Abbeyfield resident Penny Cooper celebrated her 100th birthday this week and, although Queen Elizabeth wasn't there in person, she did send her best wishes by way of a congratulatory card!
Felicitations were also received from the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Daughter Ros and son Richard joined Penny's fellow residents at Abbeyfield on Wednesday for a celebratory tea party, kindly laid on by Lindsey McGibbon and her staff. Margaret Aston presented Penny with a delightful array of orchids. (Please click on any photo to see an enlarged version)
Penny was born in Switzerland where her father worked as a metallurgist. They moved to Scotland when war broke out and eventually to London.
She served in the WRNS in WWII, eventually marrying Norman, a Naval Officer and then went travelling again.
The family eventually settled in Sutton Valence in Kent where Penny threw herself into village life: the WRVS, the Brownies, Meals on Wheels and more. As they say, when you need something done, ask a busy person!
Penny loved sport at school and in the Navy, and eventually played golf in Eastbourne where she retired. She took her turn as Lady Captain of the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club and made very many good friends.
She has been living very happily at Stonehill House (Abbeyfield) for the last eight years with lots of visits from her two children and four grand children. Penny's daughter Ros Alexander lives close-by at Scotsgrove.
See more on Stonehill House (Haddenham Abbeyfield) here.
