Portsmouth marks 100th anniversary with special tea party for centenarians

Three 100-year-olds who share a special milestone with the city were invited to a celebratory event marking Portsmouth’s own 100th anniversary of receiving official city status.

Connie Hardman, Agnes Davis and Evelyn Weekes were invited to a special tea party at Southsea Castle in an event to bring together residents born in 1926 and to recognise their lives, stories, and contribution to the city across a century of change.

The trio are among eight people who live or were born in the city and were invited to the celebratory event, with health reasons meaning the remaining five were unable to attend.

The three centenarians were hosted on Monday (September 28) by Lord Mayor, Abdul Kadir, and joined by family, friends and care workers, with each given a cream tea, a personalised cake each and flowers as part of the celebration.

The event also saw the unveiling of the first Portsmouth100 portrait by Karl Rudziak capturing 100 of the city’s residents in painted portraits through a series of intensive, artist-led free workshops.

The portrait he unveiled was that of Betty Atkins, a centenarian who unfortunately was not able to attend the event due to illness.

Workshops are taking place in the Portsmouth libraries using an accessible and supportive approach, with the resulting works forming a city-wide exhibition arts trail in Portsmouth libraries.

The project culminates in a final portrait of a Portsmouth centenarian, painted by Mr Rudziak, creating a centrepiece in a final exhibition at the International Ferry Ports to showcasing the collected works of the project.

As part of the centenary celebrations, Portsmouth City Council will also be sending a special birthday card to every resident turning 100 this year.

For more details of events for the Portsmouth100 celebrations visit www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/portsmouth-100/things-to-do