Julia Jackson, the oldest resident at Jewish Care’s Rosetrees care home at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre in Friern Barnet, celebrated her 105th birthday on Sunday 23 April. Julia enjoyed the tea at the home, with her family across four generations. Julia is a mother to two children, grandma to four and great-grandma to 10. There are 100 years between Julia and her youngest great-grandchild, who is five years old.
Martin Russell, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Barnet, attended the tea to present Julia with a signed 105th birthday card from HM King Charles III and The Queen. Julia received a card for her centenary in 2018 from Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
“I can’t believe it,” said Julia. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this. I’m so proud of all my family.”
Born in 1918, Julia grew up in Sunderland before moving to London in her 20’s where she worked as a secretary at Handley Page in Cricklewood. It was there that commercial aircraft were converted to bombers during World War II and Julia had to sign the Official Secrets Act whilst working there. She lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb and married her late husband, Michael z’l at Kinloss Shul in 1943. Michael sadly passed away in 1990.
Julia’s daughter, Josephine, says, “I think it was a special day for mummy with all her family which she enjoyed very much.
“Mum has stayed independent even after she turned 100, she would go to Brent Cross to the shops on the bus on a regular basis and lived very independently. She moved to the care home just eighteen months ago at 103-years-old. Since then, she has begun to play piano again, which she played to concert level in her earlier years, and she also enjoys taking part in exercise.”
Alison Prior, Jewish Care Rosetrees care home Registered Manager, said, “Having the family here to celebrate Julia’s 105th birthday has created a very special memory for all of them. And the presentation of the birthday card from the King and Queen by the Lord Lieutenant, really was the icing on the cake.”