A DETERMINED Salisbury woman celebrated her 100th birthday by completing her final and 200th lap around Salisbury Cathedral Close.
Phyll Babb battled soaring temperatures yesterday (July 13) to raise £11,300 for Salisbury Trust for the Homeless (STFH).
Her brisk pace saw her arrive back at the post-walk party venue 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
She was accompanied on the one-mile walk by John Glen, MP for Salisbury, more than 20 members of her extended family, who had come from all over the country, representatives of STFH, and some of those who have accompanied her on her walks during the past year, which have raised £11,319 in total for the charity.
“Phyll is remarkable,” said Mr Glen, who was walking with her for the second time.
“As we turned into The Close near the end of the walk, she said, ‘I could do with a glass of Prosecco’ and that seemed to me to sum up Phyll Babb”.
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Shortly afterwards, Phyll got her wish when the Italian sparkling white wine was served at a party in Sarum College to celebrate her centenary.
On the way into the college, she was serenaded by musicians Jonathan Healey, her great niece’s partner, and Marcellus Taylor, a family friend, with the Frank Sinatra classic ‘Come Fly with Me’.
Phyll with John Glen Picture: STFH
Phyll then presented a giant cheque for £11,319 to Maureen Pardy, chairman of STFH, who said “she is a star”.
Mr Glen also paid tribute to the centenarian.
“We are all so proud of you for what you have done,” he said. “The determination, the kindness and the good humour with which you go about your life is an example to all of us.”
Phyll did a similar challenge following her 99th birthday last year.
Originally she had planned to mark her 100th birthday by doing 100 walks around the Cathedral Close but she got so far ahead of schedule that she upped her target to 200.
She said: “I thought, here am I, having a lovely time and still fit and healthy. I can do something to help those less fortunate than I am.”
Some welcome shade for the walkers Picture: STFH
During the walks, for which she uses a rollator aid of the type made famous by Captain Sir Tom Moore, she has been accompanied by 132 different people, including Mr Glen, the then Mayor councillor Sven Hocking, former Mayor John Walsh, and Salisbury Cathedral Chancellor, the Reverend Canon Edward Probert.
“I have had a wonderful time and a wonderful year and I have had something to do four days a week,” said Phyll.
“The people I have walked with have all had different careers and I have made a list of all their occupations.
“I was wondering what I am going to do with myself now so I have decided to write an account of everything I can remember about everyone in my family.”
Phyll was born in Bideford, north Devon, and went to Exeter University before working as a teacher.
In 1949 she adventurously travelled by sea alone to Jamaica, where she taught in a girl’s grammar school for three years. After a brief spell in England, she took off again to Vancouver in western Canada before returning to the UK to look after her disabled mother.
Back home in Bideford, she carried on teaching but was also a keen member of the local yacht club, becoming secretary and then rear commodore.
In 1985 she retired, and the following year moved to Salisbury, where she became involved in a range of voluntary work – the Probation Service, Victim Support and U3A (University of the Third Age), for which she undertook senior roles at national level.
She was placed on the U3A Roll of Honour. She first became involved with STFH in 1998 and was chairman from 2004 to 2009.
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