Global Supercentenarian Forum
The Supercentenarian World
Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
18/08/2026 8:09 am
British Woman Margaret Schaap Celebrates 111th Birthday
Margaret Schaap, a resident of Sandhurst, Berkshire, England, turns 111 y.o. today. Her birthday party was celebrated few days ago.
Margaret was born a twin on 18 August 1915, during the reign of King George V. Throughout her life, she has witnessed five monarchs and 24 prime ministers. She has a passion for gardening and crafting, and played competitive tennis until her late eighties.
According the Oldest in Britain website, Mrs. Schapp is the 6th oldest person in the United Kingdom.
Happy 111 Birthday!
1
18/08/2026 10:48 am
Happy Birthday, Ms. Schaap! 🌼
ESO Correspondent for Portugal (since 2026)
____
When the young commander of the guard declared his love for her, she rejected him simply because his frivolity startled her. "See how simple he is," she told Amaranta. "He says that he’s dying because of me, as if I were a bad case of colic."
-One Hundred Years of Solitude
Topic starter
18/08/2026 10:51 pm
https://longeviquest.com/2026/08/british-supercentenarian-margaret-schaap-celebrates-111th-birthday/
British Supercentenarian, Margaret Schaap, Celebrates 111th Birthday
On 18 August, the UK’s sixth oldest person, Margaret Schaap, marked her 111th birthday with a celebration filled with music, laughter, family and friends — and, true to form, plenty of activity.
Margaret, who lives in Sandhurst, Berkshire, celebrated her milestone birthday with around 50 guests gathering to honour her remarkable life. The festivities included ballroom dancing and a lively game of bingo, which proved particularly popular with guests and indeed, the birthday girl. As the celebrations came to an end, guests raised a glass of fizz to Margaret, wishing her many more happy and healthy years ahead. Among those joining the celebrations was the Mayor of Sandhurst, who personally wished Margaret a happy birthday and described her as “an amazing and very active lady”.
Margaret’s extraordinary longevity has seen her live through more than a century of remarkable change. Born a twin on 18 August 1915, during the First World War and when George V was on the throne, she has witnessed the reigns of five monarchs and the tenure of 24 British prime ministers. Yet Margaret has never been one to sit back and watch the world go by. She has always enjoyed keeping busy, particularly through gardening and crafting, and continued to play competitive tennis until her late 80s. Today, at 111, she still lives independently in an annex next door to her daughter.
Her enthusiasm for staying active extends into the local community. Margaret continues to help at her church’s baby and toddler group, where she particularly enjoys the painting table. Her passion for art has also led her to sell her own watercolour paintings at summer and Christmas fairs.
Asked about the secret to her remarkable longevity, Margaret offered an answer that perhaps captures her character best: “Being interested in things and people and helping people to do things. I never sit still for very long!” At 111, Margaret’s zest for life shows little sign of slowing down — and her birthday celebrations provided a fitting tribute to a woman who has spent more than a century staying curious, creative and connected to the people around her.
1