SARAH MILDENHALL

90 YEARS OLD

Mrs. Sarah Mildenhall’s Birthday Celebrations

Mrs. Sarah Mildenhall, of 6, St. Bartholomew’s Almshouses, Newbury, the oldest guest at the Toc H old folks’ party at the Plaza last week, celebrated her ninetieth birthday on Sunday.  There was a happy family reunion, which was attended by three of her four children, the oldest of whom  is seventy years old Mr. Tom Mildenhall, of 9, Kimber’s Almshouses. Mrs. Mildenhall received several beautiful bunches of flowers and many messages of congratulation and good wishes.

Born at Kingsclere, Mrs. Mildenhall was the daughter of a Kingsclere farmer, who afterwards became a police constable in the Hampshire Constabulary and was stationed at Kingsclere and Highclere.  While her mother was out sewing at Highclere Castle, Mrs. Mildenhall used to do the housework and baking. At the age of 12, she herself went to work at the Castle as under housemaid to the present Earl’s grandfather and grandmother.

Mrs. Mildenhall was married on May 17^th, 1868, at the early age of 20. Her husband, who was a porter at Messrs. Dolton’s corn wharf, died 25 years ago. She has lived in her present almshouse for 20 years.

Possessing a good memory, Mrs. Mildenhall can recount many events  which happened in her very early life. She is able to get about her house quite well, does most of her own work and even fetches water from the pump. She attributes her great age to quiet and regular living during the period she has lived in her almshouse.

At the family reunion on Sunday, Mrs. Mildenhall cut her large birthday cake on which was one large candle, representing 80 years, with ten smaller ones around. The party included Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mildenhall and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mildenhall, who live in London, her two sons and daughters-in-law, Mrs. Wilson, living in York-road, a daughter and nephews and nieces.  Many neighbours and friends, including her nurse, visited her during the day. Mrs. Mildenhall also has a son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Emily Garrett, living in New York. She has three grand-sons, three grand-daughters and two great grandsons.

Newbury Weekly News 3 February 1938

Mrs. P. Code ChNW23  Page 94

She died on 25 April 1940 aged 92 years and, from 4 York Road, she was buried on 2 May 1940 in the same grave as her husband Thomas Mildenhall who died on 12 May 1912 aged 65 years.

Also buried in the cemetery is their son William Frank Mildenhall who died on 11 October 1892 aged 6 years and 10 months. (Mrs. P. Ref. LN(c)2  Page 113).  Also her daughter Florence Louisa Willson who died 16 February 1972 aged 98 years and her husband Frederick Willson who died 15 December 1926 aged 51 years; and her grandson Albert Stanley Mildenhall who died in Bournemouth on 27 February 1974 aged 69 years, and his wife Winifred Clara Mildenhall (nee Waghorn) who died 6 February 1976 aged 74 years. (Mrs. P. Ref. LN10 Page 107).