A very big birthday celebration

60-year Whitton local celebrates her 105th birthday at home

Our Richmond & Twickenham Bluebirds are proud to support Mrs Gretta Martin in celebrating her 105th birthday at home in Whitton. 

Gretta noted, “I’ve had a card from the Queen but was very much looking forward to a card from His Majesty to round out my collection. I’ve seen five monarchs in my time.”

Gretta grew up in Chiswick and later moved to Hanworth. After attending secretarial college, she worked in Fleet Street during the Blitz although, she notes, “One would never know quite how to get into work with the air raids and lack of reliable transport. During the air raids, we’d shelter in St Bride’s Church opposite the office. I was then an air raid fire watcher but blessedly there were no bombs on my watch! When I was living in Hanworth, a bomb dropped nearby, and our windows were shattered. I hid under the table with our dog.”

Married in 1941, Gretta and her husband celebrated with a cardboard cake from Harrods as no ingredients were available due to rationing. She has three children – two daughters and a son. In 1953, they moved to their home in Whitton where they lived happily for 60 years. In 2022, she moved in with her daughter Sue.

Gretta's Customer Care Manager Sarah Walker says, “It is a pleasure to support one of the borough’s oldest residents. Mrs Martin has led a fascinating, storied life. My jaw is always on the floor when she tells me about her past. She is a national treasure!”