Still Stealing the Spotlight: Hilda Green’s Burlesque Tribute at 100

At 100 years young, Hilda Green has already lived a life more thrilling than most could ever dream of. But even she couldn’t have anticipated the heartwarming surprise that awaited her last month at Castleford Lodge Care Home in West Yorkshire, where she has lived for the past three years. This former teenage codebreaker turned burlesque dancer was recently honoured with a Certificate of Contribution from the prestigious World Burlesque Academy, a tribute to her dazzling years spent captivating audiences in Paris.

Hilda’s story is one for the history books. At just 15 years old, she worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during World War II, where her contributions helped decipher German communications. The intelligence gathered by Hilda and her colleagues is widely believed to have shortened the war by several years.

After the war, Hilda’s path took a turn toward the more glitzy and glamorous as she moved to Paris, where she danced her way into the hearts of burlesque audiences. She soon became a beloved figure on the stage. When the bright lights of Paris eventually dimmed, Hilda returned to the UK, where she found a new calling as a bookkeeper.

Fast forward to last October, when Hilda celebrated her 100th birthday with a special party at Castleford Lodge. Surrounded by her nearest and dearest, it was a celebration that struck a chord with news outlets across the UK and beyond. Hilda's story reached World Burlesque Academy CEO, Sapphira, who was touched by Hilda's story and decided to honour her for her contribution to the Burlesque community.

Local burlesque artist Ozara Sapphire joined Sapphira, on a very special surprise visit to Castleford Lodge to present Hilda with her Certificate of Contribution. The pair, dressed to impress in their finest feathered costumes, treated residents and colleagues to an unforgettable performance that had everyone singing, clapping, and dancing along.

Ozara shared: "Castleford Lodge was such a warm and welcoming place, and it was truly a joy to sing for the residents. We loved seeing their smiles, and of course, our feathers couldn’t help but add to the fun!”

Sarah Golden-Hill, Home Manager at Castleford Lodge, reflected: “Hilda was absolutely overjoyed to receive this recognition from the World Burlesque Academy. She was glowing with pride! A huge thank you to Ozara Sapphire and Sapphira for making this visit so special. Our residents and colleagues were absolutely charmed by your performance.”

Following the success of the burlesque visit, the home was asked to participate in a world record attempt! On Sunday, 27th April, for World Burlesque Day, the home will join thousands of participants around the globe in breaking the record for the World’s Largest Online Burlesque Class. We can’t wait to see how it turns out - wish them luck!

Organising surprises, providing person-centred care and going above and beyond for their residents isn’t a first for the team at Castleford! Recently, they hosted an all-inclusive silent disco party and even had alpacas waltzing through the home! (You can check out the video here.)

The surprise for Hilda is just one example of how Castleford Lodge truly cares for its residents. We can't thank the team enough for their unwavering dedication and support. We also want to extend a huge thank you to Sapphira and Ozara for making the day so special with your incredible performance! For more information about World Burlesque Academy, please click here.

Rated ‘Good’ by CQC, Castleford Lodge Care Home offers nursing care, residential care, dementia nursing and short-term respite care for people in the West Yorkshire region. If you’re looking for a safe, friendly and welcoming care home in Castleford, why not get in touch? Call 01977 668 448 or hit the button below to find out more.