Ursula, a Resident at HC-One’s Admirals Reach care home was delighted as she celebrated her 103rd birthday alongside friends and Relatives, as well as Colleagues of the home.
Born in the former German city of Danzig, now the Polish port of Gdansk, Ursula began living in the UK shortly after the Second World War. Her father, Konrad, spent his life working as a staff officer to Marshall Hindenberg, whilst her mother, Elfrieda, was a successful opera singer.
In 1940, Ursula began studying medicine at Berline University, and towards the end of the war, she was called to join a team of doctors who were visiting Hannover alongside the German military. Afterwards, she spent her life working in a hospital in Kiel, Germany before losing contact with her parents.
After becoming a talented theatre nurse, Ursula began working in Westcliff Hospital, before relocating to Chelmsford and working at St Thomas Hospital. As she had a keen interest in cycling, Ursula regularly challenged herself as she once rode a Hobbs Barbican 5,000 miles in around nine weeks and travelled from Essex to Helsinki for the 1952 Olympic games.
In celebration of her 100th birthday, the home was decorated with banners as Ursula was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a birthday card.
Lal Mangalam, home manager, commented: “Everyone has had a wonderful day for Ursula’s birthday. It has been lovely to celebrate with her.”