The Amazing Beryl Carr Still Going Strong at 104
Ealing Hospital volunteer joined by staff for her birthday
Beryl Carr (centre) with her cake.
January 21, 2026
Ealing Hospital has celebrated one of its most remarkable volunteers as Beryl Carr, a beloved member of the Friends Café team, marked her 104th birthday — and shows no sign of slowing down.
Beryl, who has volunteered at the café for more than twenty years, was joined by staff, fellow volunteers and well-wishers for a birthday gathering that highlighted not only her longevity but her extraordinary contribution to the hospital community.
Born in 1922, Beryl’s life spans a century of seismic global change. She arrived in the world when George V was on the throne, Gandhi was imprisoned for resisting British rule in India, and Howard Carter had just uncovered the tomb of Tutankhamun. Her early adulthood was shaped by the turmoil of the Second World War, during which she survived the Blitz, losing her home in a bombing raid.
“We spent a lot of time in the bomb shelter in our back garden,” she recalled. “One of the nights we chanced sleeping inside there was an air raid and the house was hit. I ended up under a cupboard covered in plaster.”
During the war she contributed to the home-front effort by sewing barrage balloons and serving as a fire watcher, helping protect Londoners as bombs fell across the capital.
Beryl began volunteering at Ealing Hospital in her eighties, initially helping out at the Friends Café and quickly becoming one of its most recognisable faces. Her warmth, humour and tireless commitment have made her a favourite among staff, patients and visitors.
“Volunteering gave me a new lease on life,” she said. “It is something I would recommend to anyone regardless of their age.”
Ann Cousins, who manages the Friends Café, said Beryl’s presence is woven into the fabric of the hospital.
“Beryl is a bit of an institution in the hospital. Everyone knows who she is and loves chatting with her.”
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