HomeLifestyleBirthday Buddies and Next-Door Neighbors Turn 101 on Same Day

Birthday Buddies and Next-Door Neighbors Turn 101 on Same Day

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

March 30, 2025

5 min read

Brief

Centenarian neighbors Josie Church and Anne Wallace-Hadrill, both born April 1, 1924, celebrate their 101st birthdays together in Oxford, sharing decades of friendship and remarkable life stories.

Imagine living next door to someone who not only shares your age but also the exact same birthday. It sounds like the plot of a heartwarming movie, but for Josie Church and Anne Wallace-Hadrill, it's just life. These two great-grandmothers, born on April 1, 1924, celebrated their 101st birthdays together this year in Oxford, U.K.

Their story goes beyond just shared milestones. Josie and Anne have been next-door neighbors since the 1980s. Over the years, they’ve built a bond that's as enduring as their longevity. Church reflects on their decades-long friendship, saying, "Anne was very busy when she was younger — so was I — and was very productive and creative. She did a lot of painting and tapestry, and I was always busy doing something else, somewhere else." Time, she adds, "just passed."

Both women found purpose and solace in volunteer work and creative endeavors after losing their husbands. Church's husband, Peter, passed away in the 1990s, and Wallace-Hadrill moved to Oxford following the death of her husband, historian John Michael Wallace-Hadrill. Anne also had a remarkable career, serving as a radio mechanic in the Women’s Royal Naval Service during World War II and later teaching English at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford University. She even worked as a lexicographer for the Oxford English Dictionary, where her love for words became her trade. Just last year, she received a long-overdue medal for her naval service, a moment she described with quiet pride.

Josie’s journey was no less extraordinary. Originally from Manchester, she trained at Preston Royal Infirmary during the challenging early days of the National Health Service. Her time as a nurse during World War II included caring for SS German soldiers — a chilling experience she recalls vividly. Later, she and her husband moved to Oxford so he could complete his studies at University College, an era she describes as "living the life of an undergraduate."

Despite their impressive individual lives, their shared history as neighbors brought a unique joy. Their 100th birthday celebration last year was a community affair, described as a "wonderful" and "unexpected" day. Josie credits their remarkable neighborhood, where, as she puts it, "If you have a problem, you just give a shout and somebody will come."

When it comes to the secrets of their long lives, Josie offers simple wisdom: "Just live. There's not much you can do. You just go on from one thing to the next." She adds, "We don't engineer our lives. I think they've just engineered us." Spoken like someone who’s found peace in the ebb and flow of life.

Topics

centenarians101st birthdayOxford neighborsJosie ChurchAnne Wallace-HadrillWorld War IIWomen's Royal Naval ServiceOxford UniversitylongevityfriendshipLifestyleHuman InterestLongevity

Editor's Comments

How poetic is it that two long, rich lives intersected not only by fate but by geography too? Josie’s philosophy on life — that it 'just engineers us' — feels like the perfect summation of their story. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary lives are built on the simplest joys: community, creativity, and a good neighbor next door.

Like this article? Share it with your friends!

If you find this article interesting, feel free to share it with your friends!

Thank you for your support! Sharing is the greatest encouragement for us.

Related Stories