RAF veteran in Maidenhead meets great-great-grandchildren at 100th birthday

An RAF veteran based in Maidenhead celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday with 30 family members travelling in from as far as Australia.

Ida Vogel, a resident at St. Mark’s Bupa Care Home was thrown a surprise garden party filled with balloons, birthday cake and photos of her younger self dressed in officer’s uniform, ahead of her actual birthday on Monday.

The former Windsor resident of 17 years was ‘shocked’ and ‘delighted’ by the reception and even met two of her great-great-grandchildren for the first time.

Her daughter Norma Hughes told the Advertiser: “The sun was shining beautifully. It was a garden party [with] her favourite music from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

“It was a total surprise. Everybody made a fuss of her. I don’t think the grin on her face actually wore off all afternoon. She was absolutely over the moon. Even when she dropped off to sleep, there was this little smile on her face.”

Ida laughed at being 100 and said ‘she still feels 18’.

Wraysbury resident Norma said Ida is an ‘inspiration’ to the family adding: “She’s always worked really arduously all her life but at the same time, she’s got a very quirky sense of humour and even now she still makes staff laugh when they’re around.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that she’s always been so polite. She always thanks everybody for everything they do for her – she’s very grateful for the help she receives at St Marks.”

On the ‘secret’ to living a long life, Norma added: “She’d be quite happy to say that she’s never drunk alcohol, she’s never smoked and she’s always been a diligent worker and worked very hard.”

Ida was born in Russell Square in London on May 20 1924 and was one of 14 children.

When she joined the RAF at 17, she joked that she did so to have a bed of her own, having grown up sleeping three to a bed in her parents’ townhouse.

A photo of Ida dressed in her RAF uniform.

During her time as an officer, her squadron was involved in Operation Dambusters. She also had to drive an ambulance as well as shuttle pilots back and forth from airfields.

Ida also had to console military parents and deliver their son’s belongings to their homes.

After the war, she married and had five children, but ‘fiercely independent’ Ida later became a seamstress for a Chiswick-based company making stage costumes, some of which were for the actor and singer, Tommy Steele.

Ida, who cycled to work daily with her youngest child, worked tirelessly to ensure she could save enough to take her children to the seaside once a year.

When her children left home, Ida became a carer and subsequently a nanny for a little boy who is now a surgeon at the Royal Marsden, who is still in touch and attended her birthday celebrations alongside Ida’s children, 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren travelling in from across the UK, Europe, USA and Australia.

Ida was ‘delighted’ to receive a card from King Charles and Queen Camilla and said ‘she would love to have given him a kiss’, adding:

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my birthday celebrations. Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable day – it was so special to see so many special faces make the special trip to see me. I feel very loved and blessed to have a wonderful family.”

Hazel Corrigan, Home Manager at St. Mark’s Bupa Care Home, said: “We were delighted to spend Ida’s special day with her and share in her birthday celebrations. It was amazing to see her family come from around the world to celebrate with her.”