When Manette said she wanted to drive round Silverstone in a Ferrari for her 100th birthday, local residents arranged it and were there, with tears in their eyes, to celebrate with her.
She made it onto local and bbc news but what pleased Manette the most was that she clocked 130 mph round the Silverstone circuit!
Her 101st birthday was a quiet affair which started with champagne and a few friends round for a garden party. Not so quiet after all then?
For her 102nd birthday (thinking it might be her last) she wanted to do something special for her three favourite charities so decided on a record-breaking sky dive for Air Ambulance, Benhall Club & Motor Neuron Disease. She became Britain’s oldest sky diver & ‘oldie flying angel of the year’.
Left: 101st Birthday. Centre: Reading out a personal message from HRH Prince William. Right: Sky diving on 102nd birthday
Benhall & Sternfield villagers supporting Manette on her sky dive. Image courtesy David Burns
Was her 103rd birthday also a quiet affair? Local residents from Benhall & Sternfield couldn’t allow that to happen and so arranged a surprise curry night in Saxmundham.
You might think, in between these celebrations, that Manette was sitting quietly at home watching TV but you would be so wrong. She takes part in every event in Benhall & Sternfield and most recently celebrated Armed Forces Day, as she served with the Wrens in WWII. She has been guest speaker for her local history group, of which she is still a member, and last year gave two talks at the Fromus Centre, Saxmundham to packed audiences.
At the Saxmundham Arts Festival on 13th June 2026 Manette volunteered to be a ‘model’ for photographers learning about studio portraiture with Richard Allensby-Pratt of Photoshed. She so enjoyed the experience that she has volunteered to do it all again!
A book celebrating Manette’s 103rd birthday
Take a look through Manette’s life book which was presented to her in 2025.
Click on square top right for full screen
