Meet Pendle's oldest panto lover! (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Meet Pendle's oldest panto lover!

6:00pm Saturday 14th January 2012 in Nelson By Chris Gee, Reporter

IT MAY have been a panto performance of Snow White but the star of the show was certainly Pendle’s oldest resident, who turns 105 this weekend.

Una Gartside requested a trip to the pantomime in Colne as her birthday treat and was treated as the belle of the ball by the cast and audience at yesterday’s matinee performance at Colne Muni.

School children from West Street and Primet primary schools who made up most of the audience led the singing of Happy Birthday to the guest of honour.

Una, who was raised on a farm in Fence before moving to Nelson at the age of seven, said she was overwhelmed by her reception and meeting the cast.

“It’s been truly magnifcent,” she said.

“I’ve always loved seeing a panto and today’s been so special. I’ve loved seeing the songs and the children seem to have really enjoyed it.”

Una was born January 15, 1907, she spent her working life as a weaver at Jimmy Nelson’s mill and is still a keen seamstress and gardener.

In fact she lived independently until the age of 99 when she had a fall while tending to her garden.

She now lives at Andrew Smith House residential home, where she will celebrate her birthday with a tea party.

Sue Madigan, publicity manager for Pendle Leisure Trust, said: “Una was most welcome as our guest.

“It was great to see the generations together from the oldest to some of the youngest in the borough and they all sung their little hearts out for her.”

Tina Brooks, a carer at Andrew Smith House, said: “Una is a real star. She still gets about on her walking frame and loves all out activities.

“She’s had a real twinkle in her eye at all the attention she’s got at the panto