Suffolk resident recalls a life well-lived as she celebrates her 108th birthday

Margo Abbs, a resident at Grove Court, an Elizabeth Finn care home in Woodbridge, Suffolk, celebrated her 108th birthday with a special 1950s themed tea party.
Born in London in 1918, Margo is celebrating reaching the age of 108 and is the oldest resident at Grove Court and one of the oldest people in Suffolk. Brought up in Ipswich she has lived a varied and full life, from school in Switzerland to fishing in Wales.

Margo attended Ipswich High School, where she was a very good student, excelling in nature study, maths and sport with fond memories of playing hockey. She also attended a convent school in Switzerland as a boarder and at one point considered becoming a nun, but her father had other ideas!

Margo’s father was a hotelier and owned three properties. She has many happy memories of life in the hotels, sledging in winter and helping out with entertainment and other administrative work. She also studied shorthand typing. 

Margo married when she was 20, her husband worked as a lawyer and was also an officer in the army. He was a keen golfer and tennis player, which Margo also enjoyed.

After her marriage, she and her husband ran the Falcon Inn in Bletsoe, Bedfordshire. She loved salmon fishing and holidayed in Wales with her husband where they always had a ghillie or guide. The salmon they caught were taken back to their pub to be sold in the restaurant.
Margo was a devoted wife who cared for her husband until the end of his life. She loved hosting dancing parties for everyone and boasts a friendship with film star Ginger Rogers.

On celebrating her 107th birthday last year, Margo stated: “I wouldn’t live anywhere else. I have worked hard in hotels and done a lot of things; it has all been worthwhile. I always look to the future and that means everything, living it.”

“We are so pleased to have Margo as part of our family at Grove Court,” comments Kelly Lockwood, Home Manager. “Everything we do revolves around supporting residents to live happy and fulfilling lives in a loving environment and it has been an absolute pleasure to make Margo’s d

ay extra special and to see her enjoying herself to the full.”

Margo moved to Grove Court in December 2024 and is a much-loved resident, always full of life and with many stories to tell. To celebrate her special day the home arranged a tea party with 1950s music and dancing. Margo chose the menu for the event and enjoyed reminiscing on her amazing life. Since reaching 100, Margo has received cards from the Royal family, most recently from King Charles III.

Grove Court, rated Outstanding by the CQC, is situated in nine acres of landscaped gardens on the outskirts of Woodbridge. Very much a part of the local community, it offers both residential and nursing care as well as end of life care. Elizabeth Finn Homes operate eight care homes across England and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the charity Turn2us.

Caption: 1) Margo in a photo on a Bletsoe blog in the 1950s. 2) Margo today.
www.elizabethfinn.co.uk