Natasha, the Lifestyle Coordinator at Primrose Croft Care Home in Cambridge, recently sat down with resident Marcella, to learn more about her life.
Marcella was born in Coton in Cambridgeshire, and lived in the first house on her street, right next to an apple orchard. Being next to the orchard had its perks, and her older brothers used to sneak through the hedges at night when no one was looking and retrieve the apples that had dropped to the floor.
Marcella was the youngest child, with five older brothers. Her eldest three brothers, Morris Victor, Wilfred and Kenneth all served in the army, and would tell her all of their war stories. Her second youngest brother, Douglas, was a bus driver in Cambridge, and then there was Ivan who worked on an animal farm.
Marcella has lots of memories from her time at her school, Impington Village College. She used to enjoy going to the wreck to meet up with her friends after school, and during World War 2 she would go into the dug outs in her school for bomb shelter. As she grew up, Marcella took on a variety of different jobs. Some of her favourites included making jam in Chivers, and housekeeping at Ridley Hall for the Cambridge University grounds.
Marcella met her husband through one of her brothers, because they used to work together. She said that her husband was a very good drawer and great at maths. They got married in Coton Church, with an after party in the town hall. Marcella wore a white satin dress with a long white veil and her cousins were Bridesmaids and Paige Boys.
Though Marcella never went abroad, she did have many holidays around England. She often frequented Surrey because her aunt lived there. Her aunt would take her on lots of different days out, and Marcella particularly enjoyed when she would take her to see different animals. One of her favourite memories of visiting her aunt was when she got to feed the cows.
Now, at 94 years old, Marcella happily lives at Primrose Croft. The team absolutely love having Marcella as part of the Primrose Croft family, and she has made some wonderful friends.