Gillingham leap year 'baby' Winifred Ferguson celebrates her 26th and 104th birthday
06:00, 29 February 2020
She’s about to celebrate her 104th birthday, or 26th if you take into account she was born on a leap year, and she’s making sure she makes a merry dance of it.
When KentOnline's sister paper the Medway Messenger went to meet Winifred Ferguson at the care home where she lives in Gillingham, it was a challenge to prise her away from the communal lounge where she was dancing the afternoon away.
The remarkable centenarian is in the peak of fitness and health, despite her years, and after our interview couldn’t wait to get back on the dance floor.
Only a year ago Winifred was living semi-independently in her own flat in Hempstead and she enjoyed keeping fit and a game of bowls.
Born in London’s East End, Winifred left school at 14 and took a Pitman’s secretarial course where she gained the typing and shorthand skills that would stand her in good stead for the rest of her career.
During the Second World War she was seconded to a factory in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where she recruited staff to work on building Spitfires.
On her return to London she landed a top job as a director’s assistant at the American giant Hoover factory. She worked at the iconic building in west London from 1954 until her retirement in 1976.
She married Colin, a mechanical engineer from Glasgow, who came to the capital to find work in 1948. They met on the dance floor in Hammersmith, where naturally she was swept off her feet. Colin died in 1972.
She moved to Medway in 1986 to be near her daughter Ann, 69, and her husband Nigel, 64, who live nearby in Gillingham.
Up until recently she loved to embroider and her intricate creations adorn her room at Grace Manor Care Home, but her failing eyesight has hindered this hobby.
She also joined the Hempstead Valley Shorts Mat Bowls Club, based at the shopping centre, where she made many friends and, at the age of 80, achieved her county badge.
Ann said: “My mum is still fiercely independent and is proud of her appearance. She used to love to go clothes shopping and loves her accessories, always wearing earrings, and has her hair done regularly.”
Winifred, whose favourite television programme is Strictly Come Dancing, said: “I still like to dance, especially ballroom. I think it’s very important to keep on top of things. I won’t let myself go.”
On non leap years, Winifred celebrates her birthday on March 1.
This year, the care home in Grange Road will be hosting a special party for her today with musical entertainment, including plenty of dancing.
Ann will be presenting her a cake with 26 leap year cup cakes to mark her big day.
Winifred has a grandson, Morgan, and two great-grandsons, Mitchell, 23, and Lucas, 21.
Winifred has survived two world wars, 25 prime ministers and four monarchs.
She shares her birthday with rapper Ja Rule and Pope Paul III.
The year she was born, the light switch was invented, artist Monet’s Water Lilies series was exhibited and a total of 19,240 men died in the First World War Battle of the Somme.
