Abbey Wood Lodge Celebrates Resident’s 100th Birthday Milestone

On September 26th, the Abbey Wood Lodge community came together for a truly special celebration. For the first time in our lodge’s ten-year history, we had the honour of celebrating a resident reaching the remarkable milestone of 100 years—our very own Mrs. Edith Maggs.

Born on September 26th, 1924, in Litherland, Edith marked her centennial surrounded by family, friends, and many members of the Abbey Wood Lodge community. Dressed in a tiara and sash, Edith looked like royalty, and we made sure she was treated accordingly!

Her day began with pampering from our in-house hairdresser, transforming Edith into a Hollywood starlet for her big celebration. The party that followed was filled with joy, as Edith enjoyed cake, prosecco, and gifts. Friends and family shared heartwarming stories and fond memories of her life.

Edith’s early years were marked by a quiet demeanor—so quiet, in fact, that she didn’t speak until the age of 8. Thanks to a dedicated teacher who helped her come out of her shell, Edith blossomed, developing her signature quick wit and charming sense of humor.

During World War II, Edith served as a secretary, making the six-mile walk from Litherland to Liverpool for work. At just 17, she also volunteered to climb to the roof of the Richmond Sausage Factory, helping spot fires during air raids—a true act of wartime bravery.

After the war, Edith embarked on a career in nursing, with her first role at Walton Hospital. Over the years, she held a variety of positions in hospitals across the region, even cycling from Liverpool to Derby to serve as a midwife. It was during her nursing career that she met her husband, Laurence Maggs, a prosthetist. Sadly, Laurence passed away early in their marriage, and Edith never remarried, though those close to her agree she would have made an extraordinary mother, given her kind and caring nature.

In her later years, Edith rose to become Matron at hospitals in Bootle and Ormskirk. When the NHS abolished the Matron role in the 1960s, Edith decided to retire—but she didn’t slow down. She continued to serve her community as a magistrate and Chairman of the Board of Prison Visitors at Walton Jail, and was a passionate volunteer.

In addition to her civic duties, Edith was an avid traveler, exploring Europe, North America, Australia, and India. She also adored animals—especially cats—and is known among friends as one of the most fashionable ladies around!

Earlier this month, we launched a public appeal on Facebook, hoping to collect 100 birthday cards in honor of Edith’s 100th birthday. We’ve received 69 so far and counting—thank you to everyone who participated! Among the many cards was a particularly special one from Buckingham Palace, personally signed by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. To top it all off, a special appearance was made by the ‘King’ himself, who hand-delivered the card to Edith.

Happy 100th birthday, Edith! We are honored to have you as part of our Abbey Wood Lodge family and look forward to celebrating many more wonderful moments with you.