Herald - Issue 387

Page 10 • The HERALD • 2nd April 2020 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Cutlers Cleaning Services A family run business, offering a friendly and professional clean • Emptying of gutters, removing debris to clear and avoid blockages • Cleaning of fascias, soffits, cladding and guttering • Clearing moss from your roof • Pressure washing • Cleaning of windows, sills and frames and much more Any enquiries and to book your free quotation call Jake 07593 343967 cutlerccs@gmail.com F: cutlers cleaning services - exterior property cleaning FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8089 1677 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH Theresa Celebrates 100th Birthday Born in 1920, eresa from Homeborough House in Hythe has recently celebrated her 100th birthday. eresa was born in Southampton. Her father Stan served in the Royal Artillery until she was born and her mum Mabel worked for a big hotel as a Chatelaine or hotel manager until the hotel was taken over by the troops in 1914. e family never had much money, as her father joined the army straight from school when he was just 14 years old and didn’t learn a trade. Upon eresa’s arrival into the world, Stan managed to get work at a local hospital where he worked as a heating engineer. e hospital had coal lled pipes which ran from one end of the hospital to the other which he maintained. e family lived nearby. Sadly, when eresa was 11 years old, her sister Peggy, who was 9, died of meningitis and her mum su ered a mental breakdown. eresa had to grow up quickly then, as her mum needed a great deal of support. When the war broke out, eresa was called up. Initially she wanted to join the WAFF because she liked the uniform. However, she ended up working in the Inspection Department of an air cra factory called Follands in Hamble. ere were three or four aircra factories based in Hamble during the war making parts. eresa said that the factory paid well which was a big incentive for her to work there. eresa met her husband to be, Les, in 1941 at a wedding. He o ered to walk her home as there had been an air raid that day. ey married the following year. Les, who was in the Army Medical Corps had to go back to work almost immediately a er the ceremony leaving eresa on her own, as he worked away for long periods of time. Later they went on to have two daughters, Sue who was born in 1946 and Ann who was born 4 years later. eresa’s husband stayed in the army a er the war had nished and she and their two daughters travelled all over Europe ending up in Egypt where Les was stationed at the time. e relations between Israel and its neighbours were not fully normalised a er the 1948 Arab- Israeli War and in 1956 Israel invaded the peninsula in Egypt. eresa and the girls had to get out of Egypt and travelling at night with a sniper in the back of the vehicle for their protection, they le the country, leaving Les behind as he continued his job as a Medic attached to the 48 Royal Marine Commando. Les remained in the army until 1961. In 1958, eresa secured a job as a Secretary at St John’s Primary School located in Southampton Docks. She worked there for 22 yearswhenshetookherretirement. Sadly, Les died suddenly in 1982 leaving eresa a widow some 38 years ago. eresa spent some of the intervening years travelling, making numerous visits to Canada where her youngest daughter made her home when she married in 1970. Moving to Hythe in 1993, eresa kept herself busy doing voluntary work for Age Concern, helping out at a local Day Centre two days a week. She’s also been a member of U3A for over 20 years. Upon losing her dog Jack, eresa decided to make the move to Homeborough House in May 2018 at the tender age of 98. eresa has since become a respected and valued member of their community. Her daughter Sue visits her regularly but eresa remains very independent and has to be admired for her tenacity and strength of character. She is a true inspiration. Theresa Winsor Whist Club meets every ursday evening from 7.15pm until 9.30pm in the small hall of Copythorne Parish Hall (SO40 2NZ). New members are welcome. For further details call C Elson on 023 8025 3359. PLAY WHIST