Teddies galore for James Terry Court’s resident to mark her 100th birthday

A resident at James Terry Court, in Croydon, has celebrated her 100^th birthday. To mark the special milestone, resident Marian Royston enjoyed a teddy bear picnic with her fellow residents, family and friends, alongside a special cake and gifts.

Born on 1 August 1923, Marian Edith Royston grew up in Wembley, in north-west London, with her parents and four siblings. In her younger days, she worked in Euston as a telephonist, but was later evacuated to Hertfordshire during the Second World War.

After the war ended, Marian met her husband to be, Eric, during a walking holiday in India in 1946. They married in Bombay and lived in India during the partition. Marian learned to fly a plane and, alongside her husband, they built a small cabin cruiser, which they kept on the River Ganges.

Marian and Eric had two daughters and returned to live in England in 1956. Together, they enjoyed seeing the world, travelling to South Africa, Zanzibar and visiting the Victoria Falls in Zambia.

They moved to Tunbridge Wells after buying the Tudor Hall Hotel, in the village of Hawkhurst. Eric joined the Tax Office and Marian returned to the General Post Office as a telephonist. When Eric retired, the couple moved to Ibiza. Sadly, Eric passed away in 1975 and Marian moved to Llandudno, in North Wales, and then to live with family. Marian has been living at James Terry Court since 2019.

What is her secret to having a long life? And, does she have any advice for younger generations? To answer both questions, Marian simply says:

Enjoy life to the full and be kind to everyone.

[Summary: Resident Marian Royston at James Terry Court, in Croydon, has celebrated her 100^th birthday with a teddy bear picnic with her fellow residents, family and friends.]