Limegrove care home throws party to celebrate 100-year-old residents

Catherine Weston and Mary Bone, who live in Limegrove care home in Leatherhead, have both celebrated landmark birthdays, turning 100 years old within three days of each other. 

To kickstart the festivities, the pair of centenarians celebrated the momentous occasion at Limegrove care home, where the colleagues and residents planned a delicious tea party. 

Cath has been a resident at Limegrove since September 2021. She was born in Portsmouth and met her husband Tom at the local rifle club, marrying in 1948. They both become schoolteachers and spent many happy days touring the UK in their motorcaravan until Tom passed away, when Cath decided she wanted to live closer to her family. 

Mary moved to Limegrove in September 2022 to be closer to her daughter Christine. She was born in London and met her husband Ernie at a dance, before moving to a farm in Sussex together after the war, and later to Chelmsford with their two children. Their main interest became their caravan, which they took to rallies most weekends. Mary’s only grandchild was born on her 60th birthday and she is now a proud Great Grandma.

Cath and Mary have formed special relationships with colleagues and other residents, who were all excited to come together to celebrate the two special ladies. 

In the run-up to the party, residents and colleagues alike were looking forward to the celebration, which involved a wide selection of treats and teas, and of course, culminated in a rendition of Happy Birthday. 

Celia Milton, Receptionist at Limegrove care home, said:

I have really enjoyed organising the party for both Catherine and Mary, I couldn’t let such a special day go by without a celebration!

We always love a birthday celebration at Limegrove, but to have two 100th birthdays in one week was momentous and we knew we had to pull out all the stops to mark such a special occasion. 

Outside of Limegrove’s tea party celebrations, both Cath and Mary were able to celebrate with their family and friends, who got to share their love and appreciation for the centenarians. 

Mary Bone, centenarian and resident at Limegrove care home, said: 

I am excited to be turning 100 but it is tiring! My secret to getting to 100 is eating lots of fresh vegetables! My father and my late husband Ernest both had allotments and grew their own veg, so there was always plenty of fresh veg available to me.

Catherine Weston, centenarian and resident at Limegrove care home, said: 

For me, the secret to turning 100 is having a loving and caring family around you to carry you through the good and the bad. 

For further information on Limegrove care home, click here.