Devonshire Court resident celebrates 101st birthday

A resident at Devonshire Court, in Leicester, has celebrated her 101^st birthday.

Noreen Gubbins enjoyed a tea party with her family and fellow residents at the Home. She was delighted with the amount of well wishes and flowers from everyone and was treated to a homemade birthday cake from the chef.

Noreen Evelyn Bassett was born on 2^nd March 1921, just two years after the end of the First World War. The only child of John and Florence, she lived in Leicester most of her life. After school, she worked in the offices of a retail store, occasionally modelling their clothes for customers.

During the Second World War, she worked as a civilian member of the Army Pay Corps alongside Clifton James, the former actor who starred in “I was Monty’s Double” (playing the part of Field Marshall Montgomery in a bid to fool the Nazis).

Noreen met her friend Muriel’s brother, John Edward Gubbins (known as Jack), when he was a newly Commissioned Officer in the RAF, flying as a Navigator with the Bomber Command.

The couple married in July 1947 and went on to have two daughters and a son, followed by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Noreen with her husband John Edward Gubbins on their wedding day on 19 July 1947

Her husband Jack followed in his father’s footsteps to become a successful butcher, with a number of shops in Leicester and Glenfield, the village in which they made their home.

Noreen has always been family orientated, supporting her son’s Scout band, sewing ballet outfits and baking hundreds of cakes with the children over the years.

Sharing her secret to a long life, Noreen said:

Always keep smiling and have a wonderful family and friends surrounding you.

Fiona Collins, Activities Coordinator at Devonshire Court, said:

It was a wonderful afternoon celebrating Noreen’s 101^st birthday. She is a fascinating lady with an amazing sense of humour!

[Summary: Devonshire Court resident Noreen Gubbins celebrates her 101st birthday with a tea party with her family and fellow residents at the Home in Leicester]