JUST being lucky. That is the secret to a long and happy life – according to Frome favourite Ella Hicks who turned 100 on 29th January.
To celebrate her birthday, friends and associates presented Ella with a special cake and flowers at a recent Macular Society Frome Support Group meet-up at Frome Cricket Club – a group that Ella is a member of.
“Oh no I did not expect all this,” said Ella, “it is not so special is it? Everyone is making such a fuss.”
Ella moved to Frome 66 years ago when she met and fell in love with an English soldier in the war, coming to Frome in peace time from Germany. The sprightly lady, widowed after her husband Donald died four years ago, doesn’t walk with a frame or stick and is still dancing once a fortnight.
Other than that, she is bemused by her long good health life.
“I just have had a normal life,” she said. “I like most things and I eat most things, I like sweets but I also like vegetables. I just look for the best in things and then I get on with it. I just carry on really… is there something special in that?”
Ella’s birthday party was hosted by the Macular Society Frome Support Group, which relies completely on donations to keep going with its regular Wednesday meet ups.
Treasurer Vera Ford said, “We are a small group of voluntary people that meet up once a month in Frome to support people in and around Frome with Age Related Macular Degeneration, a disease of the eyes that effects their central vision.
“We are quite happy to take on new members, the hall is big enough, they can just come along to our meetings every third Wednesday of the month at Frome Cricket Club from 10am to 12 and join in.
“In normal times we have speakers there, quizzes, outings, raffle and of course tea/coffee and biscuits/cakes. They all enjoy it as they know everyone and everyone has the same condition.”
About Ella she said, “She is so kind with a wicked sense of humour and is just amazing. She has survived so much in her life and also it would be a great advertising for our group with this condition for us to help support them in and around Frome as this is an invisible condition to other people.”
Chairwoman Pat Mason who is her 80s and also suffers from the degenerative eye condition, would also welcome new members to the group.
If you want to know about the macular group meet up or would like to come along you can just drop in. Or please email treasurer Vera Ford: veraford1949@yahoo.com
