Stanhoe news
Congratulations Ellen!
Many Stanhoe residents will remember Mrs Ellen Finch, who is 100 today. She lived at Ivy Farm for many years, and raised her family there whilst her husband was Steward for Stanhoe Farms.
photos: Rosemary Brown
Mrs Ellen Finch at her birthday party in South Creake
Ellen has lived independently in sheltered housing in Wells since moving from the village. There she has made the most of life, and always welcomes visitors, both members of her extensive family and friends, to her home.
Ellen has many grandchildren (now grown up), and a lot of great grandchildren. There were 60 members of her family at the party in South Creake Village Hall, and over 90 people in the room, as well as a raft of young people on the playing field outside. It was a real reunion of family and friends, who chatted happily for three hours, enjoying the sumptuous catering, and each person having an “audience” with Ellen to wish her well.
Greetings from the Queen
On display was Ellen’s “telegram” from the Queen, which was a beautiful card with a photo of the sovereign on the front, and the message, individually annotated and signed, inside.
At one point in the proceedings, absolutely spontaneously everyone erupted into singing “Happy Birthday To You”, at which Ellen jumped up and conducted the singing with obvious enjoyment.
Finally the beautiful birthday cake was cut and distributed by family members. It was absolutely delicious.
It was a real pleasure to have been there, on 11 June 2022, and even more so to see the obvious enjoyment which Ellen was having from her special day.
Click here to listen to some of Ellen’s memories of Stanhoe, recorded by Rosemary Brown in 2008.