A surprise guest trotted in to help great-great grandmother Chloe celebrate her 100th birthday at Abbotts Barton.

Chloe was naturally the centre of attention as family and friends joined her for a party in Winchester.

And staff at the home secretly arranged a further special treat having heard Chloe recount fond girlhood memories of owning a pony called Jenny and going for rides in the 1930s.

Ahead of the big day, they contacted a nearby stables who were only too pleased to bring in one of their ponies, Freddie, to meet Chloe face to face and enjoy time together.
“I didn’t expect a treat like this,” a delighted Chloe told staff when Freddie arrived. “You always go that bit further in everything you do for me.”

Companionship Team Leader Sarah said: “When Chloe was 13 and living in Dorset, she had her own pony called Jenny. As an adult she was too busy bringing up her children to make time for riding, but she has always fondly remembered her days with Jenny.

“Freddie is a Welsh pony and a little smaller than Jenny was. Chloe spent time feeding him apples and giving him lots of attention. She was completely surprised that we had arranged a special treat for her and so pleased.

“When she was very young, Chloe’s favourite toy, given to her by her grandfather, was a rocking horse because it was the next best thing to a real horse.

“A year after the family moved to Witchampton in Dorset when she was 12, she was given Jenny who she loved. She would ride the pony across the open fields from Wimborne to Blandford Forum.”

After leaving school, Chloe went on to marry and have four daughters: Nicola, Jacquie, Pippa, and Pennie. She now has ten grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Outside family life, Chloe trained as a shorthand typist and worked in the social services department at Winchester County Council until she retired.

She lived in a bungalow at Harestock, creating and tending a garden of colourful shrubs and enjoying hobbies such as country dancing and watercolour painting.

The birthday celebration featured lunch and a cake specially baked and decorated by Abbotts Barton’s chefs.

Present for the occasion were Chloe’s daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and there were also video calls with family members in Australia.

In a joint note to the team at Abbotts Barton ahead of the birthday, Chloe’s family wrote: “Chloe has been a rock in all our lives, setting an example of how to always put others before yourself and we have all loved and appreciated having her in our lives for so long.”

Chloe is one of four centenarians living at Abbotts Barton. The others are Betty, 105, Russell, 101, and Ian, 100.