She was affectionately known as the ‘Galloping Granny’ at her workplace.
ALTHOUGH Alexandra Old Age Home has many special residents, one stands out from the rest.
Trixie Richardson was born on February 16, 1916 and will be celebrating her 100th birthday next week.
Mrs Richardson who is still completely ‘with it’ and very active despite her age, was born in Balfour, Gauteng.
She took part in sports – especially tennis – throughout her school years in Heidelberg, where she matriculated with nine distinctions. She then moved to Johannesburg, where she started working with the Progressive Party (which later became part of the Democratic Alliance).
Shortly afterwards she met her husband-to-be, Arthur Cason, who was a farmer in Springs. “When we got engaged, all the other girls were very envious of us,” added Mrs Richardson.
“A few years after we got married my husband went to Rhodesia to ply his trade as a farmer, while I stayed in South Africa and looked after the children. Much against my wishes. He continued to work there until 1979 when he was advised to return to South Africa as a result of growing political tension. He died in 1980,” said Mrs Richardson.
Then she met her second husband, the late Wes Richardson.
While at home on the farm where they lived, Mrs Richardson was watching the Wimbledon finals when, believe it or not, she was shot in the head by one of their gardeners. She was rushed to hospital where she underwent surgery and made a full recovery. However the bullet is still lodged in her skull to this day. The gardener who shot her was killed by another gardener on the property.
A few years after retiring from work, where she was affectionately known as the ‘Galloping Granny’, Mrs Richardson moved to Springs Homes for the Aged at the age of 95, but later decided that she would like to be closer to family and moved down to Alexandra Old Age Home in Scottburgh in July last year.
Mrs Richardson has three children, Phyllis, Marlene and Frank, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.-South Coast Herald
