First resident at Castleman House celebrates 100th birthday

One hundred years of life is an outstanding feat and one which family and friends of Elsie Phillips were delighted to celebrate at Castleman House in Ascot, one of various sheltered housing schemes provided by Radian.

 Friends and residents as well as close family, joined Elsie on 23 September for a celebration with tea and cakes, and the chance to reminisce over memorable events. The impressive turnout was unexpected for Elsie. Her stamina was in full evidence with continued celebrations over the same weekend with a surprise party arranged by her family at The Dog and Partridge Pub in Sunninghill.

 Elsie was one of the first people to move into Castleman House and is the only one of the original tenants.  “I have had a very happy twenty five years here and long may it last”. She enjoys frequent visits from her son and daughter who also had a wonderful time at her birthday celebrations. The day’s organiser and Sheltered Scheme Manager, Fedora Munt, received a thank-you card from Elsie for her hard work and said of the day “a fantastic time was had by all.”

 Elsie was born in 1911, the year in which Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize for chemistry, and the Mona Lisa painting was stolen from the Louvre in Paris.  Elsie left school at fourteen and went straight into service.  One of the places she worked at was 'Number One London', one of the most interesting visitor attractions in London as the home to the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. After the death of her husband, Elsie worked for her friends at The Cannon Pub in Sunninghill for over twenty years.

 Castleman House is situated in the village of Sunninghill and provides sheltered accommodation for older people, or younger people with a disability who are in need of some support. It offers 28 self contained apartments, a dedicated bedroom for guests, communal lounge, and a private garden for residents.

Fedora Munt, Sheltered Scheme Manager, shares Elsie’s delight on receiving a telegram from the Queen

For more information on Castleman House or any of Radian’s sheltered housing accommodation, please contact Lynne Huggins or Lee Campbell on 0300 123 1567 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it