St John’s celebrates a very special birthday

Every birthday is special, but March 3rd was an extra special 105th for St John’s Care Home resident Mary Crawford. Family members, including her 81-year-old niece and great-nephews, came to visit Mary, bringing her favourite flowers and a cake for what was a memorable day.

St John’s care home staff mark every resident’s birthday, and for Mary’s special event, they decorated her room with party balloons and flowers, and organised a traditional birthday cake. St John’s Wellness Coordinator Denise said: “We do make a big thing about birthdays! All the staff on duty sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and in the afternoon, all the residents were invited to enjoy tea with Mary in the sitting-room, where they enjoyed a live musical performance.”

Mary was delighted to receive a birthday card from HM the Queen – her second from Buckingham Palace, following her centenary card in 2017.

Mary said that she had been ‘lucky in her life’. During the Second World War, she joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (the Wrens), with a first posting under Lord Louis Mountbatten. Promotion took her to Orkney, where she organised supplies of equipment to warships based at Scapa Flow.

After the war, Mary worked in London for the Egypt Exploration Society, and enjoyed a busy social life.

Many thanks to Mansfield Care Homes staff for the lovely photos.