Local Care Home Resident Ruby Celebrates 101st birthday

An Oxfordshire care home resident has just celebrated her 101st birthday with friends and family.

Ruby Riches, who is a resident at Rosebank care home in Bampton, near Oxford, spent her day with fellow residents and the staff and enjoyed drinking prosecco and eating cake.

Lifestyle Support Worker at Rosebank, Ellie Haynes has been working at the dementia care home since 2018, and celebrated with Ruby.

She said: “It brings so much joy to all of our residents when we celebrate a big birthday!

“Everyone comes together like a big family to enjoy the celebrations which for Ruby included singing, dancing and opening presents!”

Originally from Clanfield, Ruby enjoyed a long career as a headmistress there, and continued to volunteer supporting the children’s reading long into her retirement.

Originally Ruby was supposed to go out for afternoon tea to celebrate but said: “I’d rather stay here and celebrate with the rest of the residents here.

“Next year I plan to make it to 102, and throw a big party for all my dearest friends from Clanfield!”

Ruby moved into Rosebank Care Home on 15 May 2017, where she keeps herself busy. She enjoys keeping up to date with the news, brass rubbing and spending time with her cat, Sam.

Ellie said: “Ruby is such an inspiration to everyone! To have just turned 101 and still be so independent and taking on challenges at her age is incredible. It just proves you can achieve anything no matter what age you are.”

To commemorate her birthday Ruby shared some wisdom for her younger self and the young people of today, saying: “The best advice I can give is to always listen to your elders.”