One Of Croydon’s Oldest Residents Turns 107
A resident at a care home in Croydon has reached the age of 107.
Annie Reader, who lives at Wilhelmina House care home in Park Hill, was joined by her family, friends and staff to celebrate the amazing milestone birthday complete with a large cake and balloons on Friday 23rd July.
Annie does not know how she has managed to reach 107 but says a glass of sherry a day has helped.
Despite Annie’s remarkable age, she still likes to be active joining in with exercise sessions and being wheeled around the home’s beautiful, landscaped grounds.
Annie’s life has seen her go on many adventures to far flung countries visiting her son in all the places where he was a Diplomat such as Nepal, Swaziland, Egypt, and Cambodia to name a few.
She has survived two world wars and two pandemics – the Spanish flu and Covid-19.
A dare devil at heart, Annie braved a microlight ride at the age of 89.
Annie grew up in Barrow-in-Furness before marrying Stan, a merchant seaman, who swept her off her feet whilst ballroom dancing.
The couple survived both wars with Stan being captured when his ship sunk in World War II and he remained a prisoner of war in Japan for three years.
Annie recalls the family home being bombed and seeing her father being covered from head to toe in soot.
Annie’s son David regularly visits her at Wilhelmina House.
Deborah Pearson, Home Manager, Wilhelmina House, said: “We are incredibly honoured to have been part of Annie’s milestone birthday celebrations. My team ensured that Annie was given a day to remember and the whole home sang ‘happy birthday’ to her. It was lovely to see her with a big smile on her face.”
Dawn Rule, Wellbeing and Leisure Co-ordinator at Wilhelmina House, said: “Annie is amazing for her age. She is a much loved resident at the home and we have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating her grand age of 107 with her family.”
