Retired Chippenham landlady Jeannie Dugdale was delighted to celebrate her 100th birthday surrounded by loved ones at HC-One’s Avon Court care home in Rowden Hill.
Jeannie, who was born in Glasgow on 1st October 1919, started her career as a clothes buyer before joining the army as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) at the beginning of World War 2.
During her time in the army, Jeannie worked as a physical training instructor and later a HGV driver, where she spent her time moving battle tanks across the country in preparation for the allied invasion of Europe.
After the end of the hostilities, Jeannie was demobbed and married her husband Edgar (Dug) Dugdale, a Metropolitan Police Officer, in 1946. The couple went on to have three sons, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Once Dug retired from the police force, he and Jeannie set off on a new venture as landlord and landlady of The Dumb Post Inn in Calne, before also taking over the Royal Oak on London Load in Chippenham.
Jeannie now lives at Avon Court care home, which she moved into in 2011. A much-loved member of the HC-One family, Jeannie was delighted to be thrown a fantastic 100th birthday party by staff at the home.
Family and friends joined Jeannie for the special occasion as she opened her treasured gifts, cards and even a 100th birthday telegram from Queen Elizabeth.
Jeannie said: “It was such a lovely surprise to see all my family together at the same time.”
Steven Bryce-Murray, Home Manager at Avon Court, said: “At HC-One, we are committed to celebrating our Residents’ special occasions in the best and most memorable way possible.
“Jeannie is an amazing lady and such an inspiration to the whole team at Avon Court, as well as her fellow Residents. It was amazing to see her smiling from ear to ear as she celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends.”
Located on St Francis Avenue, Avon Court offers short and long term care packages to members of the community requiring residential, nursing and nursing dementia care.