A GREAT, great-grandmother was able to celebrate her 102nd birthday with family after having spent her 101st last year in isolation.
Mary Greaves, born Mary Thorpe on May 26 1919, has lived in Blackburn all her life.
Having been a young woman during the Second World War and outlived three husbands, the coronavirus pandemic has proved to be yet another historic event to have occurred during the Mrs Greaves’ long and eventful life, but fortunately it has not stopped her from celebrating in style.
Looking back on his mother’s recent birthdays, elder son Stan Frost said: “We had a small family celebration at the Aspinall Arms, Mitton.
“When she was 100 we celebrated at Kingsway and everyone was invited, she’s very popular there and it was a big affair, but this time we had to keep it more low key.”
Mrs Greaves was born at Bower Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, the seventh of 11 siblings.
She has lived in the town ever since, most recently calling Kingsway assisted living facility on Greenhurst Place her home.
Along with her two sons Stanley and Denis, Mrs Greaves is a grandmother of three, a great grandmother of three and, incredibly, a great, great grandmother to another three children.
On receiving her telegram from the Queen to mark her 100th birthday in May 2019, the staff and residents of Kingsway, where Mrs Greaves had become the first centenarian, were able to celebrate with champagne and a group rendition of We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.
However, the recent restrictions put paid to celebrating in similar style when Mrs Greaves’ 101st came around during the height of the first lockdown last year.
Fortunately, Mrs Greaves’ extensive life experience meant that she was well equipped to navigate the crisis.
Mr Frost said: “When it came to 101 she was isolated in her flat, so it was a very low key affair and she just celebrated with a glass of champagne in the garden.
“But now she’s 102 we were able to have a celebration.”
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