Luton centenarian celebrates 100th birthday in St Brendan’s Care Home

Louise Barkaway, 100, wasn’t going to let the lockdown spoil her big occasion, as on May 30 she enjoyed a day filled with kind wishes and, of course, a birthday card from the Queen. The centenarian was also treated to celebratory family Skype calls and told them she was “overwhelmed by people’s generosity”.

Louise’s son, John Barkaway, 70, said: “There was a party for her in the morning at about 11 o’clock, and all the residents came down with about seven or eight staff members.

“Her carers opened her presents and she said that she’s never had so many chocolates in her life!

“What’s her secret? She doesn’t know! She has never smoked and hardly ever drinks - clean living. She used to push our pram from Farley Hill to town and back again; maybe all that exercise in the past has kept her fit.”

Louise was born in Glasgow in 1920. During the war she started work as a Land Girl, but very quickly moved to join the NAAFI with a friend of hers. At some stage during the war she was posted to the NAAFI in Chatham naval dockyards where she met her future husband Charles Barkaway.

In 1946 Charles bought his way out of the Navy and went back to Luton, where his mother was living. Louise joined him shortly afterwards and they married in 1947.

Her first son, John, was born in 1949 followed by a second son, Gordon, in 1952.

She has two granddaughters, Katherine, 42, and Laura, 39, and two great grandsons, Matthew, nine, and Edward, seven. Along with their mother, Katherine, the boys live in America and love their great grandmother’s Scottish accent, which she has retained despite moving down south.

Louise and Charles moved to Farley Hill in 1952 and she stayed there for more than 50 years, until age made her move to a warden-controlled flat in Felmersham Way.

Louise, along with Charles, used to visit her nieces in Scotland, while they also enjoyed trips to Switzerland to see their son, John, who had moved there. Louise particularly loved the countries’ fresh air and scenery.

John, who now lives in Camberley, said: “In 2016, Louise moved to St Brendan’s where she is very well looked after by the caring and friendly staff.”