North Wales Housing is celebrating the 100th birthday of Frances, a resident of its Llys y Coed extra care scheme in Llanfairfechan.
Frances celebrated the milestone with nearly 100 guests at a birthday event held at Llys y Coed, where she has lived for almost six years. She described the day as ‘wonderful’.
Born in Finchley in 1926, Frances’ early life was shaped by the Second World War, which brought her schooling to an early end. She later gained qualifications through night school and went on to work in a range of roles, including 15 years managing surgical appliances at Whittington Hospital. Throughout her life, she also travelled widely, visiting places such as Trinidad and Scandinavia.
At 77, Frances married her husband Donald. The pair moved to Llys y Coed in 2020, where they lived together until Donald’s passing three years ago.
Allan Eveleigh, Assistant Director Communities at North Wales Housing, said:
“It was a real privilege to spend time with Frances ahead of her birthday. Listening to her stories – from her travels abroad to her marriage at 77 – was inspiring. Frances also spoke about the tremendous support she has received from the Llys y Coed team – especially after losing her husband.”
Frances describes life at Llys y Coed as warm and welcoming:
“I’m very satisfied here, it’s wonderfully laid out. I can’t fault it!”
Llys y Coed was North Wales Housing’s first Extra Care scheme, developed with Conwy County Borough Council. The scheme provides high‑quality, modern apartments for people aged 60+ who need flexible support while maintaining independence. It comprises 31 one‑bedroom and 15 two‑bedroom apartments, each designed to provide comfort, security and a strong sense of community.
