109th birthday for former Hull Corporation Telephone Company worker Alma Rayward
THE secret to a long and healthy life appears to be having a box of chocolates to hand.
Alma Rayward, who is one of East Yorkshire's oldest residents, celebrated her 109th birthday surrounded by friends and family at Cottingham Hall residential home.
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'LOVES THE FUSS': Alma Rayward is celebrating her 109th birthday.
Alma marked the occasion with a box of chocolates, a cake and a glass of red wine.
June Brown, senior carer at the home in Cottingham Road, said Alma is never far from a box of chocolates.
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"All of the carers bring in chocolates and sweets to keep her going and they seem to be working," said Ms Brown.
"She is an incredible woman, who just seems to go from strength to strength.
"Alma always has a lovely big smile and as long as she has a box of chocolates, she is happy.
"Anyone who sees her can't believe she is 109. She looks great for her age."
Ms Brown has been caring for Alma since she moved in at Cottingham Hall in 2006.
She said: "I remember her coming through the front door all those years ago and she has hardly changed since then.
"Alma is a pleasure to be around and nothing is ever too much trouble for her."
Alma has received birthday wishes from Her Majesty the Queen three times.
The cards, which she received on her 100th, 105th and 108th birthdays, take pride of place on her mantelpiece.
Ms Brown said Alma loves the attention she gets on her birthdays.
"Alma really enjoys seeing other residents' families but when it's her birthday she likes the fuss," she said.
Despite being hard of hearing and blind in one eye, Alma gets great pleasure from life and still enjoys socialising with other residents in the home.
In 2010, she broke her hip and there was concern she would not survive the operation that followed.
Alma's GP, Dr Adam Wong, of Faith House surgery in Beverley Road, said she is an amazing woman.
"Alma is usually always healthy and very rarely needs any attention, which for someone her age is quite extraordinary," he said.
"We were all very concerned after her fall but she just picked herself up and carried on."
Alma was born in Freehold Street, west Hull, on October 3, 1903.
The former Hull Corporation Telephone Company worker started her career aged just 15, earning a respectable wage of 26 shillings and six pence a week.
She married BAE worker Bob in 1932 and gave up work to have son Robert, of Anlaby Park Road North, west Hull.
Robert is Alma's only child and she has no grandchildren.
Alma returned to work at the telephone company at the age of 53, retiring at 67 to become a carer to her husband, who died in 1995.
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