A BLACKBURN pensioner celebrated her 100th birthday under lockdown conditions earlier this week with help from staff, family and Blackburn Mounted Police.

Iolanda Cottrell, who was born on 5th May 1920, became the first centenarian resident of EachStep Blackburn Care Home where staff decorated with banners and balloons and celebrated with cakes donated by members of the public.

Iolanda was visited from behind the home’s window by her family and by the mounted police who were determined to give her a day to remember despite the pandemic.

Care Home manager Victor Phiri said: “It was lovely to be able to celebrate Iolanda’s 100th Birthday, which was particularly exciting for the team as Iolanda is the first centenarian we have had in the home.”

This time of year is especially significant given that Iolanda lived through the Second World War, in which she served in the Mechanised Transport Corps based at the Royal Ordinance Factory in Kirkby, driving ambulances, trucks and motorcycles and was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Towards the end of the war she met her husband Bill, with whom she spent many happy years living together on the Wirral, where Iolanda became a keen member of the local ladies golf club, a sport she kept up until the age of 97.

Now 75 years on from Iolanda’s wartime experience, care homes across the country have been through a particularly trying time during the virus crisis, with a significant percentage of Covid-19 related deaths occurring within them and elderly residents left isolated from their families.

As such morale boosting events like Iolanda’s birthday have become even more important.

Mr Phiri said: “We are all working hard at this difficult time to ensure that residents are kept active and entertained during this pandemic. Celebrating birthdays and special events like this are important for the morale of staff, residents, and their families at this difficult time.”