Submitted for publication in the Essex Chronicle

A Braintree great-grandmother celebrated her 106th birthday in style with singing, a special lemon drizzle cake and stories about her childhood.

Margaret Cottis, who has been living at The New Deanery residential care home in Bocking since 2019 and is the oldest resident at the home, was delighted with the celebration it had laid on for her birthday.

Jo Whitehouse, activities manager at The New Deanery, said: “Margaret is an amazing woman who has lived life to the full and continues to do so. She is bright, articulate and still young at heart.”

Margaret was born in Lindsell, near Dunmow, in 1914 as the fourth of five children. She moved to Copford at the age of two and was raised by her mother after her father was killed in the First World War.

She trained to become a nanny when she was 16 and worked for seven years until she met her husband and had her two children.

She developed a passion for handicrafts and cross-stitching and loved swimming so much that she only stopped when she was 90 when she could no longer find anyone to take her.

When she was 101, Margaret was invited to Windsor Chapel on Maundy Thursday to meet the Queen.

Jo said: “Reaching 106 is a real achievement and we feel privileged to take care of Margaret. Our singing director Jo Moore learned You Raise Me Up by Catherine Jenkins and some songs from the musicals especially, and Matron made her favourite lemon drizzle cake to celebrate.”

Margaret said: “It’s worth being 106, the day was so wonderful. I’m so grateful, I don’t know how to thank everybody. Good health to all.”

To find out more about accommodation, respite care, and day care at The New Deanery, please call 01376 558555 or visit www.thenewdeanery.co.uk.

The Essex Chronicle covers areas including but not limited to Chelmsford, Great Baddow, Ingatestone and Witham, Essex.