HC-One’s Dingle Meadow Care Home in Oldbury, West Midlands, has been celebrating some of the inspirational women who live in its home and their achievements this International Women’s Day on Friday 8th March 2024.
This year’s theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’ which celebrates women's achievements, raises awareness about discrimination and aims to take action to drive gender parity.
Resident Christina Shakespear (Ena), aged 83 years old, who moved into Dingle Meadow Care Home in August 2022 and was born on the 24th April 1940 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, sadly lost her father when she was very young in the war but had a good childhood and was very close to her mother. Following leaving school, Christina joined the Navy to be a Wren and was very proud of this achievement. During her time in the Navy, Christina met her husband, John Shakespear (who also moved into Dingle Meadow in August 2022) who she married on the 6th January 1961, at the Navy training centre although they never worked together.
After spending four years in the Navy, Christina left the Navy and Scotland with her husband and moved to Portsmouth where her husband was based. Chrsitina got a job working in a general store and focused on raising her family which consisted of three children, Alan, David and Dougles.
Christina Shakespear, resident at Dingle Meadow Care Home said:
“I am really proud of what I have achieved in my life including my career in the Navy and raising my family. My advice for women of today is that there is no limit as to what we as women can achieve.”