A Peckham woman celebrated her 107th birthday last week with a party at her care home and a hand-written card from the Queen, writes Becky Morton…
Winnie Williams was joined by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jamille Mohammed, and the Pearly King of Peckham and his family to mark the occasion.
The home was decked out in red – her favourite colour – and staff baked a cat-themed cake for the animal-lover.
Winnie has no known relatives and was an only child but was joined by the many friends she has made in the care home over the years.
Grace Watson met Winnie over 35 years ago when she worked in another care home in Peckham before Winnie moved to Greenhive home on Brayards Road in 2002.
“We always got on well and I’ve visited her every year since she moved here,” Grace said.
Born in 1910, the year before George V was crowned King, Winnie grew up in Peckham and attended Rockingham Road Elementary School on New Kent Road. She worked as a nurse in Leytonstone as well as a cleaner at Guys’ Hospital.
Winnie said she very much enjoyed her party and was treated to a musical performance by schoolchildren from nearby Palm Tree Academy.
“Winnie has always been a great singer and when she was younger she won competitions,” said Grace, who also grew up in Peckham and now lives in Orpington.
“She also loves reading and when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said she wanted a book.”