Care home celebrates five 'fantastic' centenarians

News imageBBC A line-up of the 100-year-olds and over at the care home. They are sat in chairs in front of the camera with a sign behind them that says "we are so proud of you" and decorated with gold balloons.BBC
The care home held the party for its residents - left to right: Margaret Cosh, Dorothy, Mollie, Margaret McBain and Aida - on Wednesday

A care home has held a party for five "fantastic" residents who are now 100 years old or older.

Knellwood Care Home in Farnborough, Hampshire, brought out a special cake in celebration of Dorothy, Margaret Cosh and Margaret McBain, who are all 100.

They were joined by friends and relatives in their celebrations, along with Portsmouth-born Mollie, who is now 101, and 102-year-old Aida.

Margaret McBain put her longevity down to being Welsh, and said she lived by the phrase: "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone."

Tracey Slingo, from the care home, said it was "amazing" that it had five residents aged over 100.

"They are so full of life and so full of fun," she said.

"They just get on with it but if there's any mischief to be had, all five of them will be right there in the middle of it.

"They're fantastic and we couldn't love them more."

The Office for National Statistics said there were 16,600 centenarians in the UK in 2024. That had doubled from 8,300 in 2004.

News imageA brown celebration cake on which "celebrating Knellwood's centenarians" is written on in icing.
Residents and visitors were able to enjoy a slice of cake