Connie reaches 105

4:40pm Thursday 4th December 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

REACHING 100 is a big milestone for anyone, but one Winterslow woman has gone several steps further – celebrating her 105th birthday on Thursday.

Connie Perry, who has lived in the village for 99 years, received eight bouquets of flowers and over 40 cards, including one from the Queen.

She was born in Sixpenny Handley in Dorset and moved to Winterslow with her family six years later.

She remembers the First World War, which started when she was 11-years-old.

During the Second World War, Connie and her husband Alfred looked after two evacuees from Portsmouth.

“Poor dear things,” said Connie, “I shall never forget them. I had no children of my own but still, we survived, and when the war finished they went back home.

“They kept in touch with me and sent me birthday and Christmas presents.”

She said the two seven-year-old girls were filthy when they came to her, their luggage just a little paper bag containing change of underwear.

Connie has lived on her own since 1967 when Alfred died, and is helped by three neighbours in the area – Hazel, Jane and Jenny.

She still gets out and about a lot and regularly goes to the village day centre to socialise.

“I can’t read now because my eyes are going bad, but I get plenty of visitors and they take me out in my wheelchair,” she said. “I have lots of good friends.”

Connie doesn’t have a secret to a long life, she just said to be social and remember that nobody’s perfect.