As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are excited to share the inspiring story of Gladys, a lady we support at Poppy Dementia Day Support. At 100 years young, Gladys brightens our days with her infectious smile and kind heart.
Born on 1st March 1924, Gladys journey is full of love, dedication, and hard work. We are grateful to her family for sharing memories and letters that gives an insight into Gladys life. From a young age, Gladys was always very close to her family, especially with her parents, brother, aunty, and friends. Her genuine kindness has touched the lives of everyone she meets.
In pages of her family memoirs, Gladys mother wrote “You deserve all the luck you get for being kind to everybody. If you give, you get in life.” These words reflect Gladys personality throughout her life and still today.
Despite the challenges of World War II, Gladys has always shown strength and resilience and continued to hold down her positions at both the City Office and later at the Manchester Royal Infirmary x-ray department. Even during the time of the war, Gladys was filled with love, and cared for her beloved cat Gus, who would rest on her knee in the air shelters during air raids.
Gladys has many talents, before her dementia diagnosis one of her talents was knitting. Gladys act of kindness was crafting handmade gifts for her loved ones. Throughout Gladys life, she has always had a passion for dance, song and theatre, in her younger years Gladys would often be watching shows with her mother at the theatre. Her father’s words “we ought to put her on stage” proved how wonderful Gladys was.
Now, in the Poppy Dementia Day Support, we all enjoy watching Gladys dance and sing to her favourite songs.
Gladys went on to get married and have a wonderful family of her own and we thank them for sharing these wonderful memories with us. At Poppy Dementia Day Support, we are honoured to be part of Gladys journey and in celebrating Gladys, we would like to recognise all the women who inspire us. Today and everyday may we honour the incredible women around us and whose legacies continue to inspire us.
