Centenarian toasts life of hospital service

MEMBERS of Torbay Hospital League of Friends turned out in force to help celebrate the 100th birthday of 40-year veteran volunteer Rene Knight.

Rene had worked as an almoner at Guy’s Hospital in London for 35 years before moving to Devon. Here she got involved with Torbay Hospital League of Friends.

League president Pat Roberts (pictured front right) said: “Rene ran her own book stall which she took to various venues to sell books on our behalf.

‘She was one of our hardest workers and only stopped five years ago when she was 95!”

Rene’s niece Alicia (pictured front left) said: “She never married, but she moved to St Marychurch with her brother over 40 years ago.

“She loved her work with the League of Friends and the people she met through that work.”

Alicia said that Rene joined the WAAF during the war and may have worked at the famous wartime decoding station at Bletchley Park.

At her 100th birthday celebrations at the Woodland Park nursing home in Shiphay, Rene read her own telegram from the Queen out loud.

One of the guests commented: “She sounded just like the Queen when she read it. Word perfect.”

The Torbay Foyer event

“All of our young people are coached by our highly committed team to develop their talents and open up opportunities.

“All of the activities are designed to enable them to take the next steps towards work.”