Residents, Colleagues and Relatives at HC-One’s
Daneside Court care home, in Northwich, spent the afternoon of 21st January celebrating a very special 100th Birthday!
Celebrations were in full swing for William “Bill” Jackson, who lives at 64-bed residential and nursing care home, with party banners, a delicious chocolate cake (with a personalised cake topper), as well as a card from King Charles himself!
Bill was born on 21st January 1923 in Kirby Lonsdale, Westmoreland, to parents Agnes and Mark. During his working life, Bill was a very good mechanic and spent many hours working with on old cars. He also had many hobbies and was an avid grower of fruit and vegetables.
His wife of almost 74 years, Elsie (pictured with Bill) recalls the day she met him, when he was walking down a country lane leading one of his shire horses to the blacksmith and singing at the top of his voice. She remembers not being too impressed at his first sighting but obviously Bill scrubbed up very well because later, they found themselves both working at Gowrey Farm, close to Kirkby Lonsdale, where their love blossomed, and they were married on 9th February 1949.
Farm life led Bill and Elise to move to Preston, then afterwards Cheshire, where Bill spent the last few years of his working life farming in Allostock with his brother Richard. Eventually retiring to Moulton, where he enjoyed his retirement years with Elsie, his three children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Bill sparkled with joy upon seeing his family, who were eagerly waiting for him to celebrate his 100th birthday at Daneside Court. He was overjoyed and happy to toast a drink in honour of his 100th Birthday.
When asked about what his secret is to a long life, Bill remarked:
“Being a Farmer all of my life, outdoor life and very hard work, and pretty much (being) teetotal.”
Gill Powell, Bill and Elise’s daughter, remarked:
“Thank you so much again for what you did today. We left Dad very tired but very happy.”
Sharon Lelonek, Wellbeing Coordinator at Daneside Court, said;
“Seeing the family come together to help celebrate Bill`s Birthday was a joyous time. Bill was so pleased to be with his family, his beaming smile was wonderful to see. What a wonderful age to achieve and for Bill to have his family around him to help celebrate his day, thus creating special memories.”