Centenarian Ann all smiles for birthday

Ann Hines, 100, resides at Carrington House and celebrated her centenary birthday surrounded by her family on Friday.

Fit and active for most of her life, London-born Ann lived alone up to the age of 95, when she moved to Leighton Buzzard to be nearer to her only child Chris.

He said: “I don’t know what her secret is, she’s outlived all her family. She had two sisters and they went quite a while ago.

“None of them lived to any great age, most of them died in their 70s and she was very good right up to 95.”

Ann was born in Edgware on March 10, 1917, and grew up in South London.

From humble beginnings, she spent much of her 20s as a working woman, becoming a manager at John Laing Construction and later at the Department of Education.

After marrying husband Alfred during the war, Ann and her family lived in Sidcup for a number of years.

Ann and Alfred enjoyed an active retirement in Wareham, Dorset, and holidayed around the country until Alfred died aged 90.

Chris added: “She still does very well, every time I see her at the home. She has very few medical problems considering her age.”

Besides her son Chris, Ann has three grandchildren as well as three great grandchildren.