Marjorie Rose, The Mall Maidstone cleaner, in hospital after breaking hip in fall
16:28, 04 December 2019
updated: 22:04, 04 December 2019
Britain's oldest cleaner is in hospital after a fall saw her break her hip.
Marjorie Rose, 96, who has worked at Maidstone’s The Mall shopping centre for more than 30 years, tripped over some cones on her way to work on Monday morning.
The great-grandmother from Maidstone, a well-known face in the town, fell over the obstacles behind a wall by the Carriage Museum in Mill Street.
A passer-by rang for an ambulance and waited with her until paramedics arrived.
Marj's hip bone broke at the top and she was rushed to Tunbridge Wells Hospital for treatment.
She had to have the joint replaced. Her family hope she will be back home next week.
Her grandson, David Gregory, 37, said: “She will probably be back at work on Monday.
"She shouldn’t be going but she is strong willed. She loves going and meeting everybody.
"Loads of people call her 'nan' - staff and members of the public.”
Mr Gregory, from Strood, said his grandmother had a cataracts operation a month ago and returned to work after a week as she couldn’t bear to be away for too long.
“She is hard as nails,” he said. “I think that is why she has lasted this long.”
The cones had been left by highways workers resurfacing the A229 - work which is due to finish on December 21.
A Kent County Council spokesman said: “We are very concerned to hear what has happened to Mrs Rose and we wish her a full and swift recovery.
“The high visibility cones are being used whilst overnight resurfacing works take place in the area.
"During the day these are stored on the Carriage Museum property, in an area not intended for pedestrian use.”
