Former military nurse Jean Grabaskey has celebrated her 103rd birthday at a St Ives, Cambridgeshire, care home. Jean lives at Care UK’s Field Lodge Care Home and was surrounded by family, her friends, and the care home team to enjoy her big day.
Born just outside of Birmingham on 10th November 1921, young Jean went on to live in Portsmouth, Surrey, and Manchester, before settling in Nottingham at the age of 13.
Her life took an extraordinary turn in 1943, when she qualified as a nurse and joined the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service.
Jean played a part in the D-Day Landings in 1944 and after travelling to Normandy, she worked in challenging conditions in a tented hospital a few miles from Caen, providing vital care to those injured in the conflict.
In 1948, Jean’s nursing career led her to Somaliland, where she met her husband, Hedley, a captain in the Royal Army Dental Corps.
The couple married in Nairobi, Kenya, in a small ceremony and later moved to St Ives, Cambridgeshire, where Hedley established dental practices.
Jean and Hedley shared 65 years of marriage, raising three daughters, and later welcomed six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Jean’s professional journey continued after she returned to the UK, working as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital in London until the age of 61. Jean was an active member of the local community, volunteering with the ‘Meals on Wheels’ service.
A lifelong advocate for fitness, Jean has always incorporated exercise into her routine.
At Field Lodge, she continues to prioritise staying active by participating in the weekly exercise programme. When not keeping fit, Jean enjoys listening to easy listening music, and indulging in a pamper session with hair and nail treatments.
To help make Jean’s birthday one to remember, the team threw her a special party complete with a delicious birthday cake specially made by the home’s head chef, Donna, and a tipple of Jean’s favourite Chardonnay.
When asked for her secret to living a long and happy life, Jean said: “I’ve kept active all my life – but a glass of wine or two wouldn’t hurt anybody!”
Linda Martinez, home manager, said: “Here at Field Lodge, we take pride in celebrating significant milestones with our residents, and Jean’s 103rd birthday was no exception.
“It was wonderful to see her enjoying the day surrounded by family, friends, and fellow residents. The team worked hard to make sure it was a celebration to remember as we raised a glass to Jean.”
