Annie enjoys distant 101st birthday bash
AWOMAN who has turned 101 years old has been allowed to celebrate it with friends and family from a distance.
Annie Smith, the sister of former Hyndburn Mayor Cath Thom, is described as a wonderful, caring woman by her family with an amazing sense of humour.
Her son Micheal Smith, grandchildren Amanda Kay, 48 and David Smith 45 with his wife Selena and Great grandson, Mitchel Kay 26 came to see her today through a window at Henley House care home.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the visits took place in twos as permitted by the UK government on November 6.
Her grandson, David Smith, said: “We were over the moon when we were told we could visit her for her 101st birthday but wish we could see her properly and give her a big hug to say ‘happy birthday’ properly.
“But it is what it is. Hopefully when things are back to normal we will do her a proper birthday with all her family and friends there. We brought her flowers, chocolate and her favourite fudge. Nothing else you can buy someone at 101!”
A worker at the care home, called Diane, has been instrumental in arranging the digital communication between Annie and her family members during lockdown and the pensioner was able to receive several calls and messages from nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Born as Ann Gilmartin in 1919, a year after the first world war ended, Annie is the eldest of five siblings and has lived to see Clayton-le-Moors bombed in the Second World War. Her brother, Mick Gilmartin, was a Spitfire gunner who died after the war.
At the age of fourteen she went to work at a launderette and then later to work at the well-known Alma Press printing works.
She met her husband Jim Smith, who once played for Preston North End football team, at the Old Vic dance hall when he spotted her in her a red dress and told her she looked “crambed” - which is a slang term for angry. They laughed and she stayed married to Jim all her life never meeting anybody else.
He died around 40 years ago due to work-related health issues as he once worked in a welding factory without a mask which were not mandatory during his working life. Annie took her care of him until he passed.
Due to her age, she has now sadly spent longer without him than she has with him.
As sister of Cath Thom, who served as a Claytonle-Moors councilllor for 16 years and an Honorary Alderman, Annie was once offered the opportunity to be deputy Mayoress. She turned this down however as she didn’t much like the spotlight.
Annie famously never went on holiday abroad, only ever to the Isle of Man, however she once went to Ireland with a large group of 80-year-old women.
Before moving into the nursing home on Whalley Street when she was 99, Annie had a flat in Lower Barnes Street and experienced a nasty fall. She fell face first onto concrete floor after tripping over a wire to close the blinds. This resulted in two black eyes and she complained for three days neck her was hurting.
When she told her family members they took her to the hospital and found out she’d broken her neck. An x-ray revealed she had actually broken the same bone that breaks when people are hanged.
Annie is tough however and got through to celebrate her 100th birthday last year, pre-coronavirus pandemic, and received a telegram from the Queen. Over the years she has passed her wise advice to the younger generations.
Granddaughter, Amanda Kay, said: “My gran has always kept her mind active doing quizzes and crosswords. She’s a very clever woman and always has her head in the newspaper. When we ask her what keeps her so young she says using cucumber soap, moisturising upwards and the love of one man - who is obviously Jimmy.
“She never drank or smoked either which she says has always kept her in good health. She’s just a wonderfully caring person who idolises all of us - and she makes the best Scotch pies!”