Today I joined residents at Bridgeside Lodge care home to meet them and discuss their concerns, and while I was there I was fortunate enough to be invited to join in the celebrations for resident Ada Whatling’s 100th birthday.

Ada, who has lived at Bridgeside Lodge for two years, is originally from Stockton on Tees but moved to London in the 1920s. She lived in Kentish Town during World War Two and survived the Blitz, when several bombs were dropped near her home.

Today’s celebrations included a surprise visit from Ada’s grandson, who she sadly lost touch with many years ago after her son died. He found out she was living at Bridgeside Lodge when her picture appeared online following a canal festival last year, and to her complete surprise he flew to London from Hong Kong especially to see her today.

Earlier on this morning I had the chance to meet several other residents, joining them for coffee and visiting them in their rooms to talk.

I also appreciated the opportunity to meet the dedicated staff at Bridgeside Lodge, who work hard to make the centre an inclusive, positive place for residents to live.