday celebrations, Bill continued: “I had a great day, even with the COVID visiting restrictions. Alina, the team and all my friends at the care home made sure I had a day to remember.”
Bill, who has been a resident at The Lawn for five years and is a much-loved member of the Friends of the Elderly family, added: “Many things have changed in my lifetime. When I was born, the world was just coming out of the Spanish Flu Pandemic. I would never have thought we’d be coming out of another one a hundred years on.
“I’m so truly grateful that everyone at The Lawn gave me a wonderful day. They are all so kind, nothing is too much trouble. They always make the residents feel well looked after, safe and happy. They are a great bunch.
Alina Guta, the Manager at The Lawn added: “All the Care Home Team wanted Bill to have a fabulous 100th birthday. He’s very funny and has a wicked, dry sense of humour, he’s great company and fun to be around. He’s also one of our most academic residents, he’s a computer wizard and has his own set-up in his room. He keeps himself very busy with education and research. If you need an answer to a question, Bill is the person to go to.”
