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Daphne’s 100th birthday surprise left her All Shook Up (in a pleasant way!)

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Daphne Easter has always had a soft spot for Elvis Presley so staff at Thorp House Nursing Home knew exactly what the perfect surprise would be on her 100th birthday.

Wellbeing coordinator Marcia Hughes arranged a concert by popular Elvis tribute act Ian Coulson.

Sadly, the latest Covid wave meant the visit had to be cancelled at the last minute but Mrs Hughes used her ingenuity to arrange a larger-than-life Elvis cut-out instead!

And adding to the Graceland theme, Mrs Easter was presented with an Elvis-themed cake.

As well as her all-important congratulatory message from the Queen that centurions receive, Mrs Easter was presented with cards and flowers from her family in the UK and Australia.

Staff and residents at the Kingsley Healthcare home in Griston, near Watton, toasted her with a glass of Buck’s Fizz.

Mrs Hughes said: “Daphne thought it was a lovely birthday surprise. She can still remember the words to one of Elvis’s songs, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and sings along to the music.”

Mrs Easter was born in Worthing, Sussex, when King George V was on the throne and the tomb of Tutankhamun was just being discovered.

Upon leaving school she worked as a doctor’s receptionist, but during the Second World War she wanted to play her part and moved to London to work in a munitions factory.

She married Ronald and they had two daughters, Carol and Marilyn; sadly, Marilyn passed away at the age of 39.

Mrs Easter and her husband lived in London for 25 years before they moved to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire.

As well as being a devoted wife and mother, she worked as a barmaid and in Woolworth’s.

They were married for 52 years before Ronald passed away in 1994.

She stayed in Cheshunt until 2017 before moving to Norfolk to be close to her daughter Carol who lives in Long Stratton.

She has one grandchild and two great grandchildren in Australia and four grandchildren and four great grandchildren in the UK.

Mrs Hughes said: “Daphne always says she was a home maker at heart who loved her children, cats and dogs.  She liked to read and enjoys gardening.”


Find out more about Thorp House

Author: Stephen Pullinger

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