A HARNHAM resident is all set to celebrate her 109th birthday later this month. 

To celebrate, Anne Baker's family are continuing her fundraising for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Last summer, Anne entered the Guinness World Records after becoming the oldest person to receive an MBE – she was awarded the honour in 2020 aged 106 for raising money for the NSPCC for more than 60 years.

Anne, of Harnham, will mark her birthday on Sunday, May 14 with a lunch with extended family, but wanted her fundraising for the NSPCC to continue, so a Just Giving page has been set up in her name. So far more than £1,000 has been raised and money has kept rolling in.  

Her family believe she could be the oldest person in Wiltshire and it is a tribute to her spirit that she thought that her favourite charity should benefit from her birthday celebrations.

When Anne was born, the First World War had not yet started and George V had just come to the throne, and so she is delighted that she will now get to see the Coronation of King Charles III just before her birthday.

Over her lifetime Anne has seen enormous changes, having been born before the existence of the Internet, when there was no television, when aeroplanes were flimsy and dangerous, cars were considered unreliable, and a washing machine was still a dream to end wash-day drudgery.

Anne’s son, David, said: “Mother of five, Granny, Great Granny and even Great Great Granny, Anne loves children and children love her. It is this love which inspired her to support the NSPCC.  For over 30 years she has hosted a coffee morning at her home in Harnham.

"This event is more like a fete, with stalls, a raffle and, of course, coffee, cakes and biscuits. She has been greatly helped in this by the Salisbury Committee of the NSPCC, and in particular her neighbour, Sheril Witt. In recent years these events have raised thousands of pounds for the charity.”

David said, when asked why the NSPCC meant so much to her, Anne replied: "I have always loved children. We owe them protection; they are our future.”

David added: “She is a remarkable person and even at the age of nearly 109 she is still engaged with all her extended family and in doing her daily crossword."

Emma Hildesley, NSPCC community fundraising manager for Wiltshire, said: “Anne’s continuous dedication and love for children shines once again. She’s an incredible support to the NSPCC and we could not do what we do without people like Anne - someone who is selfless and is passionate about safeguarding the next generation. Anne has set a wonderful example of how we can make the world a safer and better place for young people.”