Woodcote residents Averil Warren and Stan Pycroft, with nearly a double century of living between them, respectively celebrated their 100th and 97th birthdays on Sunday July 26.
Family members, fellow residents and staff helped Averil and Stan make the most of what was a beautiful sunny morning at the village, and everyone ensured it was a day to remember.
Asked what might have contributed to her reaching the milestone of 100 years, Averil said it was good behaviour and the occasional brandy and dry ginger ale.
As everyone enjoyed the nibbles and drinks on offer, Averil and Stan took time out from a busy morning schedule to have a cuppa and some cake. Apart from catching up with families and friends in the village centre, there had also been on Zoom and telephone calls to receive good wishes.
Stan’s children, Yvonne and Linden helped their father enjoy the morning, though his younger son could not make it to the village. Averil had a crowd of family and friends on hand.
Averil’s daughters Judy and Kay, who live in and Bundaberg and Shell Harbour, Australia, could not travel to Christchurch for their mother’s birthday due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, nieces and nephews and other relatives, from different parts of New Zealand, did make the trip to see her.
Averil was born at Port Chalmers Cottage Hospital, and lived in Dunedin. She then spent a good portion of her life Wellington, where she worked at James Smith department store both in the city and at the Porirua branch..jpg?width=1620&name=IMG_7570%20(Large).jpg)
Stan Pycroft, born in 1923, said he started his working life on the family farm at Killinchy, between Dunsandel and Leeston. Later he worked on other leased farm properties. He then stayed in the agricultural sphere, selling seeds on behalf of the Wright Stephenson stock and station agency, before moving to Yates seeds where he was a production supervisor.
Family homes, included residences at New Brighton and Hei Hei, where Stan and his wife Freda brought up the three children. Freda worked at the Templeton Hospital.
It was a wonderful day of celebration at Woodcote, helped by the amazing efforts of the team.
