Health & Lifestyle, Poole | Posted on August 1st, 2025 | return to news

Poole care home organising 100 cards for resident’s 100th birthday

A former Wren will turn 100 years old on Saturday 30 August and her care home is encouraging Poole residents to send her a birthday card.

A Poole care home is encouraging the community to send birthday cards to a resident celebrating her 100th birthday.

Kathleen, who lives at Elizabeth House, on Dolbery Road, will mark this milestone birthday with a party with friends and some special guests at the care home on Saturday 30 August.

Kathleen joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens) at the age of 18 in June 1944, the same month as D-Day, which saw the largest seaborne invasion in history and the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe. She was given the role of a bomb range marker, which involved monitoring targets and charting parachutes released from a plane.

Kathleen left the Wrens in July 1946 after meeting her late husband, Peter, who flew in a Blenheim Bomber during the Second World War. They later moved to Upton in Poole where they welcomed their son Tim.

In June, Kathleen enjoyed a surprise reunion with friends from the Bournemouth Wrens Association to mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day. Being joined by Val, Polly, Pat, Jackie and Tricia “filled my heart with so much joy and love,” Kathleen said at the time.

Elizabeth House is hoping the community will help with their idea to surprise Kathleen with 100 birthday cards in the lead-up to her celebrations.

Claudia Carvell, home manager at Elizabeth House, said: “Kathleen completed her military service for her country, so we feel that it’s only right that we give something back to her on her 100th birthday. We would love the community to reach out and show Kathleen what an incredible lady she is. She has a brilliant sense of humour so we are hoping that some people might also include a silly joke in their cards.”

To send a birthday card to Kathleen, use this address: Kathleen, Elizabeth House, Dolbery Road South, Poole, BH12 4PX.

Elizabeth House is part of the Care South family of care homes and provides residential, respite, and dementia care. It features a dedicated activities team who organise a daily programme of events to bring residents together to socialise and build friendships.