Evening Telegraph, 1st April 1963
Two birthday cakes for Rushden Centenarian
Mrs. Ellen Hensman, a resident at Risdene Old People's Home, Rushden, celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with friends and relatives. She received numerous flowers, cards, and birthday presents from many well-wishers who called during the day. Mrs. Hensman also had the traditional telegram of congratulations from the Queen.
A widow who has lived in Rushden all her life, she was visited by her sister, Mrs. Aida Durham, sons Frank, William and Frederick, granddaughter Mrs. Gladys Watts, and 17-year-old great-grandson, Tony Watts.
Her daughter, living in Bournemouth, was unable to attend because of illness. A daughter-in-law made Mrs. Hensman a special birthday cake, and there was another from the Vicar of St. Peter's, Rushden, the Rev. W. Gordon Muir.
Others who called to wish the first centenarian at Risdene a happy birthday were Mr. Cyril Freeman, chairman of Rushden Urban Council and his wife: Mr. Ewart Marlow, County Council chairman: Mr. W. J. A. Peck, chairman of the home's house committee and Mrs. Peck, Dr. B. W. Paine and his wife, Dr. D. Crockett, and Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Marriott.
Rushden WVS, the town's contributory fund, and the county welfare committee, represented by Mr. W. H. Abbott, gave presents.
Mrs. Hensman—believed to be the first centenarian in the town, apart from slight deafness, is in full possession of all her faculties. She reads without glasses.
Yesterday she laughed and joked with her visitors in her first floor room at the home.
Her guests were given a dinner by the Rushden Co-operative Society, to which Mrs. Hensman has belonged since 1895—making her the oldest member in its history.
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Co-operative News, 28th September 1963
Co-op member since 1895
ONE of the country's oldest co-operative society members has died at Rushden, six months after her hundredth birthday. She was Mrs. Ellen Annie Hensman, of Risdene 0ld People's Home, Rushden, and a member of Rushden Society since 1895. Until her final illness and her move to the old people's home five years ago she still did some of her own shopping.
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