“Don’t be shy to try new things,” says James Terry Court resident and former Tiller Girl on International Women’s Day

Ninety-eight-year-old care home resident, Pamela Griffiths, has shared her life advice with women to mark International Women’s Day:

Don’t be shy to try new things; follow what you want to do.

Pamela lives at James Terry Court, in South Croydon.

Pamela, known as ‘Pam’ to her family and friends, was born in Kew, Richmond, in September 1925. Here she lived with her family until the age of eight when they moved to Ealing, London.

During the Second World War, Pam was a professional dancer, working as a Tiller Girl, one of the world’s longest running dance groups. Pam performed at the London Palladium and in popular venues all over the UK. Pam and fellow Tiller Girl, Jackie B’nay, went on to become a duo act, ‘Ray and B’nay,’ again touring around the UK and entertaining troops across Germany in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg.

Resident Pamela Griffiths worked as a professional dancer with the Tiller Girls, entertaining troops during WWII.

After this, Jackie married and moved to Australia, whilst Pam became a make-up artist. She married at the age of 39 and went on to have a daughter. Aside from dance, Pam loved travelling and enjoyed a worldwide adventure, starting in America. She says:

Some people thought it was quite an undertaking to travel around on my own like that – but as long as you’re organised and have somewhere to stay…

Pam still has her great sense of humour and even compares the service at her care home to Buckingham Palace! Reflecting on her life achievements, she encourages younger generations to practice self-care:

Look after yourself, eat sensible and go for walks.

[Summary: Ninety-eight-year-old care home resident, Pamela Griffiths, has shared her life advice with women to mark International Women’s Day: “Don’t be shy to try new things; follow what you want to do.” Pamela lives at James Terry Court, in South Croydon. During the Second World War, Pam was a professional dancer, working as a Tiller Girl, one of the world’s longest running dance groups.]