Last week, a Christchurch resident celebrated her 100th birthday at Care South’s Queensmead care home, with family who had flown in specially from America for the occasion.
Muriel Rae celebrated the day in style, having gone shopping beforehand for a special outfit and treating herself to a manicure and hairdressing session on the day to ensure she was looking her best.
Muriel was greeted by her son, David, her daughter-in-law and one of her three granddaughters, who currently live in America. They took her out for a birthday meal at The Fisherman’s Haunt, a local hotel, where she was joined by 30 friends and family members.
Born in 1913 in Mountain Ash, Wales, Muriel moved to London to work in service at the age of 14. She moved to Bournemouth a few years later to work as a waitress in a local hotel with her aunt, and went on to run a boarding house on Holdenhurst Road. She worked there until she retired, when she moved to Highcliffe to make the most of the sunshine!
At Queensmead, Muriel enjoys sitting in the sun, chatting with her friends and popping into town to do some shopping – and to treat herself to her favourite sweet milky coffee and chocolate pastry.
Janine May, Home Manager at Queensmead, said: “It was lovely to be able to spend Muriel’s landmark birthday with her – it was a really special day. She’s a much-loved resident at Queensmead and she’s made lots of friends. We were delighted, as she was, that David and his family could make it from America and celebrate the big day with her!”
