Published on: 13th October 2016
A Lincolnshire mental health ward for older adults has celebrated the 100th birthday of Dot Burkitt – the first patient in the history of the unit who has reached such an age.
Langworth Ward at Witham Court, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in North Hykeham has thrown 1940s themed party to celebrate with Dot, her family, friends and other patients. Dot’s daughter Pat, son-in-law Graeme and grandson Alexander came all the way from Southampton to wish her happy birthday.
Dot was delighted to receive lots of gifts and cards including the most important one with birthday wishes from the Queen herself.
Pat Macarthur, Dot’s daughter, said that the secret to her mum’s longevity is keeping active and having a supportive network of friends.
Mum played bowls the majority of her life and went swimming once a week until she was nearly 90. She also went for a walk every day and was doing planting in her garden. Nowadays, in her 100s, she takes it steadier and enjoys sitting in the garden or joining in with activities on the ward.
Dot has been living in Lincolnshire all her life and the 1940s was a special time for her because she was working in a factory where she was welding the dashboards on tanks. She used to weld a small hangman on the top right and she was told she had a very light touch. This was also the decade when Dot married her late husband Percey and gave birth to her daughter.
When the Junior School opened on the Ermine Estate in Lincoln in the 1950s she joined the team of dinner ladies and worked there until she retired.
Debbie Blant, Langworth Ward Manager said:
On behalf of all of the staff on the ward we wish Dot a very happy birthday. We are always keen to offer patients an opportunity to reminiscence about their glorious past and there couldn’t be a better opportunity than celebrating the 100th birthday of one of our patients.
While Dot is our first patient to reach such an esteemed age we hope that we’ll be able to throw more parties for other centenarians.
I’d also like to thank local businesses for their support with Asda donating flowers and Sainsbury’s donating a birthday cake.
