Two centenarians this month at care home
TWO residents of Saumarez Park Manor have celebrated two 100th birthdays this month, with one turning 100 today.
Frances O’Sullivan and Mary Bichard, who have each been living at the care home for several years, celebrated in style with flowers, cake and a message from the Queen.
Mrs O’Sullivan’s birthday is today and she said although the coronavirus had scuppered her birthday plans, including the arrival of friends and family from across the world, she would not let it stop her enjoying her day.
‘It’s very disappointing not to have the party we were meant to,’ she said.
‘There was family meant to be coming from Preston, Hampshire and America, and unfortunately they can’t come now.
‘But I’ll have plenty of calls from everyone.
‘I have three children, Anne, Patrick and Shaun, and with Anne my only child still living in Guernsey, the two boys ring me at least once a week anyway.’
Born in Paris, Mrs O’Sullivan came to live in Guernsey permanently with her husband after the Second World War.
He had been working in a number of jobs, including the Navy in England, Scotland and Australia, and she had been in Exeter working for a Channel Islands bank.
‘I met my husband at badminton,’ she added.
‘He was a very keen fisherman and we used to eat trout that he caught at the reservoir.’
Mrs O’Sullivan, who was a badminton champion, winning in the doubles with her partner at the age of 17 in 1937, has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
‘I like walking and keeping fit,’ she said of her secret to keeping healthy.
‘Plus I like drives around the island, quizzes, watching the planes during air shows and reading.
‘We get books from the Guille-Alles Library at the moment and I like reading about history, about kings and queens.
‘We had a big library when I was a child, so they keep me active.’
The care home’s longest residing resident, Mrs Bichard, who has been there for 23 years, commemorated her 100th birthday on 8 March with a low-key celebration.
