“Delightful” Hilda celebrates her 100th birthday

A former shorthand typist celebrated her 100th birthday at a St Neots care home on February 20.

Hilda Hatfield, who is a resident at the Aisling Lodge care home, in Church Street, received a telegram from the queen and celebrated her big day with staff who organised a party for her and other residents.

Hilda was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, and took up shorthand typing after she left school.

She later married John Richards and they had a daughter called Jennifer. The family moved to Zimbabwe and were there for 30 years. John died while they were there, but Hilda met and married her second husband, who was also called John (Hatfield).

The family moved back to the UK and settled in the Cambridgeshire area as John’s son lived nearby.

Hilda has two grandchildren; Lyndie who lives in Australia and Gavin who lives in Yorkshire. She enjoyed knitting and gardening when she was more active and lived in Godmanchester before her move to Aisling Lodge in August last year.

“She is a delightful lady with a wonderful personality,” said Emma Khanna who is the director of MD Care Homes which runs Aisling Lodge.

Emma says she has “ambitious plans” for the home’s future. As a small, family owned care home, her mission is to make residents feel it is a “home from home.”