By Isle of Wight Observer
Ventnor resident, Yvonne Baxendale, turned 104 on Sunday, marking the milestone with a singalong, dancing and a glass of sherry.
Staff at Byrnhill Grove Care Home, in Park Avenue, hosted a party complete with live music, cake and plenty of dancing. Yvonne and fellow residents joined in her favourite songs, My Old Man Said Follow the Van and Knees Up Mother Brown, performed by Alan from Independent Arts.
Enjoying Jelly Babies and sherry, Yvonne joked: “I don’t feel 104, what did you tell me that for? Are you going to give me 104 bumps?” She added: “I’ve had an incredibly fortunate life, despite hard times.”
Her celebrations continued with a limousine ride to Freshwater and back, courtesy of Henry Ingram & Sons.
Care home staff described Yvonne as “fantastic.” Despite living with dementia, she remains lively. Care worker Marieanne Crossley said: “She’s a firecracker! She loves relaxing in the bath and can always be found with a cup of tea.”
Born in London, Yvonne grew up in foster care before being adopted at 11. She left school at 14, working in a canteen and later a call centre. She met her husband Ray at a dance; they had a son, Phillip, who sadly died young. After holidays on the Island, the couple settled in Wroxall, where Yvonne lived until moving to Southern Housing’s Byrnhill Grove eight years ago.
