South Somerset Homes tenant retires after 21 years voluntary work for Meals on Wheels Service
18 May 2004

(From left to right) Eva Kibble (resident at Ile Court Sheltered Housing Scheme, Ilminster) with her daughter, Judith Potter and some of her birthday cards.

Two South Somerset Homes sheltered housing tenants have recently celebrated their 100 th birthdays.

Eva Kibble, who is a tenant of Ile Court sheltered housing scheme in Ilminster and Jessie Ross, who is a tenant at Oak Tree House sheltered housing scheme in Stoke Sub Hamdon celebrated their birthdays with friends and family in style with a party to commemorate their special day.

Eva maintains her longevity is due to having a healthy diet. “I have put my long life down to good parenting and good home grown food!”

(From back left to right) Fiona St Clair (grand daughter), Jennifer Duffield (grand daughter) and Gordon Brown (grandson). (From front left to right) Jessie Ross (resident at Oak Tree House Sheltered Housing Scheme, Stoke-Sub-Hamdon) with James St Clair aged 12 (great grandson) and Matthew St Clair aged 10 (grandson).

Esnat Fillary, Scheme Manager at Ile Court said, "Eva is a very pleasant and remarkable lady, who even at 100 years old lives an independent and happy life at the scheme. For her age she is extremely active and has lived here for 28 years.”

Scheme Manager at Oak Tree House in Stoke Sub Hamdon Sarah Brook, together with friends and family organised a party to celebrate Jessie's birthday. Jessie's grandson, Gordon flew over especially from Canada having not seen his grandmother for over 10 years.

Jessie insists that her longevity is due to having lived in Scotland for much of her life. “It is the Scottish air and keeping active that has helped keep me young in my years.”

Jessie Ross (resident at Oak Tree House Sheltered Housing Scheme, Stoke-Sub-Hamdon) with her birthday cake.