At Ashwood Care and Nursing Home, staff, residents, friends and family helped Barbara Hays celebrate the significant milestone, of turning 100 on Monday 19th February. With the help of the local press and appeals to the care Homes in the Country Court Group she was inundated with 170 birthday cards, wishing her well and making the day extra special. The cards included a special card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla along with a letter from Sir John Hayes MP.
Katie, one of the well-being team members, managed to make Barbara’s wish come true for her birthday, by getting in touch with Irish singer and television presenter Daniel O’Donnell who kindly sent her a personal video message. Barbara has been a lifetime fan and was thrilled to receive the message on her birthday with Daniel saying ‘What a privilege it is for me to send this to you’ and ‘I wish you good health and lots and lots of love’
Barbara was born in West Pinchbeck on 19th February 1924 to Albert and Annie Hall and was the eldest of five children, three brothers and a sister, outliving all her siblings. She met her husband Cyril whilst out on her milk round as she delivered the milk to his parents. They married on 2nd of June 1949 and had one daughter, Lesley who had an extremely happy childhood with incredibly supportive parents. When Lesley met her husband, Phil, he was the son they never had. Lesley and Phil had two boys, Jamie and Mark. Barbara had a close relationship with her grandsons, looking after them when Lesley went back to work when they were young. They would play cricket and rounders together, and she even taught them how to bake. Barbara enjoyed plenty of hobbies including knitting, crocheting, gardening and baking.
Before Barbara became a resident at Ashwood Mark would still go around for a meal every Monday evening and before Jamie moved away, he would go around once or twice a week to visit too, they enjoyed having a close relationship and spending time together.
Sadly, Cyril, her husband passed away in February 1997, retiring early due to ill health so they were unable to make the most of their retirement, but Barbara would always look on the positive side and appreciated the fact that she still had 15 years with him, after his first heart attack.
Barbara is now a great, great grandmother and was surrounded by family and friends as they celebrated the amazing milestone with a delicious cake and entertainment provided by Marcello, a fabulous singer.
Lesley said ‘Mum is the longest resident at Ashwood, she went there on 8th March 2012 and has been very happy and well looked after for which I am very grateful for and I would like to thank everyone at Ashwood for what they have done for her’
Katie said ‘ It was certainly a day filled with love and happiness, creating precious memories for Barbara and her family and seeing how happy she was to receive the personalised message from Daniel O’Donnell and the card from King Charles III, it makes it all worthwhile.’
For more information about Ashwood Care & Nursing Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact Renju Varghese, Home Manager on 01775 723 223 or email ashwood@countrycourtcare.com
