Connie House celebrates her 100th birthday.
Camera IconConnie House celebrates her 100th birthday. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Long life ‘in the genes’

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

The centenarian lives at Behanie Peel in Coodanup and has two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

She was born in Grays, Essex, England, in 1916. She worked as a domestic servant and did market stall cooking for many years.

She has memories of the Great Depression and sleeping in underground shelters at night due to the bombing raids in World War II. In 1939, Connie was sent to work for the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute in Middlesex, next door to the Royal Military School of Music where she met her future husband Robert (Bob).

Shortly after they were married, Bob became a bandmaster, which saw them move to Singapore with their daughter Patricia Anne. Later they moved to Brunei, where Bob worked as the bandmaster with the police force. Connie has fond memories of attending banquets at the Sultan of Brunei’s Palace.

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In 1963, Connie moved to WA with Bob and travelled the state umpiring croquet tournaments.

Connie credits her long life to great genes and believes she is doing pretty well for her age.