Bupa care home resident and former Harper's Bazaar model celebrates 103rd birthday

A Stockcross care home resident and former fashion model recently celebrated her 103rd birthday surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Pamela Langsman, known more affectionately as Pammy, marked the occasion with a homemade cake, a balloon display, sweet treats and lots of cards and gifts. She is a resident at Bayford House Bupa Care Home.

When asked how it felt to be turning 103, Mrs Langsman said: “I had a wonderful day celebrating my 103rd birthday with my lovely family and the staff at Bayford House. I feel very lucky and grateful.”

Mrs Langsman was born on February 19 and raised in Cricklewood in North West London. She attended Mora Road School, where she was head girl.

After school she attended the Lucie Clayton Charm Academy, a modelling agency and finishing school whose alumni includes Joanna Lumley, and became a catwalk and photographic model.

The highlights of her modelling career included being featured in Harper’s Bazaar and modelling Kitty Copeland in Drapers Record.

When the Second World War began, Mrs Langsman switched the catwalk for an office job behind a desk, which she said “was much easier and better than being on your feet all day”.

In 1947, she married her late husband, Jack, and moved to Wembley where she had three children, Bruce, Rex and Jasmine.

Mrs Langsman remembers many memorable parts of her life, such as watching the Apollo 11 moon landings in America, taking a flight on a Concorde for her 80th birthday and attending the Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle every year for over 20 years.

Home manager at Bayford House Christine Hutchings said: “It was wonderful to celebrate Pammy’s 103rd birthday with her.

“She has led an incredibly varied life and we all enjoy listening to the different stories she is keen to share with us.

“Celebrating our residents’ milestones is incredibly important to us at Bayford House, it really does boost all of our residents’ well-being.”