Chris’s life sadly came to an end on the 3^rd of April 2022. A life that lasted an amazing 100 years and 99 Days.

A life that was well lived and although sad at its ending, a life that should be celebrated to the full.

Chris was born on Christmas day, 1921 to Parents Albert and Charlotte Cape in the Back to Backs.

No 8, back of 304, Bellbarn Road, Edgbaston.

Life wasn’t easy in the Back to Backs, there was no running water and a shared Toilet with the rest of the Block . Although conditions were tough, Chris always said that she had a happy childhood.

Many years later when visiting the National Trust refurbished  Back to Backs in Hurst Street. Chris  was heard to comment. “ These are far too posh”

Chris was the second oldest of 6 Siblings, 4 Brothers –  Frank, Les, Kenny & Bobby, and Sister Sheila. She loved them all and they remained close throughout their lives.

But sadly, being the oldest survivor, she eventually had to say goodbye to them all.

She was very bright at School, particularly in English. Apparently, she was awarded a special Pen by the school for her writing ability and her love of reading was to stay with her for the rest of her life

The family later moved  to Kingsthorpe Road, which was comparative Luxury compared to  Bellbarn Rd.

There was someone else who had moved to the area, a boy she knew from the Back to Backs and who would later become a big part of her life. His name was Tommy Hensey

She Left School at 14, but soon developed Diphtheria, she was in isolation in Hospital for over 3 months and her parents were unable to visit her.

She eventually recovered and went on to work at Burnams and then became a Bus Conductor until the outbreak of War in 1939

She Joined up in 1940 and served in the ATS as a Convoy Driver, stationed at Nottingham and Sheffield where she drove Lorries to Dover and Scotland Delivering Ammunition.

Sometimes staying overnight in Digs, where the land ladies would let them keep their money because they were doing Military Service. When given Leave she would return home and gave the money she had saved to her mom.

She always said it was the best years of her life.

Typical of Chris she never made a fuse about getting her Service Medal after the War.

But this was something the family put right for her on her 100 Birthday, when we presented her with both her Certificate of Service and  her Medal. She was very surprised, and I think immensely proud as well.

After the war Chris was  re-united with Tommy and a friendship quickly turned to romance which eventually led to a Wedding in this very Church on August 16^th, 1947.

The Reception was held at the Maypole Pub where the Centre Piece was the Carboard Wedding Cake, as they couldn’t afford a real one.

Chris worked as a GPO driver after the War and only stopped when she was Pregnant with Donna.

She even taught Tommy to drive during this period.

But after being in a Car with Tommy, I’m not so sure that went too well.

Early married life wasn’t easy for Chris and Tom as they had no house of their own.

They stayed with anyone, and anywhere, even squatting at the Army camp at Druids Heath.

But life did get better, and they finally found a home in Shard End, where they settled down to Family life.

There were subsequent moves to Sisefield Road, Dee Grove and eventually Brentford Road which is still the family home now.

Wherever they lived, she always had close friendships with their neighbours, always had time for everybody and was well respected by all.

As life became more settled, Chris and Tom’s family grew, they had 5 Daughters,  Donna, Gilly, Debbie, Judy, and finally at the age of 45  Nicky.

She was 58 when her first Grand Child Laura was born and many more followed  13 Grand Children in total and 12 Great Grand Children.

The Girls have told me many Stories about growing up

Countless Family Holidays to Margate, Butlins, Great Yarmouth, Spain, Jersey and going out on Bank Holidays, which I also have fond memories of.

There are memories of Chris cooking Sunday Lunches listening to Billy Cotton or Sing Something Simple on the Radio.

The  Smell of Dinner wafting up the Stairs where the Girls were waiting for 2 O’clock when their Dad would come back from the Club so they could have Dinner.

But then later having to clear up the carnage Chris had left in the Kitchen, after cooking Dinner.

She was no push over Chris

The Girls all had their Saturday Housework duties. And she didn’t take prisoners if they weren’t done.

They  said they were more scared of Mom telling them off than Dad.

Nickey told me that she always knew she was in trouble when her mom called her Nicola

But on saying that she was a loving, caring Mom, who was always there for the Girls and later her Grandchildren, she always had some words of encouragement or advise if you needed it.

One of the phrases you often heard her say was.

“You’ve always got the memories to look back on, not the regrets of I wish I had done in later life”

If the Girls had gone out for the night she’d always go to bed with a book, and she would not turn her light out until the girls were all back home and safe.

As well as bringing up a family she was never afraid of getting a job to help make ends meet.

She worked at Mitchells the local Fruit and Veg shop, Home Help and also Cleaning,  sometimes having two jobs at once.

She was very good with the Household finances. She used to put money in different purses to make sure there was money to pay the Bills. But often she found  IOUs in the Purses, where the Girls had borrowed money to go out.

Besides pulling her hair out with Tommy now and again. Life continued on an even keel, as she watched her family grow and prosper. The usual round of Weddings, Christenings, Holidays Christmas’s passed by with out any real serious glitches until 2001 when Tommy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

It was a tough period for Chris who along with the family nursed him until the final weeks of his life, when he had to go into care.

It was made worse by the fact that she was in hospital herself when Tom was Passing , but her resilience showed through, and she was allowed out of bed to go and see him one last time to say farewell.

After Tommy sadly Died in  2006 the family became an even bigger part of her life

She didn’t spend much time at 136 after Tom passed. She’d always be staying at one of the families houses and it enabled her to be around the Grand Kids who she adored.

I honestly believe that being around her family is what kept her going.

She’d always read to them or take them to the Kids Library and eventually she would go into Woodthorpe and Wheelers Lane Schools to listen to the kids read. She absolutely loved it.

She always offered to help when she stayed with the family, but doing the Ironing got banned.

I think she’d of got a job as a Test Engineer for Irons the way  she used to used them.

My Work Shirts ended up being a Breast Pocket with a Collar by the time she’d finished with them.

Chris had a great sense of humour and a naughty twinkle in her eye.

She was always good for a joke and a laugh and would give as good as she got and wasn’t averse to throwing the odd Winston Churchill or Umpire Dicky Bird in your direction, if she was getting flack.

She was always in the thick of it, whatever was going on whether it be Dancing, Fancy Dress, Camping, or even playing Pie Face at Christmas.

Anything, as long as she could be with her extended family.

Even in her 80’s, as a Party trick she could still get her Leg behind her Head.

Getting it back down though was usually a job for International Rescue.

In her latter years, her visits to the family homes became one of necessity, as she was unable to be on her own and the Family took the decision to care for her themselves, rather than put her into a Care Home.

A decision that was to be well founded with what was to follow in the Care Homes when Covid hit.

So, 1 week in 5 our houses were turned into Temporary Nursing Homes.

The Cupboards were well stocked with Tea Bags, Sugar, and Toilet Rolls. We even put Bumper Bars on her Walking Frames as she wasn’t the best of Drivers.

Three point turns into the toilet and 15-minute warnings that her Dinner was ready became the norm. As that was how long it took her to get to the Kitchen Table from the Lounge,

20 with a Toilet stop.

You knew she was on her way when you heard the warning of “ Mind your Toes” as she was coming  through with her Walker.

Hearing Aids and Glasses always going missing, and she was the only person I know besides the Queen who never carried money.

She never complained ( well not all the time) and she was happy just sitting there and listening to the conversations going on around her.

All the Dogs got called Dougie or Waggy Waggy and if you ever asked her if she was alright, you’d always get the response “Comfy Cosey”

She never stopped asking about the Weather. If the sun wasn’t shining, she’d always say “ What a miserable day”

To which I’d always reply “ Well Chris you woke up again this morning, so it can’t be that bad.”

That always got me a Winston Churchill.

Her strength and determination were amazing.

She recovered  from numerous falls, a Fractured Hip at 95 and even Covid in June 21

Even during her last Days one of the Doctors said “she had shown great strength and was a formidable woman.

Grand Daughter Millie got her doing the Joe Wickes Senior work out during Lock Down and put it on Instagram where at the last count it had got 380,152 hits.

One of those hits was from Joe Wickes himself, who sent Chris an audio message calling her “Super Gran” and even sent her a Video message for her Birthday and another one when she was in Hospital.

Getting to a hundred is some achievement, anybody who has been watching the England cricket team lately will understand how hard that is.

In fact, there were only  14,750 recorded centenarians in the UK last Year .  Which equates to 0.02 % of the population

But she didn’t get there on her own.

I stood in this very Pulpit 16 years ago and paid tribute to Chris and the Girls  for the fantastic job they did with Tommy after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The Care and the dignity they showed him was very emotive.

The same goes for the love and care given to Chris, I think the whole family can take great satisfaction and credit they did her proud.

On Chris’s 90^th Birthday the Family gathered in Stratford to celebrate the occasion and I did a little speech in which I jokingly summarised some of the things she had witnessed in her Life.

Id’ like to update that.

In her 100 years she had seen 4 English Monarchs. 24 Prime Ministers, 9 Popes, 71 solar eclipses of the sun, 28 English Football captains and Birmingham City have won 2 Trophies.

Which is one more than 10 years ago.

Finally, I read something in a book not long ago which I think is quite apt for today, it goes

“ You are the Author of the book of your own life “.

Chris’s book has many pages, it was a Book well written, and a Book well read.

She was a wonderful Woman, who lived a wonderful life

She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed

Weatheroak Hall, Brockhill Ln, Alvechurch, Birmingham, B48 7ED

Click here for a map 

If you would like to make a donation in Christine’s memory, her family has requested either of these two charities:

Alzheimer’s Society You can donate online here

Birmingham Children’s Hospital You can donate online here

Please remember to include Gift Aid, if you can.

There will also be a collection on the day of the funeral.