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Ex-Nurse Diana Celebrates 102nd Birthday With ‘Stay Active’ Message

A former nurse has celebrated her 102nd birthday among family, friends and staff at a New Forest care home.

Diana Creasey moved to Colten Care’s Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst in 2023 aged 100, with team members describing her as an ‘inspiration’ ever since.

Sitting among the many greeting cards, flowers and gifts she received on her latest birthday at the home, the centenarian shared her secret for a long, happy life.

Diana said: “Stay active, keep going, follow a good diet and make sure to have lots and lots of fresh air. And a glass of sherry helps!”

The advice follows a lifelong career in nursing and healthcare, both in paid roles and, after retirement, as a care volunteer for several years at Lymington’s Oakhaven hospice.

After the freedom of a ‘happy and carefree’ childhood growing up in North Devon in the 1920s and 30s, Diana trained as a nurse and found herself working in plastic surgery nursing during the Second World War.

Serving at London hospitals, she cared for many army personnel coming back from the horrors of the frontline.

One memory from the time of the Blitz was nursing in an underground basement hospital with pregnant women on one side of the ward and casualties on the other. “It was a very stressful time,” Diana recalled.

“She recounts her wartime memories very well,” explained Woodpeckers Companionship team member Sian Harris. “She is obviously very proud of the work she and the teams around her did.”

Sian said Diana remains a very active lady, taking daily walks around the Woodpeckers garden with the help of team members.

“She was an inspiration when she moved to Woodpeckers aged 100,” said Sian. “And she is still inspiring the staff and residents now aged 102.”

“The very fact she is this remarkable age and still as active as she is makes her truly very special.”