Beryl is a world beater … and she just keeps going
Centenarian Beryl Carr is celebrating another first after being listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest female volunteer in the world.
The 103-year-old still comes in one day a week to the Friends Café in Ealing Hospital, London.
Beryl’s listing in one of the world’s most recognisable books sits alongside other luminary entries, such as the oldest living person of all time (122 years) and the oldest human planted tree (2,300 years).
She started working in the Friends Café as a sprightly 80-year-old in 2003 preparing food and working on the till.
“I’ve made a fair few sandwiches in my time but I really enjoy the social side of it. I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in front of the TV all day.
“The great thing about volunteering is that you are helping other people but in funny way you are helping yourself as well.”
Beryl was born in 1922 when George V was on the throne, Gandhi was imprisoned for opposing British rule in India, and archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed Tutankhamun’s tomb.
She survived the Blitz during World War Two which included being bombed out of her home and helped the war effort by sewing barrage balloons and working as a fire watcher as German bombs fell on the capital.
“We spent a lot of time in the bomb shelter in our back garden and one of the nights we chanced sleeping inside there was an air raid and the house was hit. I ended up under a cupboard covered in plaster.”
“Volunteering gave me a new lease on life and it is something I would recommend to anyone regardless of their age.”
Ann Cousins, who runs the Friends Café, added: “Beryl is a bit of an institution in the hospital. Everyone knows who she is and loves chatting with her.”