Rosebery resident celebrates a century

Treasured resident Emily Newman has reached the fantastic age of 100. Miss Newman has been a resident of Rosebery’s Tomlin Court for 19 years and she was one of the first residents to live at the sheltered scheme when it opened on Hook Road, Epsom, in 1992. To celebrate this milestone, Rosebery treated the centenarian to a bouquet of flowers and a balloon.

A popular character around Tomlin, Miss Newman’s fellow residents clubbed together to host a tea party in her honour. Rosebery staff Lynn James and Maggie Fox went along to help out and everyone enjoyed a cup of tea, a sandwich and a slice of cake.

When asked what the secret is to a long life, she attributed it to a lively sense of humour. Miss Newman said: "I think that laughing my way through life has helped me reach 100 years-old. A blind eye and a deaf ear have meant I only see and hear what I want to! I feel about 20 years younger than I am, so I must be doing something right!"

Born in Long Ditton in 1911, Miss Newman moved to Epsom when she was four-years-old. Her father had emigrated over from Newfoundland in Canada and she had five siblings. Living through two world wars, Miss Newman worked as a cook for the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) during World War II and went on to care for children as a nanny until she retired.

Miss Newman continued: "Rosebery has been very good to me and my flowers were beautiful. Having a tea party with my friends and the Rosebery staff here was a wonderful way to spend my birthday. A telegram from the Queen was the icing on the cake!"

Miss Newman with her cake, flowers and balloon