‘Make the most of your time!’ Connaught Court resident says on her 100th birthday

Above: Connaught Court resident Sheila Bendig celebrates her 100th birthday with her daughters Kathryn Trounson and Jane Beale, Assistant Home Manager Kris Kirk and Home Manager Marinda Aydinalp.

A resident at Connaught Court, in York, has celebrated reaching the milestone age of 100.

Sheila Bendig enjoyed a birthday celebration with friends and family, where she received gifts, flowers, balloons, chocolates and a card from the King and Queen Consort. During the day, she had a wonderful afternoon tea with a cake and sherry.

Sheila was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, on 2nd August 1924. The eldest daughter of Tom and Mary Busfield, she attended Woodroyd Road Infant School and then Bolling Girls Grammar School. Sheila had a pen pal in Paris, but her French exchange was curtailed due to the outbreak of WWII. Her pen pal even visited England, but had to return to France after three days as the war was imminent.

Sheila worked for an insurance company at 16 and gained secretarial skills. She met her first husband, married in 1948 and had two daughters, Kathryn and Jane. Sheila later returned to full time work as a school secretary, firstly at Priestman and then at Rhodesway Secondary School. She remarried in 2002 to Maurice Bendig, a magistrate, and they spent 21 happy years together. Sheila now lives at Connaught Court, in York, where her daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends come and visit.

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

I always say, whatever age you are, you have a choice, so you have to do the right thing. That’s what I think! And make the most of your time here!

Sheila moved into Connaught Court two years ago, and is one of the seven centenarians living at the Home.

Fran Tagg, Activities Coordinator, said:

Sheila is even younger! She has had such a full life and loves her family so much. She hasn’t got time to age!

[Summary: Connaught Court resident Sheila Bendig, in York, has celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at the Home.]