A special guest joins Windsor care home resident for her 100th birthday

Cecilia Gabriah, who lives at Care UK’s Queen’s Court, on Dedworth Road, celebrated a huge milestone surrounded by her closest friends and family. There was a surprise appearance from Councillor Mandy Kaur Brar, the Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead and live entertainment from Gabby & Gerry.

The team made the day even more special by decorating with balloons and banners, and having the Head Chef prepare a cake.

When asked what the secret to living a long and happy life, Cecilia said: “Work hard and be happy.”

Cecilia was born on July 16, 1925 in Donegal, Ireland, where she worked in a shirt factory and later in a cinema. In 1952, she moved to the UK, where she worked on the Slough trading estate for Johnson & Johnson before working as a dinner lady at Vichures School during the 1970s.

Cecilia has three sons, Julian, Jimmy, and Johnny, and seven grandchildren who visit her regularly at the home.

In her spare time, Cecilia loved to read, listen to Terry Wogan’s segments on BBC Radio 2, and watch her favourite TV series, Steptoe and Son.

Bozena Szczepaniak, Home Manager at Queen’s Court, said: “It was wonderful to watch Cecilia celebrate her newly cemented centenarian status surrounded by her friends and family. It was lovely to watch everyone in such high spirits as they enjoyed cake and a glass of bubbly.

“We love to celebrate incredible milestones, and Cecilia’s birthday was no exception. It was great to hear her take a trip down memory lane.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Councillor Mandy Kaur Brar and Hayley & Gerry for joining us and making the day extra special.”

Queen’s Court has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, and it has its very own cinema, hair and beauty salon and café.