We often make the mistake of thinking that there’s nothing that senior citizens can do to surprise us because they’re already old and can’t do what they used to do when they were young.
But one great-grandmother surprised everyone during her 100th birthday by signing a dazzling rendition of “When You’re Smiling” as can be heard here:
[rumble video_id=v66c0r domain_id=u7nb2]
Video credit: Rumble
Letitia “Letty” Lancaster wasn’t going to let her 100th year on Earth pass by without something memorable and she delivered big time. Vicky Lancaster, Letty’s granddaughter-in-law, was fortunately quick on the button and managed to record the video that shows Letty even tapping her foot and bouncing up and down on her chair.
Bedecked in a sparkling tiara and pretty sash, Letty belts out the tunes for about a minute before the crowd erupts in applause and cheers.
When she was much younger, Letty used to dance and sing a lot. Even to this day, she continues to entertain her co-residents at the care home where she lives.
“Performing has always been a part of my life and it keeps me happy,” she said. “No matter how old I am or where I am, I will always sing.”
Letty was born in South Shields, a town along the coast in the North East of England, on January 27, 1920. Her family moved to Scotland in 1989, where she currently lives in a nursing home, before the passing of her husband George Lancaster in 2010.
She had four brothers and three sisters and together with her siblings, was taught to sing and dance at a very early age.
Her mother was one of the Tiller Girls, one of the most popular dance troupes of the 1890’s.
Letty’s favorite musician is André Rieu, the Dutch violinist, and conductor. She was a professional performer in her 20’s and even made records with her siblings.
She got married to George (“Elly” to her) in 1947 and they both lived in Cheadle, Staffs, where their son Paul was born in 1952.
They then moved on to Blackpool where they played a big part in the variety performance scene. They performed at the Blackpool Grand Theatre and the Opera House.
In the 1930’s, Letty performed both as a soloist and in duets with her sisters. She even had auditions alongside Vera Lynn, a famous singer, at one point.
In the 1980’s, she performed on the variety chat show Des O’Connor Tonight alongside husband George who was also musically inclined.
Replaced!