LymeLiving - OCTOBER 2026 - Edition_compressed (1) - Flipbook - Page 42
42
LymeLiving - The Lyme Regis Town Council Magazine
100 YEARS
AND NANCY
DID IT HER
WAY
ROM ballroom dancing and car rallying, to
F table tennis and singing – Lyme Regis
centenarian Nancy Gadd has lived a full and active
life.
Shire House resident Nancy recently celebrated her
100th birthday with a party enjoyed by fellow
residents, staff and her family.
Born the youngest of four, Nancy was a gifted child
and was offered a scholarship to the Tiffin Girls9
School, in Kingston Upon Thames, one of the
country9s most prestigious schools.
As war approached, she had to find employment to
support her family, but in her spare time she
enjoyed ballroom dancing.
It was on the dancefloor that she met her husband
John, a Spitfire parts9 designer and an equally
proficient dancer and together they went on to win
numerous medals and certificates.
They married in 1947 and their first son Mike was
born in 1949, followed by Paul in 1953, living
together in Chessington and later moving to
Sunningdale, Berkshire.
Both Nancy and John were active in car rallying and
table tennis, with Nancy always showing her
competitive streak.
Their son Mike emigrated to Canada, while Paul
moved to Yeovil, and Nancy and John later moved
to Crewkerne to be near to Paul when John9s health
deteriorated and he took early retirement.
Nancy enjoyed singing and as a member of
Crewkerne Women9s Institute, she would lead the
rendition of 8Jerusalem9.
After John died in 1995, Nancy moved to Seaton,
then Axminster, before becoming a resident at Shire
House seven years ago.
It is not uncommon for the carers to find Nancy
singing early in the morning, often songs by Doris
Day and Frank Sinatra.
Nancy9s party featured plenty of singing, as well as
dancing and a card from King Charles.
Nancy Gadd
