THE sister of a woman who was thought to be Hillingdon’s oldest resident is closing in on the title herself.
Longevity is clearly in the family’s blood as Edna Peachey celebrates her 104th birthday, a few months after sister Dorothy Fisher died aged 107 at a care home in Eastcote.
Mrs Peachey is the longest-surviving resident of Ashwood Care Home in Hayes, where she has been for 15 years having moved in shortly after it opened.
Staff at the centre have grown very fond of the jazz music fan. Caroline Davenport, Ashwood’s acting chief co-ordinator, told the Gazette: “She is very well known around here and is friends with a lot of the staff.
“She has deteriorated recently but she is still quite a character.”
Mrs Peachey also has two younger siblings, Pete and Sheila, who are in their 90s.
Great-granddaughter Stephanie Waterford said: “Living long seems to be in our blood.
“Edna has had a couple of hip replacements but other than that she has done well physically. She loves her jazz music, it provides her with an escape.”
Mrs Peachey was one of 10 children for George and Mary Pickford. She was born on May 7, 1908, at Bordon Army Camp in Hampshire. Mr Pickford was a regimental sergeant major.
The family soon moved to Southall and Edna grew up in the area. In July 1936 she married Philip Peachey, an engineer, and the couple moved to Grove Avenue in Hanwell where they lived for 60 years.
Daughter Marion, their only child, was born in April 1938. The family has since grown to four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs Peachey moved to Hayes in 1994 to join many of her relatives local to the area, before she was transferred to Ashwood after the death of husband.
Ms Waterford, 28, said family was central to Edna’s life. “She is a loving, kind and thoughtful person, her family is always her number one priority.”
