Help this soon-to-be Northamptonshire 104-year-old receive 104 cards on her birthday to celebrate milestone
“Mum stepped out into her world and made the most of it”
You could be part of helping a soon-to-be 104-year-old celebrate her remarkable milestone in Northamptonshire, as her loved ones want to hand over 104 birthday cards on her special day this month.
Kathleen Faulkner, who now resides in Ashdown House in Daventry, will turn 104 on November 15 – and it is the plan of daughter-in-law Tammy and care home manager Christie to give her a special surprise.
Kathleen, who made the move from St Crispin Retirement Village to Ashdown House this year, was born in London and her mother sadly died just a month after she was born meaning she was raised by her grandparents.
When she last spoke to the Chronicle & Echo as she approached her 100th birthday in 2022, Kathleen said she had a good upbringing and fond memories of rollerskating and dancing in her childhood.
When the war began, Kathleen wanted to do more to help and decided to join the land army, which is when she moved to Northampton aged 18. She learned to drive a tractor and worked for two contractors for five years.
Kathleen previously said that moving to join the land army changed her views on life and she told this newspaper: “It taught me to accept people and situations as they were. In London, I wanted to change everything to suit me and when I moved and met people from different walks of life, I learned that wasn’t possible and I mellowed.”
After the war ended, there was no reason for Kathleen to return to London and she remained in Northampton living in Bugbrooke. She went on to have two children, Andrew Faulkner and Hazel Cryer, and also has five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Son Andrew says his mother’s memory is quite poor at the moment and she is taking their word for the fact she is approaching 104, as she cannot believe she has made it to this age.
“She’s always been really outgoing and quite outspoken,” said Andrew. “She worked for Barclays for years and was a founder-member of the bowls club in the village. Dad was a copper for 30 years and in his world, and mum stepped out into her world and made the most of it.”
Kathleen suffered a nasty fall in January and although she amazingly broke no bones, it knocked her confidence and sparked the move from her apartment at St Crispin Retirement Village to Ashdown House.
Kathleen understands that this is the right place for her to be, and she gets involved in the activities they put on at the care home when she feels up to it. Her birthday celebrations will include family visiting with sandwiches, cakes and prosecco to toast the occasion.
If anyone would like to send Kathleen a card to celebrate her 104th birthday on November 15, you can post or hand-deliver it to Ashdown House, located at 13 Ashworth Street, Daventry, NN11 4AR.