Thistle Court Care Home is thrilled to celebrate an extraordinary milestone with one of its beloved residents, who we fondly refer to as family members, Hilda Blackwell, who turned 100 years old on October 16th 2024. Hilda, a former district nurse with lifelong dedication to serving her community, marked her centennial birthday surrounded by four generations of her loving family, fellow residents, and dedicated team at Thistle Court.
Born on October 16, 1924, in Cwm near Ebbw Vale, Hilda has lived a life full of service, love and resilience. In her early years, she attended Duffryn School and later moved to London to pursue nursing. She trained as a state registered nurse at Windsor Hospital where she was one of the participants of the early trials of penicillin in hospitals before returning to Wales, where she worked at Aberbeeg Hospital in Abertillery. As a district nurse, Hilda served at coal mines and was one of the nurses involved in the Six Bells Colliery Disaster in June 1960, where she was brought in to be the head triage nurse. Following this tragedy Hilda published her own poem called “What Price Coal” which reflects on the courage and resilience of mining communities.
For her special day Hilda requested 100 post cards to be sent to her which the home arranged and within days over 150 cards showed up from all over the world including Las Vegas, Paris and Japan some with personalised messages wishing her a happy birthday and congratulating her on her achievement. In honour of her milestone, Hilda was celebrated by relatives across four generations including her son Hedley, granddaughter Helen and great-grandson Acer, who joined her on this special day.
In addition to family and friends, Hilda received a special birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla, a recognition she humbly cherished, playfully noting “I have survived, even the Queen”.
The home was transformed for the celebration, with decorations and festivities creating a vibrant, street party atmosphere throughout. In true Thistle Court fashion, members of our team who were off duty, along with a few former team members, came in especially to celebrate with Hilda and wish her a happy birthday.
Sarah Butfield, Thistle Courts Home Manager said “We were proud and honoured to have the opportunity to support Hilda, her family and friends in celebrating her 100th birthday. The day was filled with laughter and a few tears whilst reminiscing about her life and nursing career. The reading of her published poem “What price Coal” didn’t leave a dry eye in the room. Hilda is a truly inspirational woman and nurse.”
As part of Thistle Courts values, which celebrate the continuity of life and personal histories, Hilda is encouraged to honour her past and maintain her connections to nursing- a career she dedicated herself to for so many years. She proudly keeps her nurse’s clock and book close, which serve as meaningful reminders of her journey and accomplishments. Even today, Hilda enjoys telling her nurses personal stories from her time as a nurse.
Thistle Court Care Home is based in Cwmbran, South Wales. The home’s approach to life recognises the values, beliefs and identity of each person. Each person that may need support is unique and by understanding one’s life history, one’s journey in life, by striving to be a true continuation of home, the team at Thistle Court Home create a place where everyone feels safe and never alone.
To find out more about Thistle Court Care Home visit: https://thistlecourtcarehome.com/