100th birthday celebrations for Rose

FORMER Melksham resident, Rose Prowse (née Hardie), celebrated her 100th birthday this month at Claremont Care home in Corsham.

Rose was born on 9th August 1920 in Devonport Plymouth, the second eldest of nine children. Her father, a skilled labourer in the dockyard, and mother raised the family in a two bedroom terrace where they all slept “top to tail” and had no privacy at all.

Rose passed for the grammar school but had to leave, aged fourteen, to provide income for the growing family.

Rose worked on a farm then in the hospital and finally in a tobacconists/confectioners when she met Bill, chorister at her church.

They got married in 1938 and raised William and Valerie during the blitz, being bombed out of one home. Bill worked in the Ministry of Defence dockyard by day and undertook Home Guard duties by night.

The next 30-plus years saw many postings and house moves all around the UK and also in Sierra Leone and Gibraltar and the birth of two more sons Ian and Colin.

They retired in 1983 and moved central to their growing family, living in Sandridge Rd and Forest Rd Melksham until 1998 when Rose decided to live near the sea again, choosing Watchet, Somerset.

Bill died in 2010 after a short illness so Rose moved back central to her family again in Westbury. However following some health problems at the end of 2019 Rose needed more care, so moved to Claremont Care Home in Corsham where she has settled comfortably.

Rose has 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren scattered around the world.

A large party with all of them was planned, but has now been put on hold for a while.

Her family say, “Sadly, only one of her children, Valerie, was permitted to visit her on the day, but fortunately the wonderful staff at Claremont worked diligently to try to make the day very enjoyable for her. 

“Rose was very perky and chirpy the whole day and enjoyed many cards, including the Queen’s, and gifts from around the world. She is also a master of the art of ‘zoom’ and had several conversations with family. 

“Like the Queen, Rose is looking forward to her “official” birthday when everyone can visit her.”