A former photographer to the stars has celebrated his 100th birthday with his family at a Ferndown care home.
Ron, who lives at Fairlawn care home, was joined by his sons, Nick and Martin, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family for a party to mark his special birthday alongside the care home team.
Ron grew up in London and worked as a professional photographer until he turned 71. He married his late wife, Joyce, in 1952. Together, Ron and Joyce bought a home together in Shepherd’s Bush near the BBC Television Centre.
He served as a freelance photographer on BBC’s Top of the Pops from 1964 to 1974, alongside a number of other BBC shows, including Parkinson. Over time, he captured photos of The Beatles during their only live performance on Top of the Pops in 1966, as well as Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Jackson Five, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Beach Boys.
Ron and Joyce enjoyed 75 years together, settling in Ferndown once Ron had retired after being advised of the stunning Dorset coastline by his fellow photographer friends. Joyce sadly passed away in October 2021, with Ron continuing to live independently before moving to Fairlawn care home.
His son, Nick, said: “He has always been a really fantastic dad and was so lovely to us growing up. He lived at home before he came to Fairlawn, and the whole team has been so good to Dad. He initially came to stay for two weeks and then never wanted to leave.”
Tina Vincent, Home Manager at Fairlawn, said: “Ron is a joy to care for, and it was a privilege to welcome his family to join him to celebrate his 100th birthday, where they shared stories and fond memories of his personal life and professional career over the years. At Care South, we believe that residents’ lives should be filled with Fun, Food, and Friendship, and that was certainly the case during Ron’s birthday celebrations.”
Fairlawn, which is run by the not-for-profit charity Care South, provides residential, respite, and dementia care. The care home features a range of communal lounges overlooking landscaped gardens for residents to enjoy. Fairlawn has a dedicated activities team that organises a daily programme of events to bring residents together to socialise and build friendships.
Care South is a leading provider of high-quality residential and home care services across the south of England. The not-for-profit organisation, which is a registered charity, has care homes in Dorset, north Devon, and Somerset, and home care offices covering Dorset and Somerset.
For more information about the care services available, go to care-south.co.uk or call
Care South on 01202 712410.
