Celebrating Kitty’s 103rd Birthday – A Remarkable Milestone

We recently had the great pleasure of celebrating a very special occasion here at Bede House Care Home, the 103rd birthday of our wonderful resident, Kitty North.

Kitty was born in Sunderland on 12 August 1922, at a time when the world was a very different place. Radio had only just been invented, the Spanish flu epidemic was still affecting communities, and Howard Carter was preparing to discover Tutankhamun’s tomb. Having lived through so many historic moments, Kitty reflects fondly on her long life – though she admits with a smile that she “never did like history at school” and wishes she’d paid more attention!

One subject she did enjoy, however, was sewing. Her skill with a needle led her to a career as a tailor at Dewhirst, where she made suit jackets for Marks & Spencer. Kitty retired at 52, more than half a century ago, after a career she still speaks about with great pride.

Kitty now lives at Bede House alongside her son, David. Her husband, Bob – a Royal Navy regular and postmaster – passed away several years ago, but she often shares warm memories of their life together.

To mark her incredible milestone, we organised a celebration in our lounge with staff, residents, and members of Kitty’s family. The response from the local community was truly touching – Kitty received an astonishing 169 birthday cards from local groups and individuals, including community centres, football teams, and dance clubs. When she walked in to see the room filled with cards and smiling faces, there wasn’t a dry eye to be found.

Our Home Manager, Karen Suleiman, said:

“So many people wanted to wish Kitty well, and it was wonderful to see generations of her family gathered together. Her son David was so proud – he said, ‘That’s my mam, isn’t she fabulous? She’s just amazing.’”

Activities Co-ordinator Ann Wood added:

“Kitty is such a lovely, proud lady. She enjoys her weekly visits to the hairdresser, always dresses smartly, and still likes to wear her make-up. She has a wonderful sense of humour and enjoys the occasional glass of wine.”

As for Kitty’s own thoughts on her big day, she said with a smile,

“It’s been the best day of my life. This one will be hard to beat – I’ve loved it from start to finish.”

It was truly an honour for all of us to celebrate this remarkable milestone with Kitty. Her warmth, humour, and elegance continue to brighten our home every day.

Happy 103rd Birthday, Kitty – from all of us at Bede House Care Home!