Turning 100 is a big deal at The Gables in Chatteris

A care home group has introduced a new scheme aimed at celebrating residents who hit the amazing 100 years old milestone.

The Gables in Chatteris, which is part of the Black Swan International Group and one of the top twenty care homes in the East of England for the fifth year running in the Carehome UK Awards, is celebrating its centenarians with some very special awards.

Black Swan have commissioned some special awards together with a telegram to commemorate such a momentous occasion.

As this is a new initiative for the group, The Gables was able to celebrate with two of their existing centenarians.

Kath Rhodes, who is a former Auxiliary Territorial Service chef with a claim to fame of once making a cup of tea for the late Queen Elizabeth. Kath will be celebrating her 102nd birthday next March, having been a resident since 2017, Kath puts her longevity down to always laughing and in her words “it’s no good being miserable”.

Elsie Lindsey is a relative newcomer to The Gables but in a very short time has been taken to everyone’s hearts as she is always smiling and loves singing and has a very infectious laugh, which makes everyone smile. Elsie will turn 101 next May.

Kath and Elsie were presented with their awards by the home manager Julie Tyler, at a special awards presentation with family, friends and staff now declaring them both official members of The Black Swan Century Club.