Greater Manchester's oldest resident celebrates 110th birthday

Date published: 23 November 2022

A Heywood resident celebrated turning 110 on Monday 21 November and is one of the oldest people in the UK.

Sylvia Corfield, a resident at Highfield House Care Home in Heywood, celebrated her special day with a party, attended by family, staff and residents at the home.

The supercentenarian is the oldest resident in Greater Manchester – and the 10th oldest resident in the whole of the UK.

Gaynor Wright, manager of Highfield House, said: “Sylvia has had a wonderful day with family and friends.

“We are so privileged to look after Sylvia; all of the staff at Highfield House Care Home think the world of her. We feel honoured to not only look after such a beautiful lady but to know her as well. Sylvia has been with us all since January 2020 and is absolutely amazing. We enjoyed big celebrations with singing and dancing with everyone.

“Sylvia's family came to visit her and they were Malcolm and Roy, who are nephews, and other family are Margaret, Katie, David, Cheryl and baby Arabella.”

Malcolm added: “Sylvia is being well looked after in Highfield House."

Sylvia Annie Cissie was born on 21 November 1912 in Shenstone, Staffordshire to her parents, Mary and Thomas Aston. She had a younger brother, Tommy, and a sister, Rhoda, and the family ran the village grocery store and bakery. They delivered by horse and trap [carriage] to local villages.

When Sylvia left the local private school, she travelled daily by train from Shenstone to Birmingham where she worked as a typist. When World War Two began, her career changed and she worked for British Motor Company, who were building tanks for the forces.

At the end of the war, she commenced work at The Post Office, up until her retirement in 1972 (aged 60).

Sylvia married Douglas Corfield on 20 September 1947 at Shenstone Parish Church. Douglas was referred to as Sylvia’s ‘toy boy’ as he was over ten years her junior.

As Sylvia and Douglas had no relatives in Birmingham where they lived together, Sylvia looked on her cousin in Rochdale and upon retirement, the couple moved north to the town where they loved the social life and dancing.

Sylvia and Douglas had no children, and Douglas died in 2008.

In later years, Sylvia’s eyesight has failed and so she became a member at Rochdale Blind Society, which she attended up until 2019. She loved the chats and dancing but complained that there were only two men to dance with, who she says would ‘fight one another to dance with her’.

Since Douglas’ death, Sylvia lived alone very independently until the end of 2019, when it became difficult. After a few short stays in hospital, Sylvia arrived at Highfield House in Heywood, initially for respite, but decided she liked being there.

When asked by her social worker about going home or staying, Sylvia decided to stay at Highfield, where she has officially lived since January 2020.