Camden woman reunited with long-lost grandson on 100th birthday

Celebrating her 100th birthday on 1 April 2015 at Islington’s Bridgeside Lodge Care Centre, Ada Whatling’s dream came true when she was reunited with her long-lost grandson after 15 years.

John Barton, Ada’s only remaining blood relative, dropped everything and flew 6,000 miles from his home in Hong Kong to be with his grandma on her special birthday having spent the last year trying to track her down. He finally managed to find her through website photographs of a summer BBQ held at Bridgeside Lodge, on Wharf Road, Islington, where Ada has lived since 2013.

John contacted Frede Jensen, the administrator at Bridgeside Lodge, who confirmed Ada’s identity and told him about her 100th birthday: “Ada was overjoyed to see John again, it was very emotional, not just for Ada and John but all of Ada’s friends and the residents and team at Bridgeside Lodge who gathered for her birthday party – it was just like something off Surprise Surprise. Ada has worked hard all her life and doted on her only son who sadly passed away in 2006, so to have John by her side made this milestone birthday extra special for her. Ada is a very animated sort of person even though she has now got dementia, she’s always bubbly and friendly – it’s lovely having her around and good that we can now look after her and she can enjoy a bit of comfort.”

Also at Ada’s side on her birthday was her beloved cat Charlie who is now cared for by Ada’s old next door neighbour, who makes a point of taking Charlie to visit Ada regularly at Bridgeside where he always gets a VIP welcome.

Born into a working class community in Stockton on Tees nearly Middlesbrough, on 1 April 1915, Ada was the youngest and only girl in a family of three. She moved to Kentish Town when she was about 17 where she met her first husband and worked first as a machinist and then in the Craven factory rolling cigars. After her only child Roland was born she waitressed in smart London hotels like the Dorchester, but by scrimping and saving she eventually became a landlady taking over a large terraced house in Kentish Town and taking in lodgers.

Bridgeside Lodge Care Centre has 64 bedrooms spread across four floors catering for a variety of care needs. It is part of the Forest Healthcare group of homes, which includes 13 individual homes throughout the South East of England. For more information on Bridgeside Lodge, please visit www.foresthc.com or call 08444 725 175.

ENDS

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