Ton up for former textile worker Ethel
A FORMER Accrington textile worker celebrated her 100th birthday alongside family and friends.
Ethel Breckell, who was born and bred in Accrington, celebrated reaching the incredible life milestone with a party at Woodlands retirement home in Clayton-leMoors.
Ethel was thrilled to receive the congratulatory card from the Queen and the Secretary of State and her 96-year-old sister even travelled down from Barrow-in-Furness especially for the big event.
Ethel started work aged just 14 in the sewing industry at Highams Mill, and later joined the mills owned by the Warburtons family, and continued to work part-time even after the birth of her son Robert.
She married Albert Breckell in 1940 and they stayed together until his death in 1997.
Ethel has one son, Robert, a granddaughter Sarah and greatgranddaughter named Isla.
Her son Robert told the Observer: “My dad played for the local football team and my mum’s brother was involved in the same local team and that’s how they met.
“Mum and dad loved going on holidays, and her favourite pastime was baking.”
Although Ethel was a methodist, St Anne’s Roman Catholic Church on Cobham Road in Accrington held a ‘special intentions’ Mass for her to congratulate her on bringing up her three figures.
Robert said his mum had a “fantastic day” surrounded by lots of people she loved.
Ethel turned 100 on Saturday, May 28.