A Century for Ella

A well known Swindon lady celebrated her 100th birthday when the Mayor of Swindon coun Derek Benfield delivered a greetings card from the Queen at a family lunch.

Helena Victoria Hall, who everyone knows as Ella, was born on 5 March 1904 at the Princess Christians Nursing Home in Windsor, the first and only baby born there. Her Godmother was Princess Christian , one of Queen Victoria's many daughters.

She was married at 18 years of age to Harry Graves on St Stephens Day in 1922 at St Stephens Church, Windsor. They later had a daughter 'Zan'. Harry was a shoemaker and repaired and made shoes for the Eton College School. The couple moved many times with the army between 1934 and 1947, repairing and re-claiming shoes for the Armed Forces to re-use. Taught by her husband Ella became adept at soling and healing shoes. She used to black the shoes and pair them up. She also kept the books for Harry.

When based in Tidworth and Aldershot they ran youth clubs and also provided accommodation for retired army chaplains.

After leaving Army service Harry and Ella moved to Berrynarbor, Devon, where they ran the paper shop with Harry. "I walked seven miles a day delivering papers," Ella said. "They were wonderful years. When I was delivering there was always someone who would say, "Here I've got a story for you Ella. We made a lot of friends in Devon."

However she is best known in Swindon for her connections with Blunsdon House Hotel. Ella and Harry moved to the town to help their daughter Zan and son-in-law transform turn a farm with guesthouse into the large hotel it is today. She was always there, helping in any way she could ­ decorating and serving guests in the bar alongside Peter, Zan and Michael Liddamore. "We owe a great deal to Ella," said Peter and Zan. "We had some great times working together," said Michael Liddamore.

When Harry died and Ella married another Harry (Hall) in 1967. She recalls, "we had eight wonderful years together."

Until last year Ella lived at the hotel where she was cared for by family and staff. She now lives at Park View nursing home, not far away. Ella's grand daughter Carrie Clifford said, "she's amazing ­ her mind is alert and she never misses the opportunity to tell a story. "The staff love her and she's always keen to know how things are going at the hotel".


Photos: Richard Wintle. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/calyxpix/pages/pix.htm