2025

All my life I have recorded my date of birth as 1925.  Never did I dream that one day I would live to write the year 2025!  Yes this has been the year of my 100th birthday.  Even before my birthday in March during January and February there were pre-celebrations and interviews.  But the memory of my celebrations in March will give me joy for the rest of my life.

The week of my birthday there were 8 parties!  On the day of my birthday, March 23rd, I gave a celebration for 100 friends and family, many from overseas. Although none of my contemporaries are still alive, I can honestly say I have a deep  affectionate connection with everyone who was there.  Everybody said they had a wonderful time.  Drinks, lunch, speeches and entertainment.  In a lovely venue, Morden Hall Park. Famous friends included  Dames Sheila Hancock and Maureen Lipman, Sir Brian May with Lady Anita Dobson, Gyles Brandreth, Janie Dee, Lady Rosa Lipworth and Sir Michael Burton.

The other parties all in that week  were: 

a party for  family, most had come from abroad, 

a party in a lovely museum for overseas guests, 

a lunch party given by my friend Lynne Sidkin for 12 lady friends, 

The Friends of Wimbledon Theatre--I was their first President about 40 years ago--made a special evening, 

a glorious service in my honour followed by a beautiful reception at my Synagogue,

a party in my flat for neighbours in my building,

a gathering in the department store Elys for the friends I made in the class I went to for 30 years,

my nephew Meir took me and my best friend Helen Cotterill for a fabulous tea at the Ritz Hotel,

plus 2 meetings for the cause I am fighting for to Save Wimbledon Park at which I was praised and given glorious flowers.  And they gave a special afternoon in my honour.

Also I had over 100 cards,  plus emails, phone calls, flowers, gifts.  From Judi Dench I had a cushion, on one side it says 

THELMA 100? NEVER. And on the other ALL MY LOVE JUDE.

All year I have been made a fuss of.  I am so lucky still to have my health, my hair and my teeth and I enjoy every day.  I went to the wedding of Maureen Lipman to David Turner, and they have been marvelous friends.  They gave their home for and organised my family party.  Plus Maureen devised a performance of Poetry and Jazz which she invited me to join and which we performed since my birthday in 3 theatres.

The TV channel TALKING PICTURES organised a performance called WHEN THELMA MET MAUREEN with me and Maureen Lipman performing together last September.  I had many interviews including for Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud Podcast going out on and any time after January 2nd and for the BBC, an interview to go on their radio news on BBC 4 and The World Service.  There was an ITV appearance on This Morning. I appeared twice at JW3 honouring Bernard Kops and Anthony Newley.  I was on the front cover of the Sunday Observer Magazine.  I like to think of myself as retired, but I am not quite, am I?

This year I have also enjoyed outings and many visits to me at home from friends.  And being taken out for birthday meals, for instance by Mark Keatley, by my best friend Helen Cotterill, by Michael and Yasmin--2 of my carers, by my cousin Max Ziff.  I went to the annual memorial in remembrance of the Spanish Civil War--Peter fought in the International Brigades.  And a great day at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, thanks to my friend Martin Guntrip.

What a stupendous, amazing year, 2025!