Great-grandmother marks her century with beloved family
A FORMER dinner lady from Great Harwood celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her family.
Great-grandmother Edna Walmsley marked the milestone birthday on Sunday, October 9, with a party held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel.
Edna, from Thorn Street, was joined by her children Andrew, Adrienne and Alyson, their spouses Anita, Shigé and Stephen, grandchildren, Christopher and Nicholas, Nicholas’ wife Nicola and two of her four greatgrandchildren, Freddie and Alice.
Her grandson Stephen travelled from Brisbane in Australia to attend the event, although his wife Aprilla and sons Jack and Finn had to stay behind.
The family had a meal at the hotel and Edna received a card from the Queen and a telegram from Damien Green, head of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Grandson Chris Walmsley, who lives in Accrington, said Edna is ‘wonderful’.
He said: “She still lives on her own and is totally independent.
“She has lived in Great Harwood as long as I have been alive. All of the family is from Accrington. Her maiden name was Dobson and her family owned shops and other businesses in the area.
“She loved her birthday, and it was great to have almost the whole family together. When I took the picture of her with her card from the Queen, I said they look like twins - and the Queen is 10 years younger!”