The care team at Orford House, our Coulsdon-based residential care home, has been helping resident, Patricia North, celebrate her milestone, 90th birthday with a delicious afternoon tea party which the Birthday Girl enjoyed with her family and care home friends.
Patricia and her family decided to make Orford House her home in January this year. “My family and I decided that the care home was the best place for me to live as we all loved it as soon as we saw it and stepped inside,” said Patricia. “I haven’t looked back since; it’s a wonderful place to live.”
Patricia was born in London’s Battersea area and grew up in Sutton. Attending The Glastonbury School near Rosehill in Sutton, which the famous DJ, ‘Diddy’ David Hamilton also attended, Patricia loved her school years. “I loved school and all the classes but especially anything to with sport,” continued Patricia. “I was rather good – even if I do say so myself – at Netball as I played for the school team.”
After leaving school, Patricia became a Shorthand Typist and Secretary, a job she really enjoyed. “I thoroughly loved by job,” continued Patricia. “I worked for a great company, and no two days were the same, it was always interesting and fun.”
In the 1950s, Patricia married her Husband John, who was a Postman at All Saints Church in Carshalton. “It was, and still is, a beautiful church,” said Patricia. “It’s steeped in history as there has a been a church on the site since Saxon Times.”
Following the wedding, the newlyweds went away to celebrate. “We went on honeymoon to Bournemouth,” added Patricia. “John and I both loved to travel and it was lovely to get away to the seaside. We did a lot of walking along the seven miles of sandy beaches, and it’s a place full of so many interesting places and has such a diverse and surprising history.
Having two sons, Patricia became quite an avid fan of football. “Living in a home with three chaps, it was a case of having to get involved and join in,” said Patricia. “In the end, I grew very fond of ‘The Beautiful Game’ and I’m still a supporter of Carshalton Athletic Football Club, whose nickname is The Robins, due to their traditional bright red shirts.
“Patricia is a lovely, chatty lady who is an absolute delight to have living with us here at Orford House,” said Michelle Kennett, the Registered Manager at the care home. “She’s always happy to have a natter and has a kind word to say about everyone.”
“Patricia loves taking part in many of our meaningful activities as well,” added Mary Bradley, the care home’s Activities Coordinator. “You’ll definitely always see Patricia at anything musical – albeit a dancing class, chair-based exercise, taking part in one of our regular sing-alongs or joining in with a performance by one of our many visiting entertainers. She’s also very good at knitting, loves joining in with our quizzes and adores the visits from the Pets as Therapy dogs – and Patricia never misses her weekly hairdressing appointment as she always says that her appearance is very important as a person’s appearance gives the first impression, and you can never make a second first impression.”
“I still like to keep active and as fit as possible,” continued Patricia. “With all the delicious meals at Orford House – especially the roast dinners, it’s good to keep moving. Keeping energised and positive is very important and, as I always say, the secret to a long and happy life is always looking on the ‘Bright Side of Life’, which I do every day.”
“Everyone at Orford House wanted to make sure Patricia had a marvellous 90th Birthday,” continued Mary. “We arranged a surprise Birthday Party as a 90th birthday is definitely something to be celebrated in style. Patricia was joined by her family and care home friends and had a wonderful time at the party, enjoying all the company, gifts, cards and especially the delicious birthday cake.”
“I had an absolutely lovely 90th Birthday, it was a fantastic day. I’m really so very lucky to live at Orford House, it’s wonderful. I have made a lovely group of friends here and all the care team take such good care of us all, it really does make looking at and living on ‘The Bright Side of Life’ so easy every day,” concluded Patricia.
Find out more about Orford House care home by calling 020 8660 2875 or emailing [email protected].