Gran who acquired first tattoo at 94 desires a hundredth birthday inking – however cannot inform daughter

A great-grandmother, who holds the record for being the oldest woman in the UK to get a tattoo, has decided to go under the needle again – and now boasts three tattoos at the ripe age of 99.

Hilda West first got inked back in 2019 when she was 94, choosing to have the initials of her late husband Ernest and son David tattooed on her wrist.

Since then, she’s added a three-inch butterfly to her upper arm in memory of her husband and is already planning her next piece to celebrate her 100th birthday next February.

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The great-grandmother of eight visited her local tattoo parlour near her care home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, with the assistance of her carers.

However, she kept her third tattoo a well-guarded secret from her family, fearing they might disapprove or try to dissuade her.

Retired civil servant Hilda, who also has four grandchildren, said: “After getting my first one I immediately knew I wanted a second one.”

“I decided to get a butterfly in memory of my husband. I’ve always liked butterflies and I was very happy with my first tattoo, so I thought why not?

“It didn’t hurt a bit and now I want to get another one to commemorate turning 100 – I think this time I’ll get a peacock. I’d always wanted a tattoo and I thought it’d be very nice to have Ernest’s initials next to our sons.”

“We were married for 70 years and I loved him very much. I got them done because it’s always been on my bucket list.”

“But my daughter was against it so I thought I’d better wait until she was away. Her reaction was ‘did they make you do this? ‘ Well no, they didn’t. It was my idea.”

Hilda sought the help of her carers at Castle Brook Care Home to organise the tattoo, which was executed by Ink on Skin in Coventry.

She expressed: “I didn’t feel any pain. The tattoo man, he’d never had anyone old, he said ‘don’t worry, I won’t hurt you’. I don’t really feel pain anyway, I’m lucky that way.”

“I’m very happy with it. I thought it would look nice and it does look nice. I’m very pleased with it. This one is 3D.”

“I’m glad I had it done. I look at them every day and think of my husband and son. It makes me feel complete, I’ve got something I’ve always wanted.”

Her daughter, Barbara Denton, 75, from Kenilworth, chimed in: “She kept the first one a secret from me and she also kept this one a secret too, so it was quite a surprise.”

“She waited until I was on holiday in Spain and just went and got it done anyway. It wasn’t until a few weeks later when she took off her cardigan that I noticed.”

“I think she knew I might have tried to persuade her otherwise but she’s very strong-minded so I don’t think I could have stopped her anyway.”

“It was just before Covid. I’ve just given up now though, if that’s what she really wants to do for her 100th then I’ve got no problem with it if it makes her happy. I think she’s probably the oldest person in the country to get tattooed – and still wanting more.”

“There can’t be too many people knocking on for a century that want a tattoo for their 100th birthday.”

Care home boss Kate Bradshaw revealed the team is planning a sponsored walk to fund Hilda’s ink wish for her big 100.

She dished: “Our lifestyle coach came in one day and Hilda noticed they had some tattoos and was asking him about it.”

“Then she waited until her daughter was on holiday and went with our lifestyle coach on a day trip to Coventry to get the butterfly done.”

“I think her daughter has given up trying to stop her now. In fact she’s done a full 360 and has said she will take her to get her next one for her 100th.”

“She’s a bit of a worrier about cash, so we’ve decided to leg it in a sponsored walk to raise dosh for her next piece of body art.”

“Hilda is an absolute gem, super chatty and has made some cracking mates among the other residents and staff here.”

“She only popped in for a bit of rehab after hospital initially but once she got home she was keen as mustard to come back – and she’s been with us for six years and counting.”