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Oldest Resident In Chester Celebrates Birthday In Lockdown

The team at Grosvenor Manor care centre on Hatchmere Drive was determined not to let lockdown stand in the way of a superb celebration for the 107th birthday of possibly the oldest resident in Chester, Meg Thomas.

Many generations of family joined in with the celebrations virtually, sending special messages of love and best wishes on digital and social channels, making telephone calls and using video link-ups to chat to Meg, sing happy birthday and watch her blow out the candles on her magnificent cake.

Inundated with cards and gifts, Meg was also treated to a special socially distanced birthday party complete with an afternoon tea party, balloons and cake from other residents and the team at Grosvenor Manor to ensure that the three digit milestone was marked in style.

Born at Green Farm, opposite Gresford Parish Church, Meg attended Gresford Village School and then Grove Park where she was a very happy and enthusiastic student who loved school and participated fully in a host of in-school and extra-curricular activites including tennis, badminton and Girl Guides.

It was Meg’s dream to be a nanny, but a conversation with the family doctor ignited a passion within her for nursing and she left for Liverpool Royal Hospital to start her training; initially against her father’s wishes, but he soon saw how determined she was and drove her  to Liverpool to drop her off (the long way around, as the Mersey Tunnel did not exist in those days).

During her time as a well known nurse, Meg met the love of her life, a Yorkshire man called Charles Thomas, and they got married and moved to Halifax where they lived happily until three years ago when Charles passed away.  Meg made the decision to move back to her beloved Chester in 2018 at the grand age of 104 to take up residence at Grosvenor Manor.

With no children of her own, Meg was happy to move back to Chester and spend more time with her wider loving family that support her and love her dearly.  These days, she continues with her love of nature and animals with her robotic cat that purrs at her touch and by enjoying Grosvenor Manor’s beautifully planted garden and outside space.

Wellbeing coordinator at Grosvenor Manor, Lisa Forth, said: “We’ve celebrated Meg’s 105th and 106th birthdays and were not going to let lockdown stop us celebrating her 107th birthday!  Meg had a busy day full of surprise calls and messages from all of her family and friends and we all came together to sing happy birthday and enjoy some cake.  107 is a remarkable milestone; we’ve been doing our research and are pretty sure she is the oldest resident in Chester!”

Meg said: “I’ve had a great day, and thanks to all of this wonderful new technology, I have spoken to all of my family and loved ones.  It really felt that everyone was here with me and I can’t thank Lisa and the team enough for setting it all up for me.”

 

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