Happy 107th birthday!
Loyal Chronicle subscriber celebrates her 107th birthday with roast lamb and high tea
AMarton woman was joined by family and friends for a few cups of tea to celebrate a very special birthday. May Donald celebrated her 107th birthday yesterday, with friends, family and staff of Edale Masonic Rest Home all present for her special day.
Edale organised the birthday celebrations as a surprise for May, with her favourite roast lamb served for lunch followed by a high tea with around 30 guests.
“They really rolled it out for her today, it is pretty special,” daughter Diane Donald said.
May said it was nice to be joined by company for this year’s birthday, after spending 2020s alone due to Covid-19.
“I called her on FaceTime. It worked surprisingly well actually,” Diane said.
May was born Amelia May Signal in Pa¯tea in 1914, the third of six children. She married Harold Donald in 1933 and they had five children.
In the early years of their marriage they lived in New Plymouth, Whanganui and Ohura, before finally settling in Marton in 1942.
She has family roots in the town — her grandfather was Robert Signal, one of the founders of Marton.
Since her move to Marton, May has been a loyal subscriber of the Whanganui Chronicle, receiving the paper daily. A fan of “all the puzzles”, May suggested she should be eligible for a free subscription to reward her for her 79-year loyalty.
She was looking forward to seeing her great-great-great-grandson, who would be popping by for a visit this weekend, for the first time.
“I have never met him before so that is exciting.”
When asked what the key to her longevity has been, May simply shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “I don’t think she is ready to give it up just yet,” Diane said.