Portsmouth centenarian 'gobsmacked' by surprise '25th' birthday party on leap year
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Doris Cleife, who was born on February 29 1920, was ‘gobsmacked’ to find more than 30 residents from her assisted living apartment block had thrown a surprise birthday party for her today.
Brought to tears by the gesture, she said: ‘I am gobsmacked.
‘I really am surprised and grateful.
‘I would like to say thank you to everybody for coming.
‘I didn’t know I was so popular.’
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Hide AdAnd it was the first time the centenarian has had a surprise party thrown in her honour.
She said: ‘I’ve waited 100 years for a surprise party – and it’s been worth the wait.’
The great-great grandmother was accompanied by her grandson David Bowen, who said the surprise was ‘a bit of a gamble.’
He said: ‘She only gets a birthday-do every four years, so we had to make it a big event out of it.
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Hide Ad‘But it’s a bit of a gamble giving a big surprise to a 99 year old.’
Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor David Fuller presented the birthday girl with a selection of biscuits and chocolates.
Doris moved into a flat in Brunel Court, Nutfield Place, on December 23 – and sees her living less than a mile from Fratton Road, the site of her childhood home.
Having bought a large sponge cake and balloons wishing Doris a happy 25th birthday, Katrina Morgan, housing manager at the assisted living accommodation, said keeping the party secret had been ‘hard work.’
She said: ‘The last two weeks have been a lot of work.
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Hide Ad‘It’s lovely to see Doris see her 100th birthday – no one else here is 100.
‘With it being a leap year, it’s extra special.’
Doris, who worked as an electrician in a de Havilland airplane factory in Portsmouth during the Second World War, will celebrate her birthday with her two grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren tomorrow.
She said: ‘They say the good die young – so I don’t know what that means.
‘You have to keep your sense of humour.’